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MI Ag Ideas to Grow With Virtual Conference Kicks Off February 19, 2024

Michigan State University Extension invites you to participate in the 2024 MI Ag Ideas to Grow With conference, February 19 through March 1, 2024.  

“Now in our fourth year, we are once again excited to showcase virtual learning about food and animal production,” Beth Ferry, MSU Extension educator based in Berrien County said. “The virtual platform is way to share a variety of agricultural-based sessions with attendees from all across the Great Lakes region.” 

The MI Ag Ideas to Grow With virtual conference will feature over 40 educational sessions across a two-week period with topics focused on fruit and vegetable production, field crops, animal agriculture, farm business management for beginners, the environment and conservation, growing and irrigation management. The conference will kick off on Monday, February 19 with sessions for beginning farmers and horse owners.

“The diversity of Michigan agriculture is showcased during this educational event, with opportunities for the new and beginning farm to the seasoned professional looking for Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) credits,” Jon LaPorte, MSU Extension educator based in Cass County said. “There’s truly a session for everyone and we look forward to the expertise this year’s speakers will share with producers.”  

Due to the generous support of MSU Extension, this event is offered to participants at no cost. However, attendees must register to receive the necessary Zoom links. Participants can attend as many sessions as they would like and are also able to jump around between tracks. RUP and CCA credits will be offered for several of the sessions. 

Source : msu.edu

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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.