Gene editing, precision agriculture, cereals and climate change are included in the areas prioritized by the partnership Embrapa and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formalizes technical cooperation between the two institutions on July 22, 2020. As a result of the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus, the document was virtually signed by Celso Moretti, president of Embrapa, and by Gilles Saindon, assistant deputy minister of AAFC's Science and Technology Branch (STB). The MOU consolidates a partnership that has been in place since the mid-2000s in the areas of wheat breeding and climate change, and opens doors for new research and innovation in advanced fields of science like gene editing and precision agriculture. Despite climate and socioeconomic differences, Brazil and Canada are continental countries with similar challenges concerning food production, agro-industrial products, and sustainability of agricultural systems. Such convergence of interests toward the development of solutions and innovations for agriculture was underscored by Embrapa and AAFC leaders during the virtual ceremony, which included the participation, on Embrapa's side, of Guy de Capdeville and Adriana Martin, respective directors of R&D and Innovation and Technology; and of Alexandre Varella, coordinator of Labex USA, as well as of secretaries, managers and researchers from both institutions. “Not even the pandemic stopped us from discussing, advancing and signing such an important document to formalize and strenghten the partnership with Embrapa”, Saindon stressed. He said that during the many times when he came to Brazil, he had the chance to visit several Embrapa research units in different Brazilian regions and he would always identify opportunities of interaction with STB. Today, the department, which is AAFC 's arm for science and technology in Canada, counts on 20 research centers and coordinates approximately 900 projects related to agriculture. The president of Embrapa stated that even in this point the institutions are very similar, since Embrapa's research portfolio also has about 900 projects today. Moretti celebrated the formalization of the partnership and the importance it represents to reinforce the sustainability and competitiveness of the agricultural sector in both countries. He emphasized the importance of science and cooperation with Brazilian and international institutions for the development of agriculture. “They were the main foundations so that Brazil could jump from the position of food importer in the 1970s to becoming one of the main players in world agribusiness nowadays”, the president asserted. The “Brazilian saga", as defined by Moretti, was based on the transformation of poor and acid soils into fertile lands, the tropicalization of plants and animals, and the construction of a sustainable platform. “The signature of the Memorandum of Understanding with AAFC broadens horizons for the exchange of knowledge and experiences in new areas that will ensure the continuity of agricultural growth in both countries, such as food and nutritional security, biotechnology, Big Data, Machine Learning, and others”, celebrated the president. The past and the preent of the cooperation: climate changes and cereals The meeting, included presentations on RD&I action jointly developed by Embrapa and AAFC. The first one, by Beata Madari, a researcher at Embrapa Rice and Beans, involved collaborative studies to mitigate the effects of climate change, which include: the development of molecular tools and models to measure and reduce emissions from fertilizers used in agriculture and to increase carbon sequestration in farmlands, and the adaptation of foods with tolerance to climate stresses. The second one, by Brent McCallum, an AAFC researcher, showcased research aimed at wheat breeding and genetic improvement, with a focus on the development of Toropi-variety wheat plants with resistance to wheat leaf rust, one of the most harmful diseases for the crop as it can cause grain yield to be cut to half. The studies resulted in the development of more than 100 plants, which have been undergoing tests in Canada since 2016. As future challenges, MacCallum mentioned the need to give continuity to the research with the Toropi wheat by evaluating the varieties in the weather conditions of Brazil and Canada. Moreover, he also highlighted the importance of maintaining the exchange of researchers and students between the two countries, and of investing in other issues related to the improving wheat quality, including cutting-edge research in the areas of biotechnology and gene editing. Photo: Flavio Santana The future of the partnership: gene editing and precision agriculture The areas of gene editing and digital and/or precision agriculture were enlisted by the institutions as priority ones for the cooperation, not only with regard to cereals, but with other crops and livestock of mutual interest. According to Guy de Capdeville, director of R&D, there will be two workshops between September and November of 2020 to define teams and priority lines of research in those areas. The two events will have joint coordination. The gene editing workshop will be coordinated on Embrapa's part by Alexandre Nepomuceno and Hugo Molinari, respectively president and executive secretary of the portfolio "Advanced Biotechnology Applied to Agribusiness". On AAFC's side, by Étienne Lord, researcher in Artificial Intelligence, and Louis Longchamps, both from STB. Precision agriculture will be under the responsibility of Ricardo Inamasu and Angélica Leite, respective chairman and executive secretary of the portfolio "Automation and Digital Precision Agriculture", for Embrapa. AAFC's coordinating counterpart will be the researcher Stacy Singer. The scientific cooperation projects (SCP) will be initiated in 2021. Check the full list of participants from both institutions Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Science and Technology Branch: Gilles Saindon – Assistant Deputy Minister Javier Gracia-Garza – Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister Alana Yuill – Director-General, Partnerships and Planning Yannik Melançon – Director, International Engagement Brent McCallum – cereals researcher John Laurie – researcher of bioproducts and bioprocesses Craig Drury – Soil biochemist, Environmental Health Claudia Goyer – Moleculat bacteriologist, Science Programs Louis Longchamps – researcher on Precision Agriculture Étienne Lord – researcher on Artificial Intelligence Embrapa: Celso Moretti – President Guy de Capdeville – Executive Director of Research and Development, and team Adriana Regina Martin – Executive Director of Innovation and Technology, and team Alexandre Varella – Labex USA Coordinator Alexandre Nepomuceno – chairman of Advanced Biotechnology Applied to Agribusiness portfolio Ricardo Inamasu – chairman of Automation and Digital Precision Agriculture portfolio Silvia Massruhá – General Head of Embrapa Agricultural Informatics, and team Elcio Guimarães – General Head of Embrapa Rice and Beans, and team Ana Christina Albuquerque – Embrapa Wheat's Head of R&D, and team Bruno Brasil – Secretary of R&D, and team Rita Milagres – Secretary of Intelligence and Strategic Relations, and team Translation: Mariana Medeiros