STATEMENT FROM PEI POTATO BOARD, STORIES FROM THE FIELD, REGARDING PEI POTATO CROP DESTRUCTION

Feb 11, 2022

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE - "This is a devastating week for potato farmers in Prince Edward Island. The worst-case scenario for any farmer is happening across the province – the destruction of safe and healthy food.

The closure of the U.S. border to PEI tablestock potatoes and restriction of movement of all seed potato by the Canadian Minister of Agriculture has left PEI growers with more than 300 million pounds of potatoes with nowhere to go, and farmers with no other options.

Over the last three months, our industry has worked tirelessly to move as much food as possible to new markets and those who need it including food banks and shelters across the country.

While we appreciate the efforts of everyone working to get the border open, 12 weeks ago we warned this was coming, and now it is here. It is a gut wrenching, traumatic experience for any farmer, and made worse knowing it was completely avoidable.

Unfortunately, this does not mark the end of the turmoil. Our industry is just weeks away from planting for next season and without a U.S. market that could mean tougher decisions and times ahead for Island potato farmers and the whole industry across the country."

Source : Cision

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.