NEWS RELEASE
Environmental DNA and RNA (generally referred to as eDNA below), the genetic material organisms leave behind in their environment—including in water, soil and air—is a game-changer for the health of our communities and the environment, enabling rapid and cost-effective monitoring for pathogens, antibiotic resistance and biodiversity.
Today, Genome Canada announced 12 new projects that will build Canada’s eDNA surveillance capacity across regions, enabling more effective monitoring and decision-making to tackle major threats to our health, environment and industries.
eDNA surveillance provides a non-invasive method to assess the health of a particular ecosystem or community. It provides the data needed for fast, evidence-based public policy and decision-making, helping us monitor for biodiversity loss, track disease-causing pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, and supporting forensic scientific investigation.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians saw these surveillance tools in action, monitoring wastewater for levels of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in communities. Genome Canada is investing in these new projects to build capacity for future pandemic preparedness, ongoing public health monitoring and stronger environmental protection for our country,” says Rob Annan, President and CEO, Genome Canada.
“This program will also deliver targeted capacity-building for northern, rural, remote and Indigenous communities seeking to use eDNA surveillance tools for source and waste-water monitoring, and for environmental monitoring,” says Annan.
The eDNA Surveillance program projects will drive:
- Uptake of eDNA surveillance across Canada.
- Partnership-based projects with Indigenous communities to help ensure eDNA advances community needs.
- New mechanisms for collaboration to strengthen data standards, best practices and alignment across Canadian and international stakeholders, increasing the benefits of scientific innovation for us all.
The total value of this announcement is $11.3M, including $4.3M in Government of Canada funding (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada through the Strategic Science Fund) through Genome Canada and $7M in co-funding.
Learn more about our work
Genomics is transforming the future of health, the environment, agriculture and food systems and our economy. Announced in March 2025, Genome Canada’s largest-ever genomics initiative will sequence more than 100,000 human genomics to drive precision health care. Here’s what you need to know about the Canadian Precision Health Initiative.