AgScape invites Ontario to Explore the Intersection of Genomics & Agriculture with New Resource for Students

‘An Exploration of Genomics in Agriculture and Food’, A Teacher’s Guide for Grades 7-12, is a new Free Resource for Ontario Teachers, made possible through a partnership between AgScape, Ontario Genomics, the Agricultural Adaptation Council, and Genome Canada.

(Ontario) February 16, 2022 – AgScape announces the launch of a new Genomics & Agriculture themed Teacher’s Guide. Working in partnership with Ontario Genomics, the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC), and Genome Canada, AgScape continues its track record of bringing the fast-paced and innovative world of food & agriculture into Ontario classrooms with the launch of ‘An Exploration of Genomics in Agriculture and Food’, a Teacher’s Guide for Grades 7-12.

In celebration of Canadian Agricultural Literacy Month educators can request their free copy of this Teacher’s Guide, along with an entire digital package of resources to help build knowledge and awareness of food & agriculture with students at http://CALM.AgScape.ca/

AgScape knows that Ontario educators are in search of factual, curriculum-linked classroom resources about food literacy and agriculture. Students have never been more curious about understanding the science behind modern food production. Genomics, a field of science that encompasses all of a living thing’s genes and the interaction between those genes and the environment, is a topic at the very heart of modern food & agriculture innovation.

This new Teacher’s Guide brings genomics into the classroom with a wide variety of lessons and engaging in-class activities, developed by Ontario certified teachers & food literacy experts at AgScape.

“Through our partnership with AgScape and Ontario Genomics, we are excited to be providing students with resources that highlight real-world examples and factual information related to the incredible genomics research taking place in the agri-food sector,” said Melanie DiReto, Executive Director of the Agricultural Adaptation Council. “We hope to educate and inspire students on the importance of genomics research to the agri-food sector and the variety of related career paths they can explore.”

The team at Ontario Genomics supported AgScape in its mission to translate the complex topic of genomics into lessons that resonate with both students and teachers.

“We are fortunate to forge this unique and powerful partnership with AgScape and the Agricultural Adaptation Council to bring impactful, real-world scientific advancements into classrooms across Ontario,” said Bettina Hamelin, President and CEO of Ontario Genomics. “It is exciting to be creating resources together to help the next generation learn about how genomics and biology can improve animal welfare, promote food security and mitigate climate change.”

Taylor Selig, AgScape’s Executive Director said: “The release of this Teacher’s Guide and lesson plans marks an exciting expansion of the scope of resources we’re creating for Ontario teachers. That expansion is made possible through collaborating with Ontario Genomics, Genome Canada, and the Agricultural Adaptation Council to produce a resource that combines a deep dive into an innovative science topic with learning the practical application of that science on Ontario’s Food & Agriculture sector.”

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For more information, please contact: 

Jordan Sloggett
Marketing & Communications Manager, AgScape
Communications@AgScape.ca

About AgScape

AgScape brings the fast-paced and innovative world of agriculture and food to educators and students across Ontario. Our programs expand students’ understanding of the modern food system to help them make informed decisions about they foods they eat, the choices they make, and the breadth of career opportunities that are available to them.

AgScape has been a trusted partner and bridge between the Food & Agriculture industry and Ontario’s education system for more than 30 years. We continue to evolve and expand our programs to ignite and nurture the curiosity of students, educators, and communities across Ontario.

For more information about AgScape, visit www.AgScape.ca

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About Ontario Genomics

Established in 2000, Ontario Genomics is a not-for-profit organization leading the application of genomics-based solutions to drive economic growth, improved quality of life, and global leadership for Ontario. As part of its strategic vision, Ontario Genomics is dedicated to supporting the development of educational resources that demonstrate how genomics plays a vital role to address key challenges in our society. Ontario Genomics also plays a role in advancing genomics projects and programs across the province by supporting the development of proposals, helping researchers access diverse funding sources, and finding the right industry partners to take this research out of the lab to apply it to the world’s most pressing challenges. Since its inception, Ontario Genomics has raised more than $1.27 billion for genomics applied research in Ontario and directly supported more than 9,100 trainees and jobs. OG supports 110+ active projects, 500+ impactful partnerships and has secured $1.34 billion in follow-on investments.

For more information about OG, visit www.OntarioGenomics.ca

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About the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC)

The Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) are Ontario’s agriculture and food program delivery experts. As a not-for-profit organization, AAC represents Ontario’s agriculture and food industry with almost 60 agriculture, food, and rural organizations comprising our membership and board of directors. This unique industry collaboration gives the AAC an in-depth understanding of needs from across the entire value chain and the ability to help facilitate effective program design, development, and delivery between industry, government, and other partners to achieve optimal outcomes from agriculture and food programs

To learn more about AAC, please visit www.AdaptCouncil.org          

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About Genome Canada

Genome Canada is a not-for-profit organization, funded by the Government of Canada. We act as a catalyst for developing and applying genomics and genomic-based technologies to create economic and social benefits for Canadians. We connect ideas and people across public and private sectors to find new uses for genomics; invest in large-scale science and technology to fuel innovation; and translate discoveries into solutions across key sectors of national importance, including health, agriculture and agri-food, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, the environment, energy and mining.

To learn more about Genome Canada, please visit www.GenomeCanada.ca