Industry committee  The University of Western Ontario, in the department of biology, has a 50-year history of interacting with Agriculture Canada's station in London, Ontario, which is a huge research station. Over the last several years we've decreased the barriers and allowed research scientists at Ag Canada to be part of the department.

Industry committee  If I may, yes, there is overlap. I think that's a very important overlap, because we use the techniques of genetics and microbiology to address larger-scale questions. Of course we have overlap in various areas to strengthen our approach in terms of understanding the environmental impact.

Industry committee  Yes, as I mentioned to you earlier, to find that right balance, it depends on the area. For example, in the area of medicine—molecular biology, genetics, and so on—there's a tremendous potential for targeted research. There are other areas that are just as important that don't appear to have the potential for commercialization immediately, but if you're not investing in these areas now, what will happen 10 to 15 years from now?

Industry committee  I've been doing this research on the environment for 30 years, before climate change was a big issue. Issues arise over time, and we have to be sensitive to changes in issues. We can't put all our eggs necessarily in one basket, because it may not be that basket that we want to put them in 15 to 20 years from now.

Industry committee  I think the balance varies depending on the area. For example, I would think that the area of the environment now is a crucial area that government and scientists are focused on worldwide. The likelihood that you're going to get a commercializable product supporting environmental research is not necessarily obvious, yet the importance of this is unquestionable.

Industry committee  Thank you very much for inviting me and giving me the opportunity to describe the Biotron, a facility funded through CFI. The Biotron is an interdisciplinary international experimental climate change research facility located on the campus of the University of Western Ontario and dedicated to the elucidation of the impact of climate change and extreme environments on plants, insects, and micro-organisms.