Grant: Industrial Research Chairs
University of British Columbia
$131,000.00
NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Applied Forest Genetics and Biotechnology
FY 2009-10
Summary
During the past decade, there has been an international surge in interest and implementation of high-yield
forestry, using plantation-based intensively-managed forests to maximize the volume and value. High-yield
forestry provides fiscal benefits to the forest industry by lowering risks and rotation times, providing higher an
more quickly realized investment returns. Producing more wood on a smaller landbase is critical to meet the
dramatic increase projected for fibre demand and to reduce the ecological footprint of forestry. The BC
Ministry of Forests Research and Tree Improvement Branches, Canadian Forest Service, and large and small
forest industry members including seed and seedling producers, are actively developing, improving, and
protecting the newly developed high gain germplasm for several commercially important BC trees. The focus
of this Chair's research program is to create linkages between germplasm developers and operational users to
enhance the efficiency ofthe current tree improvement system by incorporating new innovations including
appropriate biotechnologies. There are three primary aims of this proposal: (1) to deliver higher genetic gains
by augmenting the traditional tree improvement delivery system with biotechnology techniques, (2) to
emphasize wood quality traits and value as end-products (deliverables) of tree improvement and silvicultural
systems, and (3) to incorporate deliverables produced by the Genome Canada / Genome B.C. into the tree
improvement system, focusing on end-product quality and realized genetic gains for traits ofinterest. The
research program will proceed in close collaboration with the Chair sponsors. Expected synergies include: (1)
maximizing the relevance ofthe research to the end-users, (2) seamless implementation ofresults into practice,
and (3) creating an collaboratory environment between germplasm developers and users. This program will
train highly qualified personnel needed in the forest industry and the related biological sciences.
Form 101
Program
Industrial Research Chairs
Recipient
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
325402-2004
Name nom
ElKassaby, Yousry
Department département
Forest Sciences Centre
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2009
Competition year année de concours
2004
Award amount
131000
Program id
IRCPJ
Program nane en
Industrial Research Chairs
Program name fr
Professeurs-chercheurs industriels
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
141
Committee name en
University/Industry
Committee name fr
Universités/industrie
Area of application code
201
Area of application group en
Natural resources (economic aspects)
Area of application group fr
Ressources naturelles (aspects économiques)
Area of application en
Forestry (silviculture, forest management)
Area of application fr
Foresterie (sylviculture, aménagement forestier)
Research subject code
4900
Research subject group en
Plant and treebiology
Research subject group fr
Biologie végétale et des arbres
Research subject en
Plant and treebiology
Research subject fr
Biologie végétale et des arbres
Partie
5
Nb partie
5
Application title
NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Applied Forest Genetics and Biotechnology
Keyword
NA
Application summary
During the past decade, there has been an international surge in interest and implementation of high-yield
forestry, using plantation-based intensively-managed forests to maximize the volume and value. High-yield
forestry provides fiscal benefits to the forest industry by lowering risks and rotation times, providing higher an
more quickly realized investment returns. Producing more wood on a smaller landbase is critical to meet the
dramatic increase projected for fibre demand and to reduce the ecological footprint of forestry. The BC
Ministry of Forests Research and Tree Improvement Branches, Canadian Forest Service, and large and small
forest industry members including seed and seedling producers, are actively developing, improving, and
protecting the newly developed high gain germplasm for several commercially important BC trees. The focus
of this Chair's research program is to create linkages between germplasm developers and operational users to
enhance the efficiency ofthe current tree improvement system by incorporating new innovations including
appropriate biotechnologies. There are three primary aims of this proposal: (1) to deliver higher genetic gains
by augmenting the traditional tree improvement delivery system with biotechnology techniques, (2) to
emphasize wood quality traits and value as end-products (deliverables) of tree improvement and silvicultural
systems, and (3) to incorporate deliverables produced by the Genome Canada / Genome B.C. into the tree
improvement system, focusing on end-product quality and realized genetic gains for traits ofinterest. The
research program will proceed in close collaboration with the Chair sponsors. Expected synergies include: (1)
maximizing the relevance ofthe research to the end-users, (2) seamless implementation ofresults into practice,
and (3) creating an collaboratory environment between germplasm developers and users. This program will
train highly qualified personnel needed in the forest industry and the related biological sciences.
Form 101
