Alberta Wheat Commission Announces 2022 Board of Directors

Jan 28, 2022

Greg Sears a farmer from Sexsmith is the new Chair of the Alberta Wheat Commission.

Sears takes over the role from Todd Hames who served as Chair of the organization for two years.

Hames who also serves as Chair of Cereals Canada remains on the board.

Joining Sears on the executive is Bentley area farmer Jason Lenz who will serve as Vice-Chair, while Shawn Jacula, a farmer from Vermillion will serve as Second Vice-Chair.

Following the AGM, the board officially welcomed three new directors Jason Craig, who farms near Delburne, David Bishop, who farms near Barons, and Devin Hartzler, who farms near Carstairs.

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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.