Way Too Many Potatoes, Farmers Find Ways to Dump Their Crops

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are an over abundance of potatoes in Canada and worldwide.  According to the United Potato Growers of Canada, approximately 200 million pounds of potatoes are in limbo.

 

Processors in our province are full as many restaurants that would typically purchase french fries are closed or are purchasing substantially lower amounts.  Some farmers in Idaho have such extreme surpluses of potatoes, they're dumping crops and dairy farms have started feeding potatoes to their cattle. Despite a growing demand in grocery stores, potato prices have plummeted in the last few weeks due to social distancing and a lack of demand in restaurants and the food industry. Only a few weeks prior, the industry was looking at the best prices in recent memory with even a projection of a summer shortage of spuds.

 

There has been an initiative in Canada and around the world to help potato farmers, eat more french fries.  French fries account for approximately 65% of the total potato crop in Canada.  So, to help our Alberta potato farmers, maybe have french fries as a side more often.  

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.