Thank you, Chair.
I'd like to thank our witnesses for still being with us even after the votes. I'd like to thank you all for your presentations. They were very interesting and I really enjoyed a lot of the recommendations. They were hard to follow. I have a page and a half of notes.
I would just like to start my questions and perhaps you can all answer and we'll go around that way.
We've had witnesses come to committee and say that in the programs out there right now, five years is not enough and we need to have a longer-term vision for research and innovation. I wonder if you can comment on the need for perhaps a long-term vision instead of programs that are so short. Also perhaps comment on the agri-innovation program and whether it is working.
On sugar beets, Mr. Third, you mentioned that we need to a more timely response to the applications. I wonder if you would all comment on that, please.