Grain Farmers of Ontario Thanks the Ontario Government for Taking Leadership on Ethanol Mandate

GUELPH, ON – Grain Farmers of Ontario, the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers, extends congratulations to the Government of Ontario  for making Ontario the first province to require fuel suppliers to increase the amount of renewable content in regular-grade gasoline to 15 per cent, showing true leadership in its environmental policies.

 

Increasing the amount of renewable content in regular-grade gasoline is great for the environment and for Ontario’s corn growers. Ethanol as a gasoline additive reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 62 per cent compared to fossil fuels. This clean, renewable fuel is already being used in regular-grade gasoline.

 

“We are pleased to see that the Ontario Government, especially the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Jeff Yurek, for recognizing that in order to be a greener, more sustainable province we must use the renewable resources that we are able to grow here,” said Markus Haerle, Chair, Grain Farmers of Ontario. “Ontario grain farmers look forward to working with the government and industry to meet this growing need for Ontario corn.” 

 

Grain Farmers of Ontario has been working with Renewable Industries Canada to promote the implementation of the E15 standard across Ontario. 

 

Currently almost 3 million metric tonnes of Ontario corn is being used in ethanol production.

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.