Saskatchewan resources shouldn’t be forgotten, says food expert

Mar 15, 2023

A Canadian food expert says Saskatchewan has the commodities the world needs.

While in Saskatoon for the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) annual convention, Sylvain Charlebois — professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab — spoke with Gormley on Tuesday morning.

Charlebois said people are starting to become more knowledgeable about food processes, and a greater awareness of the moving parts affecting what people eat is being realized.

However, Charlebois said he thinks the significant role Saskatchewan plays globally when it comes to food security is not being very well-recognized in Central Canada.

Click here to see more...

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.