Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I have always been fascinated with agriculture, although I was practically born on the sidewalk in the heart of a large city. From the age of four and a half on, I was educated in an institutional setting. My knowledge of agriculture is, therefore, rather limited. In any event, I have learned more about it in recent years. I regularly listen to excellent CBC programs about agriculture, which has become a virtual industry. Farmers need to possess a range of talents, including a knowledge of economics, mechanics and biochemistry.
Early on in your presentation, you talked about inputs and fertilizers, about pest control products that help you to continue maximizing your yield on the same amount of acreage. I can understand your need to maximize your productivity to compete globally. That is a reality. However, if we think back to the era of our grandfathers or great-grandfathers, yields may have been lower then, but good quality crops were nevertheless produced.
How do you respond to that?