Genomics research in the Prairies is about to get a massive boost for analyzing data from plant, animal, and bacterial samples to soil and water.
The acquisition of the new sequencing platform is supported by nearly $1.63 million from Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) as part of its updated funding agreement with GIFS and USask. This brings PrairiesCan’s total investment for this project to more than $3.2 million.
The PrairiesCan funding will support work to develop a genomic selection-based accelerated breeding platform that enables researchers, companies, and breeding organizations to identify genomics-based solutions more quickly and efficiently.
By expanding advanced breeding capabilities and pooling data across platform users, the initiative will improve the accuracy of statistical models, strengthen Canada’s pulse breeding capacity, and support research in crop development, disease resilience, and livestock genetic traits.
The new Illumina NovaSeq X Plus sequencing platform marks a substantial upgrade over previous tools at GIFS, representing a two-and-a-half times increase in capacity for processing genomic information.
GIFS is the first agricultural-focused organization in the Prairies to offer NovaSeq X Plus sequencing services, positioning the institute as a leader in genomics innovation in Saskatchewan and across Canada. The NovaSeq X Plus is expected to help bring higher-quality pulse varieties to market faster, while reducing resource use and the environmental impact of agriculture.
GIFS will continue to provide leading genomics technology to researchers across USask, Prairie research centres, and beyond.
QUOTES:
- “USask research has and will continue to have a tremendous impact in the agriculture and agri-food sectors. This new technology at GIFS positions Saskatchewan’s researchers on the cutting edge of genomics research as they seek innovative solutions to today’s research challenges, from agriculture to health sciences and beyond.” – USask Vice-President Research Baljit Singh
- “Saskatchewan has long been an agricultural powerhouse. Across the province, farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and businesses are helping grow the food Canada and the world need. Our government is investing so Saskatchewan can do even more with those strengths here at home — expanding value-added agriculture, growing food processing and manufacturing, and strengthening domestic supply chains — driving economic growth and creating good jobs along the way.” – The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
- “Our agriculture and agri-food sector supports 2.3 million jobs across Canada and exports more than $100 billion in products to over 200 countries. Here in Saskatchewan, the sector accounts for over 40 per cent of the province’s exports, reaching $18 billion in 2025. By investing in innovation and securing new economic partnerships, we are helping Canadian businesses reach new markets, building on the $33 billion in exports to non-U.S. markets last year that included world-class products from Saskatchewan farmers.” – The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade
- “Saskatchewan feeds Canada and the world, and our agri-food sector is built on generations of agricultural strength and innovation in rural communities across the province. These new investments are about making sure the next generation of producers, processors, and agri-food businesses can keep growing and keep good jobs right here at home. Whether it’s developing new products or reaching new markets, we’re making sure Saskatchewan continues to lead as one of the best places in the world to grow and produce food.” – The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development
- “This new platform dramatically enhances our ability to generate the high-quality genomic data needed to advance next generation agriculture. The increased capacity and efficiency of the NovaSeq X Plus will help GIFS to further bridge the gap between scientific discovery and practical application, enabling faster translation of genomic innovations into solutions that benefit farmers, strengthen food systems, and support economic growth across the Prairies.” – Jason Reinheimer, CEO, Global Institute for Food Security