London Farm Show Gearing Up

Mar 04, 2013

London Farm Show Opens Its Doors March 6

The London Farm Show will mark its 75th year at the Western Fair grounds in London, Ontario.

The popular agricultural show is set to open its doors Wednesday March 6th, 2013 and will wrap up on Friday March 8th. The three-day event will feature speakers, stage presentations, exhibits, live bull riding and much more.

One of the new features this year is the tractor of the year display. Some of the other key highlights include: induction ceremony for the Middlesex County Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees, farm safety day, and presenter Moe Agostino (Farms.com Risk Management).

Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door and children under 10 get in free. More information can be found on the Western Fair District 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.