Corn Refiners Submit Statement For The Record: Call For Increased Agricultural Trade

Feb 03, 2023

Earlier today, the Corn Refiners Association submitted a statement for the record to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry’s hearing on the trade and horticulture Farm Bill titles.

With the agricultural supply chain contributing over $7.4 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, the importance of the industries involved cannot be overstated. These industries directly support 21.5 million jobs, or more than 14% of U.S. employment, and are responsible for roughly one-fifth of the country’s economic activity. With 95% of the world’s consumers overseas, exports are a vital part of that activity and critical to the overall health of the U.S. economy.

In the statement, CRA also reinforced their gratitude for the Senate’s confirmation of Doug McKalip as USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator

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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.