Ukraine farming issues could be positive for North American farmers

Feb 11, 2015

Eastern-European country may have to increase imports

As access to fertilizer, seeds and other agriculture supplies for farmers in Ukraine seems to diminish because of political strife, the country may be forced to look elsewhere to feed the citizens.

If that’s the case, it could be good news for Canada and the United States.

Statistics Canada reported over $209 million in exports to the Ukraine in 2013. The top exports from the agri-food sector were, in order, frozen pork products, dog and cat food, soybean seeds and live cattle.

Soybeans are largely grown in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island. Ontario leads the way with over 3 million metric tonnes of soybeans produced in 2013, followed by Manitoba with just over 1 million metric tonnes.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) just released the February World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) Report and it showed soybean ending stocks are projected to be down 25 million bushels and selling from $9.45 to $10.95 per bushel. If things don’t improve in the Ukraine, the soybean market could see them as a large export partner.

As far as the United States goes, they exported $135 million of agriculture products to Ukraine in 2012. The top products were poultry meat, planting seeds and egg-related products.

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.