Farm Progress Show Opens its Doors

Aug 27, 2013

Farm Progress Show Opens its Doors

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

The annual Farm Progress Show kicks off today in Decatur, IL with organizers expecting a record number of international attendees from about 40 different countries. The three-day event draws thousands of people annually to the nations (largest) farm show.

More than 600 exhibitors are expected to be featured at the show, with about 70 new exhibitors. Exhibits will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and on Thursday, the final day of the show, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost of admission to the show is $15 for adults and $8 for children ages 13 to 17. The show will offer demonstrations, presentations and entertainment. Farms.com has a booth at # 9222. The full exhibitor list can be found on the Farm Progress Show website.

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.