Agricultural Growth Act Receives Royal Assent

Mar 02, 2015

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced Friday that Bill C-18, also known as the Agricultural Growth Act, has received Royal Assent.

The act is expected to modernize Canadian agriculture and increase trade opportunities for farmers by providing greater access to new crop varieties and the latest technology.

"Canadian agriculture is an important driver of economic growth across Canada," said Ritz. "The passage of the Agricultural Growth Act is a momentous step forward for our agricultural industry. This Bill will give producers a competitive advantage in the global marketplace, lead to increased investment in research and innovation, and translate into more jobs throughout the sector."

This new legislation strengthens agricultural intellectual property rights through the ratification of the act of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, also known as UPOV'91.

The legislation also improves access to the latest scientific research, reduces red tape and regulatory burden on producers, and expands global market opportunities.

Source: PortageOnline

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.