You said that feeding people is extremely important, as is funding research into doing so. I agree with you entirely, all the more so, since one billion people are still going hungry at the moment. With current population increases, we will not necessarily solve the problem in the short term. So we are in full agreement that the challenges we are facing are huge, but also interesting. As a researcher, you must know that you have a very important role in all of this.
On the topic of challenges and the importance of funding research, when we began our study in biotechnology, during our travels to visit various institutions, research centres and universities, we learned that the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, NSERC, had decided to remove agriculture and food from its funding priorities. So the $1.1 billion in available grants will be directed more to the environment, natural resources, information technology and the manufacturing sector. I am not opposed to research in those sectors, but I have trouble understanding why a decision was made not to prioritize agriculture and food.
I know that you are in awkward position, you work at the research council and therefore the Government of Canada is your employer. But you are a plant researcher. This change in focus will affect your work as a researcher directly.
Can you say a few words about that?