Identifying a species can be a painstaking process – one that often require microscopes and lots of time and work from skilled personnel. In 2003, Dr. Paul Hebert at the University of Guelph proposed a captivating solution: to use a short slice of DNA of an organism as a unique species “barcode”. This technique, called DNA barcoding, now allowed scientists to identify and catalogue every species on the planet with unprecedented speed and accuracy.
This bold idea gave rise to the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (CBG), launched at the University of Guelph in 2005. Since its inception in 2017, Food from Thought has supported the work of CBG, helping to lay the foundation for the work that CBG is now doing to map the diversity of life across our planet. “Without the support from Food from Thought, we would not be on this trajectory,” Hebert notes. “[FfT] supported the further development of a database used by people around the planet and accelerated the addition of new species coverage… [along with] catalyzing additional investment.” With the support of FfT, CBG has sequenced DNA from over 10 million specimens, which were added to the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD)—a digital library and workbench now housing genetic information from more than 18 million samples representing 1.3 million species. It’s the world’s DNA barcode reference library, helping scientists everywhere to monitor and safeguard biodiversity at a scale never before possible. Throughout years of research CBG has honed protocols to lower the cost of DNA sequencing from $20 per specimen in 2005 to under 10 cents today, opening the door for researchers worldwide to explore biodiversity at an unprecedented scale and by utilizing a variety of state-of-the-art sequencing technology ranging from room-sized million-dollar machines to thumb-sized thousand-dollar devices. With the upcoming addition to CBG’s portfolio, ONTOLOGY, scientists and citizen scientists will be able to carry the lab into the wild—identifying species in real time, from dense Amazon canopies to windswept Arctic tundra —something Dr. Hebert previously thought impossible. As Hebert notes, “You could [sequence] all of humanity for about $8 million” when considering pandemic-scale sequencing needs. Indeed, during the COVID-19 pandemic, CBG launched a spin-off that became one of Ontario’s major testing facilities, showing how biodiversity research infrastructure can rapidly address urgent public needs.
The revolutionary idea has spread all over the world and the International Barcode of Life Consortium (iBOL), is an example of this. The consortium brings together researchers from over 40 countries working on various biodiversity initiatives, fostering a community dedicated to understanding and protecting Earth’s biodiversity. The consortium’s flagship project, BIOSCAN, is shedding light on newly discovered species by tracking their distribution, abundance, and interactions with other species. This international collaboration, led by CBG, allows biodiversity science to operate at a scale that no country or institution could achieve alone.
However, DNA barcoding isn’t just used to understand the biodiversity of our forests and oceans. It is also paving the way for researchers to understand the presence and abundance of species in agricultural settings and understand how farm practices impact biodiversity. For instance, using DNA-based monitoring in fields, farmers can now pinpoint specific pest species, track their movement patterns and identify their natural enemies. This allows farmers, who typically spend thousands a year on pesticides, to implement targeted interventions, minimize chemical use and leverage nature’s own pest control. Another example of how DNA barcode is being used in agriculture is implemented by the Canadian company McCain Foods. Partnering with CBG, the company has applied DNA barcoding to study soil microbes, generating insights that guide more sustainable farming practices and support the operation efficiency and agricultural precision.
Looking ahead, CBG aims to build a real-time global system to monitor all life on Earth—like a weather forecast, but for biodiversity. As Dr. Hebert explains, ” In order to understand the impact of humanity on biodiversity, you have to be monitoring biodiversity… [just as] we have to monitor temperatures to understand climate change.” This project will empower humanity to protect our planet’s intricate assortment of life.
From the concept of DNA to a worldwide movement, CBG has reshaped how humanity understands life on Earth. Its innovations help us track, protect, and better understand nature, supporting the United Nations (UN) vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050.
Through its technology, partnerships, and vision, the University of Guelph’s Centre for Biodiversity Genomics is showing how science can help build a more sustainable and connected world.
