Bean Genome Mapping Spearheaded by University of Guelph

On 28 February 2011, the Guelph Mercury reported that the University of Guelph would head up a $11 million dollar genome mapping project that will sequence dry beans.   Research will be include collaboration between the University of Guelph's agriculture department, Canandian academic researchers at the universities of Windsor and London, Ontario and the provincial Ministry of Research and Innovation.  The latter is providing $3.7-million in funding for the project.   The focus will be on gene mapping, not creating any gene-modified (GM) beans or related products.

Currently, "Ontario’s dry bean sector generates $100 million a year, part of an $11-billion global bean industry."  According to Canadian Research and Innovation Ministry parliamentary assistant Reza Moridi, "Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector is second only to the automotive industry in economic impact."

For more see: Kirsch, Vik. "U of G to lead USD 11 million project to map dry bean genome," Guelph Mercury, 28 February 2011.