MPSG Holds Virtual AGM

Feb 11, 2021

Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG) held its AGM online Wednesday as part of CropConnect 2021.

Executive Director Daryl Domitruk looked back on the past year.

"Despite the challenges, crop-wise 2020 was an improvement over 2019. This helped with field activities such as crop surveillance and on-farm tests. Field research at universities and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada also benefitted from improved crop conditions. However, in some cases, research was curtailed due to pandemic restrictions. Of course, virtually all in person extension was cancelled."

Wednesday was also World Pulses Day.

CropConnect continues Thursday with AGM's for Manitoba Crop Alliance and Manitoba Canola Growers. Manitoba Oat Growers and Manitoba Seed Growers held their AGM's Wednesday.

Click here to see more...

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.