Oat Growers Want Access To Chinese Market

 

The Canadian oat industry has its eyes set on China.

 

Market Analyst Randy Strychar, president of oatinformation.com, says demand for oats in China is growing, due to the changing middle class economy.

 

However, he notes there is a problem getting oats into the country.

 

"The biggest problem we're having right now getting oats into the Chinese market is the protocol is not in place for us to put oats in there," commented Strychar. "We can put seed oats in there but we can't put oats for human consumption. When that's going to get done, I don't know, they've been working on it for 24 months. The Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA) did send a delegation over there this summer and it is now on the agenda."

 

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.