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USDA Oil Crops Outlook

Based on larger than expected March soybean stocks, USDA raised its forecast of domestic crush this month by 20 million bushels to 1.635 billion. Also, U.S. soybean exports for 2012/13 are forecast up 5 million bushels this month to 1.35 billion. An offsetting change in the residual left the forecast of U.S. season-ending soybean stocks unchanged at an unusually tight 125 million bushels.

Global soybean production for 2012/13 is estimated 1.6 million metric tons higher this month to 269.6 million due to better crop outlooks for Paraguay and Uruguay. Shipping delays from South America prompted USDA to lower its forecast of China’s 2012/13 soybean imports by 2 million tons this month to 61 million. Global exports of soybean meal in 2012/13 may only edge up to 58.6 million tons, versus 58.3 million in 2011/12, because of lagging production for Brazil and Argentina.

Source: USDA


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Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

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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.