Global Institute for Food Security at USask and Canadian Beef Improvement Network launch strategic partnership

The partnership, beginning in November 2025, eliminates the need for Canadian beef producers to send tissue samples abroad for testing. Cross-border testing presents logistical challenges, including border-related shipment delays, extended turnaround times for testing, and the storage of Canadian beef genotypes outside the country. 

Following months of consultation and development to identify a more streamlined, effective and sustainable approach, and in partnership with CBIN, GIFS has established a robust, high-throughput DNA testing and analysis platform designed to meet the needs of Canada’s agriculture and food sector. Breeders and producers can now access GIFS genotyping services directly through CBIN and their collaborative breed association partners.

This capability builds resiliency by providing the beef industry with a faster, secure, and more reliable pathway to gaining genetic insights and certifying pedigree.

Repatriation of Canadian beef cattle genetic data and DNA through the strategic partnership between GIFS and CBIN will: 

• Streamline logistics, removing the risks and delays associated with cross-border shipments.
• Strengthen system resilience, reducing reliance on international infrastructure and enhancing continuity for beef producers.
• Deliver economic value, keeping investment, expertise, and high throughput genotyping dollars within Canada.
• Protect data sovereignty, ensuring Canadian genomic data is securely stored, processed, and managed within national borders.
• Enhance global competitiveness, enabling Canadian producers to benefit directly from future innovations and insights driven by their data — rather than seeing value from the Canadian data being created and captured abroad.
• Provide world-class precision, with GIFS delivering accurate, high-quality, and reproducible DNA testing and bioinformatics results.

The partnership is a key step towards closing Canada’s agricultural productivity gap, giving beef breeders and producers the tools they need to accelerate genetic improvement and make data-driven decisions with confidence.

Quotes

“GIFS’ state-of-the-art laboratories, scientific expertise, and advanced genomic technologies will centralize genotyping capacity and knowledge within Canada—strengthening the foundation for a more competitive, innovative, and resilient beef industry. By bringing this capability home, Canada can enhance data security, accelerate innovation and productivity, and position its beef sector for stronger performance in global markets.”

“This capacity at GIFS was supported by investments from Farm Credit Canada as well as Prairies Economic Development Canada into our institute’s breeding acceleration program, to equip Canada’s world-class breeders with the tools and technologies needed to accelerate productivity and development for Canadian agriculture. We look forward to working with CBIN and their participating member associations, breeders, and industry stakeholders to grow capacity and drive further innovations.”

— Steven R. Webb, Chief Executive Officer, Global Institute for Food Security.

“Canada’s beef industry is recognized around the world for its top-quality beef animals and products, and our world-class genetics and breeding programs have been instrumental in achieving and maintaining this standard. It is paramount that our breeders and producers have access to the most innovative breeding technologies and data-driven decision support tools to continue to be leaders in the international marketplace.”

“We are extremely pleased to be able to connect our collaborative stakeholders with the world-class technologies available through GIFS and to offer these foundational services to Canadian beef cattle breeders and producers right here at home. With the support of our collaborative stakeholders, we look forward to continuing to build on this exciting partnership to deliver even more innovative genetic technologies and decision support tools to the Canadian beef industry.”

— Sandy Russell, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Beef Improvement Network.

“By providing this world-class infrastructure, the University of Saskatchewan and GIFS can strengthen market competitiveness and drive innovation across the agri-food sector. These advancements position Saskatchewan as a global leader in sustainable beef production, and we look forward to working with CBIN now and into our bright future.”

— Baljit Singh, Vice President of Research, University of Saskatchewan.

“The Canadian Gelbvieh Association (CGA) has been working diligently to support the Canadian Beef Improvement Network and create value for our members and beef producers within Canada. The transition to utilizing GIFS for genotyping services marks a significant milestone for our association and for Canada’s beef sector as a whole. It reinforces CGA’s commitment to advancing innovation, improving efficiency, and strengthening Canada’s capacity in genetics, data stewardship, and agtech excellence.”

“We are genuinely excited about what this partnership represents: Canadian innovation supporting Canadian producers. It positions CGA and our members as leaders and pacesetters within Canada’s beef industry, driving progress, protecting data integrity, and delivering measurable value.

— Sarah Van Schothorst, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Gelbvieh Association.

“This partnership reinforces Saskatchewan’s position as a national leader in livestock genetic testing and innovation. Initiatives like the one announced today are essential to driving sector growth and meeting the targets in our 2030 Growth Plan.”

— Hon. Daryl Harrison, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Saskatchewan.

“When FCC invested in the breeding acceleration program at GIFS, we envisioned outcomes like this. We are pleased that Canadian beef producers now have access to faster, secure, and more reliable tools to support herd improvement. This announcement is great news for the sector. FCC is proud to support the partnerships and technologies that contribute to a stronger future for Canadian agriculture.”

— Todd Klink, Executive Vice-President, Marketing and Public Affairs, Farm Credit Canada.

About the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS):

The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) is a sought-out partner in agriculture and food innovation. We turn science into innovation, advancing research, accelerating development, and helping partners move from ideas to market. Learn more about GIFS at gifs.ca.

About the Canadian Beef Improvement Network (CBIN):

The Canadian Beef Improvement Network (CBIN) is a cross-sector, collaborative network focused on connecting breeders, producers, researchers, and industry stakeholders in unifying, modernizing, and expanding genetic data to inform decision support tools, validate sustainability, and increase value capture from conception to consumption in the Canadian beef industry. Created in 2015 and supported by the Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC), CBIN is connecting participating stakeholders with innovative solutions to drive valuable genetic advancements through the entire beef production chain. Learn more about CBIN at canadianbeefbreeds.com/cbin.