Canada and the Netherlands research canola

This crop contributes more than $14 bln annually to the Canadian economy and generates over 214,000 jobs in Canada.

"NRC research facilities and skilled experts are accelerating Canadian innovation by fostering world-class R&D partnerships," said NRC President Dr Pierre Coulombe. "This collaboration with the Netherlands will contribute to new knowledge that will benefit one of Canada’s most important resources."

Under this agreement, the NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute and the Centre for BioSystems Genomics will focus on three projects. The first will study the genetics of lipid metabolism in canola to improve the plant’s nutritional value. The second project will look at seed quality and vigour to improve crop yield and the crop’s quality to make canola more competitive with other crops. The last research project will try to better understand the signalling pathways that are involved in the formation of haploid embryos – research that will develop new and improved varieties of canola in shorter time-to-market.

"CBSG has a long history of establishing international collaborations and this new link with Canada represents an excellent combination of complementary expertises between innovative scientists in Canada and the Netherlands," said Dr Robert Hall, Acting Director of the Centre for BioSystems Genomics.

Source: National Research Council Canada