No Decision Yet On Manitoba Ag Days 2021

Aug 04, 2020

No decision has been made yet regarding next year's Manitoba Ag Days in Brandon, which is scheduled for January 19-21.

"I think it's still really early in the process," said General Manager Kristen Phillips. "I think a lot of people are learning and still trying to figure out what the long term plan is. Obviously, we are talking several different contingency plans but at this point we are looking forward to having a show.'

Phillips noted the planning group held a meeting last week.

"The number one thing we talk about is the safety of patrons and our exhibitors as well as obviously the staff and volunteers and keeping the staff at the Keystone Centre safe," she said. "Really thinking about how we could do a socially distant show and still make it work for everyone."

Last week, we heard that CropConnect 2021 was cancelled due to COVID-19. The conference was scheduled to take place in Winnipeg in February.

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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.