The third annual meeting of the FastTRAC project was held in Quebec City on October 18-19, 2017. Nearly 30 scientists, partners and collaborators met to discuss progress, address user concerns and ensure that knowledge transfer meets their needs.
On the first day, the genomic selection results on Norway spruce and white spruce data sets were first discussed in depth with the users and additional analyzes needed to meet their needs were identified in order to facilitate the uptake of genomic selection by the users’ breeding programs. In the afternoon, the results of the financial and economic analyzes of various scenarios for the use of improved genetic material were discussed, highlighting the benefits of genomic selection.

On the second day, the participants met in one of the white spruce genetic tests of the Quebec Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, which was used for research carried out by the FastTRAC project. The participants could continue their exchanges while being able to appreciate the superiority of the trees selected for the white spruce advanced breeding program.