On World Environment Day, Genome British Columbia announced new funding to help communities across BC and the Yukon better monitor their environments using a powerful scientific tool: environmental DNA, or eDNA.

eDNA detects trace amounts of genetic material left behind in water, soil, or air. It can identify which species are present — from fish to bacteria — without needing to trap or even see them. The method was widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic to monitor virus levels in wastewater, and now it’s being expanded to support public health, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

“These investments reflect how genomics is helping us learn directly from the environments we live in — and how that knowledge can be shared in ways that empower communities,” said Dr. Federica Di Palma, chief scientific officer at Genome BC.

The not-for-profit organization is supporting three new projects that will make eDNA tools more accessible to remote and Indigenous communities, while respecting Indigenous data sovereignty.

ChùNet

Led by Erin Gill (Simon Fraser University) and Math’ieya Alatini (One Yukon Coalition), ChùNet will build a knowledge-sharing network focused on water-based eDNA monitoring in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities in BC and the Yukon. The project includes community-led training and a demonstration program, all grounded in OCAP® principles that support Indigenous ownership and control of data.

iMicroSeq

Led by Fiona Brinkman and Emma Griffiths (Simon Fraser University), iMicroSeq will develop a national data platform for microbial eDNA monitoring — particularly from wastewater. The goal is to link public health, agriculture, and environmental data while enabling better pathogen detection. The platform will support both researchers and communities and follow the “One Health” approach, which recognizes the connection between human, animal, and environmental health.

eDNA Explorer Canada

This project, led by Caren Helbing (University of Victoria) and Rachel Meyer (University of California Santa Cruz), adapts a U.S.-based tool for Canadian use. The platform allows users to view and share biodiversity data from eDNA samples. It builds on previous work from the iTrackDNA initiative, which helped establish Canada’s national eDNA standards.

Genome BC says it has invested in more than 550 research and innovation projects over the past 25 years.