SynBio Canada Publishes Policy Memo in the Journal of Science Policy and Governance
A policy memo drafted by members of the SynBio Canada Executive Team was recently published in the Journal of Science Policy and Governance. The memo entitled “Invest in Canadian Synthetic Biology to Meet Commitments to Sustainable Development and Support Economic Recovery” adds to the chorus of calls for dedicated funding of synthetic biology in Canada.
The memo was initially written before the COVID-19 pandemic, then updated many times to stress how important synthetic biology is for our future.
Abstract: Canadian post-COVID-19 economic recovery efforts have been framed around values aligned with Canada's commitments to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily concerning environmental sustainability. The field of synthetic biology (synbio) offers many innovative ways to achieve these goals while growing the economy. Here, we discuss the opportunity for Canada to become a leader in clean technology applications of synbio. Investments in synthetic biology, which has traditionally been underfunded compared to other countries, will have beneficial impacts on the environment while driving Canada's post-pandemic economic recovery.