Glenlea Couple Heading To Fredericton For National Awards Banquet

Will and Jen Bergmann of Glenlea, MB are heading off to Fredericton, NB this week for the Canada's Outstanding Young Farmer's Awards Banquet.

 

They won the Manitoba award earlier this year.

 

The Bergmann Brothers (Est. 1925) farm canola, corn, wheat, soybeans, oats and pigs. In addition, Will and Jen started a CSA garden that provides organic fruit and vegetables for subscribing families and local restaurants. They also own a restaurant, Oxbow, near downtown Winnipeg and Will is active on social media, educating thousands about what farm life looks like.

 

"I've been working really hard to try to share the story of agriculture, be a voice in agriculture, for agriculture," said Will. "Sharing it with the urban population and connecting those dots around food production. Getting an opportunity to be with other farmers who are doing all kinds of outstanding things in different provinces and different regions is really exciting for me to be able to share that story further."

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.