NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute (NRC-PBI)

(Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)

Better Crops – Better Markets for Canada

NRC-PBI is a major research centre for plant biosciences in Canada, with expertise in genomics, metabolic pathways, gene expression, genetic transformation, structured biology, and natural product chemistry. Supporting technologies include DNA sequencing, gene synthesis, mass spectrometry, biological NMR and bioinformatics. NRC-PBI performs, assists, and promotes strategic discovery research and innovation in plant biotechnology with partnership with key stakeholders, to improve and diversify Canadian industry and strengthen Canada's competitive position in the global knowledge-based economy.

The cow cockle saponins (Saponaria vaccaria) are studied with a view to unlocking their medicinal and/or industrial potential.

NRC-PBI research covers three domains important to the development of agricultural biotechnology in Canada:

• Strategic Technologies: NRC-PBI is a leading developer of platform technologies including genomics and proteomics. Knowledge from genomics technologies combined with NRC-PBI's leading expertise in tissue culture, genetic transformation is a powerful tool for crop improvement and diversification. NRC-PBI has already proven itself with cell culture techniques such as double haploidy, which has led to the development of canola varieties, a hardier, more productive variety of wheat, and is currently being applied to the development of improved nutraceutical plants.
• Crop Metabolic Modification: Plant biotechnology promises to add value to crop plants, offering improved nutrition or characteristics that suit them for high-value specialty markets. An understanding of the metabolic pathways involved in oil production is the foundation for developing new varieties that produce more nutritious canola oil, or novel oils for industrial uses. NRC-PBI is also exploring opportunities in plantbased pharmaceuticals and natural health products.
• Crop Performance: Years of conventional breeding have provided hardy plants that are the foundation of the country's agriculture industry. Today, NRC-PBI researchers are applying advanced knowledge and expertise on plant metabolism and physiology to allow plants to better resist disease as well as developing crops better suited to the Canadian climate.