AAFC’s International Role in Science and Innovation

1. AAFC’s International Role in Science and Innovation Dr Campbell Davidson, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, International Science Ottawa, Ontario, Canada CGD- International Science – March 2005- Genetic Resources

2. Overview – Agenda • The AAFC International Science Team and what is their key role? • An overview of objectives and ideas relative to International agriculture research issues.

3. International Issues and concerns According to the United Nations Development Programme: • World population is 6.3 billion people: • by 2025: an estimated 7.8 billion people • Current estimates of World resource allow for 2780 cal per person per day. • Minimal requirement is 2300 cal. • Distribution and Production issues remain an issue • 2.8 billion people don’t have access to the minimal calorie requirements • Potential Solutions: • Innovation, training, economic growth, North-South technology transfer, • Examples of concerns: • Water resources, soil sustainability, biodiversity availability

4. S&T investment at the International level The Prime Minister of Canada’s Advisory Committee on Science and Technology: “International S&T activities are necessary for advancing knowledge, creating wealth and improving quality of life.” • Researchers should collaborate and exchange scientific information with other countries: • to help stay abreast of the latest scientific developments • Researchers should be encouraged to participate in collaborative research projects - team effectiveness and efficiencies • Governments need to effectively participate in and contribute to international scientific forums • to make good decisions regarding science-based issues

5. A Broad Vision for Science The AAFC International Science Team and what is their role? Facilitating Linkages to World Science: - To enhance the knowledge base and - Contribute to World Wellness

6. AAFC current involvement in International science collaboration – requires a National focus: • 54 Science MOUs with 38 countries • Over 50 foreign organisations • Over 300 on-going bilateral and multilateral scientific projects • AAFC provides expert advice and program delivery to CIDA and IDRC projects • Expertise directed towards International Societies, Journals, Universities and Conferences • Key involvement with several inter-governmental organisations such as OECD, FAO, IICA etc

7. AAFC Science and Innovation Strengths - Potential Areas of Collaboration Major Research areas within AAFC • Sustainable production: • Crop Science (cereals, potato, canola), Animal Science, Soil and Water management; • IPM: • Bio-control, emerging diseases, alien invasive species; • Food: • Storage and processing, meat science, post-harvest handling; • Biodiversity: • Genetic resource collections and genebanks • Biotechnology: • Genomics, molecular characterization, bio-products Reflecting key National Programs within AAFC

8. Four Main working objectives for International Science Group • We have interpreted our Prime Ministers directions into four different avenues: • Science to Science collaboration • Science for market and trade • Science directed towards developing country issues • Science directed towards International obligations

9. Science to Science • To enhance science and innovation; • Exchanges and cooperative projects; • Often on a scientist to scientist basis • Sharing work experiences • Generally short term projects • Learning and developing new techniques • Capacity building on both sides • Post Doctoral Programs; • Helping to train the next generation. • Enhancing AAFC science and innovation and helping to brand Canada for excellence

10. Science for Market and Trade • Support Canada market and trade development • Supporting the export and utilization of Canadian products • Value added products • Functional foods • Nutraceuticals • To provide science expertise to address developing countries issues

11. Provide science expertise to address needs of developing countries Provide expertise for developing country issues • Initial focus on sustainable production and food safety and quality • Critical information for decision making • Food Security and Food Safety are critical issues • Canadian target of 5% of our R and D budget • Priority countries for assistance since our programs have limited resources

12. Cooperating with Inter-governmental organisations to increase world wellness • To cooperate with multi-lateral organisations to increase world wellness (e.g. FAO, CGIAR, CBD, IICA) • Helping to meet Canada’s and AAFC’s international obligations • Intergovernmental commitments such as: • FAO • FAO - Commission on Genetic Resources • Committee on Agriculture • International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture • Future Harvest Centres of the CGIAR – funded through CIDA • Scientific value and cooperation to the world (e.g. CABI) and the region (IICA) • Access to knowledge or material exchange (GBIF)

13. Global Information access - GBIF Global Biodiversity Information Facility AAFC + 7 Departments Membership Physical and virtual collections used for science and taxonomic identification Outcome Provide access to data bases Science Collaboration Economic value for producers Chief-scientist\pres2004-10-03_AAFC Science policy-brief

14. Research and Technical Cooperation Examples in the America's • Recent examples - Multi-country and bilateral agreements in the America's (excluding the USA): • Argentina Armenia Brazil Canada Chile Czech Republic South Africa Switzerland Syria USA - Improvement of codling moth SIT to facilitate expansion and field application - Duration: 2002-2007 • Argentina - Improvement of codling moth SIT to facilitate expansion and field application – 2002-2007 • Brazil - Improvement of codling moth SIT to facilitate expansion and field application and improved management of codling moth in Brazil – 2001-2007 • Mexico Netherlands Peru Scotland USA China Ireland - Phytophthora infestans (potato and tomato late blight) population dynamics, genotype x environment interactions, host resistance and chemical control reduction – 2002-2007 • Brazil – Embryo transfer in milk cows – 2001-2003 • Brazil - Study of the impact of pre-slaughter procedures on the welfare of pigs and pork quality variation at tropical climate conditions – 2001-2005 • Chile - Nutrient and water requirements for new sweet cherry cultivars – 2002-2006

15. Research and Technical Cooperation Examples in the America's - continued • Recent examples - Multi-country and bilateral agreements in the America's (excluding the USA): • Mexico - Regulation of photoconidiation and mycelia growth in Trichoderma – 2004-2009 • Columbia - Phylogenomics of Trichoderma (biocontrol fungi) from neotropical soils – 2002-2009 • Brazil - Effects des acides gras sur la reproduction de la vache laitière – 2002 – 2003 • Brazil - Transfert de chaleur en milieu poreux applicable aux produits horticoles frais – 2002-2005 • Mexico, USA and Canada – Dry bean genetic resources (NORGEN-PROCINORTE) 2004 - 2007 • All the America's – Regional PGR Networks (IICA) and the Global Crop Diversity Trust - Plant Genetic Conservations Strategy Development – 2005 – on-going

16. Conclusions • The AAFC International team is developing and implementing a new strategy for international science; • Coordination of approaches and delivery through the Office of the Chief Scientist International – Dr. Yvon Martel; • Developing better assessment methods and internal governance for international science collaboration; • Scientific cooperation is often completed on a bilateral basis; scientist to scientist or country to country; • Increasing efforts for multilateral / multi-stakeholder collaboration due to the integrated nature of many of the issues.

17. Plant Genetic Resources – A Conceptual Framework

18. Thank you for the opportunity to share information about our programs in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada • Questions? • Contact information: • Dr. Campbell Davidson • AAFC – International Science • 930 Carling Ave. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0C5 • 613-694-2521; 613-759-7771 (fax) • cdavidson@agr.gc.ca