I think the big thing with the Canadian approval process is that we need to ensure there is sound science for the safety and quality of our products. As an industry, we have an incentive to have that as well, because the long-term sustainability is based on our success.
At the same time, we are a small market compared to many other global markets that companies are looking to invest in. The biggest thing we see there is that if our process is overly onerous or duplicative compared to others, there will be limited incentive to come into a market that is relatively small compared to others.
One of the big things we see is the value of continuing to align our processes and recognizing work already done, especially with our counterpart in the U.S. We have very similar production environments in many areas relative to beef production. Therefore, we need to look at the science being done there, and identify where there are differences that require analysis but do not require additional science above and beyond what is necessary. Then, we must ensure that there are adequate resources within our infrastructure for that timely approval process so there are no backlogs.
I'll give you one example of a technology and what we are seeing. We are seeing new forage lines coming in that allow for extended grazing, so instead of producers having to go out and feed cattle year-round, they can put cattle on extended grazing. This has huge implications for western Canadian farmers who are short of labour and looking for alternative strategies. It results in mixed pastures.
One of the grasses is sainfoin, which helps reduce bloat risk, but you have to have an inoculant for it to grow successfully. Currently those inoculants are not approved in Canada. The seed that is developed in Canada is actually going down to the U.S. to be inoculated, and then producers are bringing it up to Canada. I look at that and say that's not necessarily the most productive for our seed companies. It is also not the most productive for our researchers, who are frankly frustrated by the process.
Timely approvals are important, whether they are related to that or to animal health drugs, as is ensuring that our private companies that are looking to invest at this point are not subjected to an overly onerous system.