Final Numbers Declare 44th Agribition As Best Show Yet

Dec 15, 2014

The wrap-up is done and the numbers are finally in.

Canadian Western Agribition officials are now declaring the 44th edition of the Regina show as the best yet.

The show's success can be attributed to favourable market conditions and the enhancement of core programming.

The anchor of the event, beef cattle, saw entries up modestly but witnessed huge increases in the value of animals being sold as a result of increases in market prices.

In many instances, cattle prices were 50 per cent higher than previous year with the highest selling bull at $62,000.

CEO Marty Seymour says the international buyer engagement was down slightly as a result of a slumping global economy and changes to the Canadian dollar.

However, Exhibitors more than made up for it in domestic sales.

Sorce: 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.