Chemical fertilizers play a significant role in agriculture and have contributed to the dramatic increases in global crop yields over the past 50 years. Despite their benefits, chemical fertilizers have limitations. Nitrogen fertilizer production and application is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (primarily nitrous oxide) associated with Canadian agriculture. Our mission is to identify and optimize microbial inoculants for Canadian crops that allow growers to maintain or increase current crop yields with reduced nutrient input. In doing so, we aim to reduce the environmental impact of food production, while simultaneously being economically beneficial to growers by reducing their input costs. To promote the uptake of our results by industry, we adopt an open science approach to the sharing of data, as described below.
A values statement will be added following a team retreat in May.
Open Science is “the practice of making scientific inputs, outputs and processes freely available to all with minimal restrictions. Scientific research outputs include (i) peer- reviewed science articles and publications, (ii) scientific and research data and (iii) public contribution to and dialogue about science. Open Science is enabled by people, technology and infrastructure. It is practiced in full respect of privacy, security, ethical considerations and appropriate intellectual property protection.” (Roadmap for Open Science, Feb 2020)
Our research is only of value to Canada if our discoveries are translated into technologies that are accessible to Canadian growers. Reflecting our commitment to benefitting the public - including the Canadian public, Canadian growers, inoculant companies, and other organizations who benefit from an open collection of microbes with plant beneficial traits - we commit to publicly sharing project deliverables in a timely manner without filing patents and with no restriction on use.
The Universities of the BENEFIT team are located on the traditional lands of many Indigenous groups. The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. Queen’s University is situated on the territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek. The University of Saskatchewan is located on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. The University of Toronto is located on the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. The University of Ottawa is situated on the lands of the Algonquin people. McMaster University is located within the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe nations.
We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration. We are truly grateful to be able to work, learn and teach for the betterment of all on these lands.