Farmers Invited to Participate in Biochar Trials

Jul 19, 2013

Canadian farmers and landowners have the opportunity to participate in large-scale biochar field trials, which will be conducted to determine the viability of different types of biochars for agriculture use; and its purpose as a possible tool to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Biochar is a type of granulated charcoal which can be used as a soil amendment. It is currently under examination as an approach to carbon sequestration, the process of carbon capture and storage. The trails will be conducted by the Canadian Biochar Consortium. For more information about biochar and the field trials - contact Lloyd Helferty at lhelferty@sympatico.ca.

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.