Canada Launches M-MAP Project

Canada’s Digital Supercluster has officially launched the Mining Microbiome Analytics Platform (M-MAP), marking the country’s largest investment to date in natural resource genomic sequencing.

Led by Teck Resources and supported by a national consortium including BGC Engineering, Koonkie Canada, Rio Tinto, Genome BC, UBC, Allonnia, Microsoft, and the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI), the $16.6 million initiative is designed to revolutionize how microbes are used in mining. Over two years, more than 15,000 environmental samples will be sequenced to identify microbial functions that can support low-impact metal extraction and mine site remediation.

MMAP’s goal is to replace energy- and chemical-intensive methods with biologically driven alternatives—accelerating the industry’s shift toward decarbonization, water stewardship, and responsible land use. By uniting researchers, miners, and tech leaders, the project also ensures a direct pathway from discovery to commercial application.

As Canada's Minister of Innovation, François-Philippe Champagne, stated at the launch, the project reflects the country’s leadership in green innovation and “will contribute to achieving environmental sustainability not just here but also on a global scale.”

Read the full coverage from International Mining here.

MMAP launch partners. Image via International Mining.