Government Approves Funding Towards Variety Of Crop-Related Research Projects

Jan 19, 2017

Funding for agricultural research was announced last Tuesday at CropSphere in Saskatoon.

The federal and provincial governments announced nearly 7.7 million dollars in funding through the provincial Agriculture Development Fund for 46 crop-related research projects.

The largest share of the money will go for research at the University of Saskatchewan and its Crop Development Centre.

Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart says the money invested in research pays off.

"We look at seven to one return on investment from these types of research projects," he said.

Stewart says $1.6 million dollars is earmarked for cereal grains, 1.73 million for oilseeds and 2.38 million dollars for pulses.

"Money spent on lentil research through the CDC is yielding a 29 to one return on investment, so this is money well spent," Steward said.

Source : Discoverestevan

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.