Farmers Reminded To Share Views On Seed Royalties

Farmers have until October 15th to share their views on proposed changes to seed royalty structures for cereal crops

 

An online survey can be found at seedroyaltysurvey.com.

 

The survey was launched in July by the Alberta Federation of Agriculture, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and Keystone Ag Producers of Manitoba. The three prairie farm groups are collecting producer feedback on proposed changes to the way royalties are collected on saved cereal crop seeds, after concerns were raised about the level of producer input in the government’s consultation process.

 

“We have received clear feedback from producers across our three provinces on proposed changes to seed royalty structures, but we want to ensure that with harvest underway we provide the ability for producers to continue to respond during this busy time of year,” said KAP President Bill Campbell. “Producers need to be involved in the consultation process to ensure that these structures work in their best interest.”

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.