^{Jim Rondeau, Manitoba Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines (front right) gets a tour of a bio-processing laboratory located in the Engineering Information and Technology Centre. David Levin (left) and Richard Sparling (back right).}

^{Photo by Katie Chalmers-Brooks
Article first published in The Bulletin, v.43. No. 10, October 8, 2009}

The future of flax and biofuels research has never been brighter in Manitoba. With the Province of Manitoba's $375,000 investment in Genome Prairie's Total Utilization of Flax Genomics (TUFGEN) and the $1.3 million investment in the Microbial Genomics for Biofuels and Co-Products from Biorefining Processes (MGB2), Manitoba is set to lead Canadian genomics research in flax and biofuels.

"Manitoba's contribution to these projects underlines its commitment to having our province emerge as a leader in alternative energy and agriculture research," said Jim Rondeau, Manitoba Minister of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mines (STEM).  "The diversity of agriculture research development presently underway in Manitoba reflects the increasing complexity of the industry."

Most of the research for the MGB2 project is based in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba. Richard Sparling and David Levin at the U of M are lead researchers for the project. Other researchers involved are John Wilkins, Brian Fristensky and Oleg Krokhin.  The project also involves researchers in microbiology, biochemistry, genomics, bioinformatics, proteomics, and engineering from across Canada, the United States, and New Zealand. The International Institute For Sustainable Development in Winnipeg is also a funding partner for the project.

"The University of Manitoba is pleased to lead these Genome Prairie projects," said Digvir Jayas, Vice President (Research) at the University of Manitoba. "By using agricultural feedstocks as a source of alternative energy, we can reduce product waste and maximize uses for plants. The flax research project's goal to develop flax as a dual-purpose crop and to sequence the flax genome, is an invaluable contribution to flax research."

Sylvie Cloutier from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), and an adjunct professor at the U of M, co-leads the TUFGEN project which aims to increase the value of flax for producers. Manitoba based research for this project takes place at the Manitoba AAFC facility and involves Scott Duguid.

"Genomics research is becoming more and more important in the areas of energy and agriculture research. We are pleased to receive the Province's support for these projects which have the potential to help transform the biofuels and flax industries," commented Wilf Keller, President and CEO of Genome Prairie.