The Social Implications of Agri-Genomics
What are the barriers and opportunities for the just transition of agri-genomic technologies in Canada?
What tools are most needed and most effective to facilitate the just transition of agri-genomic technologies in Canada?
Interactive visualization tool of a hypothetical agri-tech park located in Langford, British Columbia, Canada. This tool was developed by researchers from the Transdisciplinary Research on Integrated Approaches to Sustainability (TRIAS) lab, led by the Canada Research Chair in Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Sustainability at Royal Roads University. TRIAS also serves as the co-project lead for The Social Implications of Agri-Genomics project.
This tool will be presented on web-based and virtual reality platforms and presents different scenarios for creating urban agriculture agri-tech parks, providing opportunities for participants of this tool to explore how different agri-technology facilities, such as vertical farming and cellular agriculture could be designed in their communities and neighbourhoods.
Visualization of Diverse Food Assets in an Agri-Tech Park
Project team members of the Social Implications of Agri-Genomics research team attended the Cultivating Resilience Summit: Advancing Climate-Smart Agri-Food in Vancouver, BC, presented by AG-ACt, BCCAI, BC ACARN & SFU Public Square. Four team members, pictured below, submitted a poster presentation on their research that approaches the development of the agri-genomic technology industry from the framework of a Just Transition to ask: How will these emerging agri-production systems engage with existing agricultural labour regimes? In this poster, these four researchers focused on three prominent themes emerging from conversations relating to Land, Food, and Work in Conversations with Cellular Agriculture.
Research team members Stephanie Eccles, Jessica Mukiri, Angela McIntyre, and Alesandros Glaros (pictured left to right), with a poster presentation of their collective research. Cultivated Resilience Summit, October 2025.
| Activity | Activity Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Scoping and Systematic Reviews | Comprehensive reviews of emerging agri-genomics for climate mitigation, focusing on potential risks to marginalized communities, supported by interviews and focus groups. Also reviewing best practices from toolkits addressing agriculture, climate change, social justice, and genomics. | Complete |
| 2. Survey |
Large-scale national survey of public perceptions of agri-genomics applications that show potential climate mitigation, which informs a focused Delphi survey with industry, research, and policy experts. |
In progress |
| 3. Modelling |
Integrated modelling (system dynamics modelling and supply chain analysis) for the potential climate benefits (carbon mitigation and sequestration) of agri-genomics to develop different GHG mitigation scenarios and their associated socio-economic trade-offs. |
In progress |
| 4. Case Studies |
Qualitative case studies based on national applicability, supplemented by expert interviews and focus groups, to identify possible risks associated with these technologies for marginalized groups, and potential mitigation strategies to increase equity outcomes. |
In progress |
| 5. Knowledge Mobilization | The project will collaborate with the KMIC hub and the Canadian Science Policy Centre to host research workshops with experts, policymakers, and ICT teams to develop a "Just Transitions Toolkit for Agri-Genomics." This toolkit will be action-oriented, co-created, and shared on this website, mobilized through networks built throughout the project. | Ongoing |