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Weekly USMEF Audio Report: Study Highlights Importance of Keeping Pace on Ag Export Promotion Funding

The latest analysis of agricultural export promotion investment shows that U.S. public funding for its two largest export promotion programs is about $235 million per year. But due to inflation and other factors, the real value of this investment has declined 12 percent since 2011. During this same period, major competitors increased their investment in promotion of agricultural exports by 70 percent. 
 
Greg Hanes, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) assistant vice president for international marketing and programs, provides more details on this study, and on efforts to bolster support for U.S. investment in the promotion of agricultural exports in the next farm bill, in the above audio report.  
 

 


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

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.