LAB 360 TOUR: Resilient Forests (RES-FOR) part 2
Channel: appropriate entertainment
Date: 2016-10-20

The University of Alberta's NADIR ERBILGIN, Ph.D. is your guide.

The Canadian forest industry generated $28 billion in exports and added $19.8 billion to the GDP in 2013. 

Insect outbreaks and drought-affected regions are happening at such a pace that trees are not able to adapt; traditional tree improvement methodologies are also too slow to provide adapted seedlings for reforestation needs. 
 
Dr. Erbilgin and his colleagues are leading a diverse team of academics, industry and government personnel that will integrate genomics, metabolic profiling and mathematical modeling into existing tree breeding programs to generate pest- and drought-resistant trees with improved wood quality. 

Application of their work will shorten the time it takes for a complete tree-breeding cycle from ~30 to ~10 years. Tree breeders will be able to rapidly select a broader range of important tree traits to improve wood quality and develop trees resilient to drought and resistant to emerging threats from 'climate change' and associated pest outbreaks.