The Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security Announces New Partner Funding

Oct 12, 2017

The Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security (“the Centre”) today announced investments in four innovative new projects that focus on advancing food security in Canada. The Centre’s new partners are Food Secure Canada, Meal Exchange, Ottawa Food Bank and Kamloops Food Policy Council. Since it was established in late 2016, the Centre has committed investments of more than $3.4 million to support eleven projects.

It is estimated that 1 in 6 children and 4 million Canadians (approximately 12% of the population) face food insecurity. This is a complex and very challenging social issue that requires urgent public policy and community based solutions.

“It is a national shame that with our wealth as a nation and abundant food, four million Canadians face hunger,” said Michael H. McCain, Honorary Chair of the Centre. “This requires policy reform. It requires new ways of tackling the issue. It requires action by business, civil society and individuals.”

Funding these forward-thinking initiatives, which range from addressing on-campus student hunger to creating a multi-stakeholder food security community of practice, will yield important insights and outcomes.

Source: MAPLE LEAF

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.