Thanks.
I'll just build on what Dr. Pontarollo has been saying about this innovation ecosystem. I'll touch on a few points about education and the importance of communication in agriculture.
From policy-makers and business leaders to the general public, people are really faced with tough decisions surrounding agricultural biotechnology. That's why education is so important—so that decisions can be based on scientific facts rather than myths, assumptions, or misinformation.
There was a recent public opinion survey developed by Ipsos Reid on behalf of the BioAccess Commercialization Centre in Saskatoon that highlighted some of the public perceptions regarding GM technologies. The survey really showcased the confusion and the high levels of misunderstanding among Canadian consumers regarding GM technologies.
The majority of respondents surveyed believed that our poultry and strawberries and other products are genetically modified, when that's not the case in reality. This underscores a key challenge that's at the heart of our ability to drive innovation and competitiveness, because the truth of the matter is that without public understanding of the value of biotechnology, our ability to achieve progress in innovation and competitiveness will be really hampered.
At Genome Prairie we invest a great deal in education and outreach, but it's clear that a lot more needs to be done. We need to strengthen the Canadian innovation system with stronger levels of public support and understanding. So we recommend that with stronger science-based communication and outreach initiatives, we can make sure that people have access to the information they need to make decisions based on facts rather than fiction. That's a major factor in ensuring that the power and promise of R and D is realized for improved innovation and improved competitiveness in Canadian agriculture.
Thank you.