Many Ag Societies Struggling With Pandemic

Like many organizations during this pandemic, agriculture societies are struggling to make ends meet.

 

Because of the lock down and the restrictions on the size of groups that can meet safely, many societies just aren't making any money and some are in serious trouble. Given the recent outbreaks in Alberta that involved large groups, there likely won't be an easing of those restrictions anytime soon.

 

Janelle Saskiw General Manager with the Lloydminster Exhibition Association says they have been left out of the Province's plan to reopen.  "The biggest issue is that the ag societies have been left out of the reopen plan.  A lot of the other entities and industries have been allowed to operate a moderate levels yet our guidelines are still very restrictive. Alberta I am limited to have only 50 people in our facility."

 

Many people have not been booking events due to those restrictions.  Saskiw acknowledges that the societies have reached out to government without much of a response.  "We've reached out to the government.  I'll be quite honest, there hasn't been a lot of outreach back to us.  I understand that it is our entire economy and everybody is hurting, and everybody has the exact same concerns, but there hasn't been much brought back to the table to have those discussions with us to remediate this issue."

 

According to Saskiw, there are a few things that will be key for their ag society to get through this.  "There's two things that need to have done.  We need to work with the government to create some type of bridge funding.  I know everybody is in the exact same predicament where they need additional funds, but truthfully, many of us are on our very last lifeline, with us having to cancel all of our events.  The other thing is we need to be able to sit down at the table and work out a formula where we can safely open up our doors to limited people.  Considering the size of our venues, we can bring in 100 or 200 people into our venues quite safely."

 

Saskiw states that if something is not done in the near future, many ag societies will have to disband.

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.