Farm to Fork: Thriving agriculture scene in the northeast drives grain storage expansion

Jul 17, 2024

A robust agricultural scene in northeastern Ontario has spurred Co-op Régionale to expand its storage at its Timiskaming (Thornloe)) and West Nipissing (Verner) locations.

Brandon Tuinema, agriculture manager for Co-op Régionale, said the 4,000 member-owned organization is adding two grain bins, one each at its Timiskaming and West Nipissing locations this summer in anticipation of another large crop this year.

The 60-foot-diameter bins have the capacity to hold 3,000 tonnes of wheat.

The almost $2-million investment is largely attributed to the growth in acreage under cultivation, the changing crop mix, higher yield crops and more consistent year-by-year successful crop years, especially in the Verner area, Tuinema said.

The expansion and investment is representative of the state of agriculture in northeastern Ontario.

Source : Northern Ontario Business

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.