Agriculture committee  I'll just note that we have done some exceptional research in barley over the last few years, and it continues. There is cereals research going on in our institution. There's also research going on in terms of wheat midge tolerance in the wheat area, so it is happening. If I could pick up on what was being said, it's not happening at the levels that might produce much more effective cereal crops here, crops that would be much more competitive.

Agriculture committee  Also on the CFIA, I have a complete lack of understanding of why they would go to a long list for specified-risk materials in the beef industry when we have had a North American industry for decades and we're supposed to compete with the U.S. market, where they're doing a short list of specified-risk materials.

Agriculture committee  I think the biggest problem is in the regulatory area, where so many of the companies are held up. That timeframe is huge. It's different from the U.S. timeframe, and the area of development funding is weak as well.

Agriculture committee  Actually, it's a general lack of understanding. We talked about it in terms of education--what is biotechnology? There are a number of national figures who have significant public impact and influence who, in my view, do and should know better, but who continue to promote a view that is anti-biotechnology, even though they're focusing primarily on GM.

Agriculture committee  --but if we're actually going to meet the needs that we see in front of us as we're moving into the future, we must, as leaders, make good decisions based on sound science.

Agriculture committee  Alex and I have had a couple of discussions about this over the years, and we don't have a shared view of the ag-biotech industry. I believe we have seen over many years, with the development of crops like canola, that there is tremendous positive impact, and I think that is being missed.

Agriculture committee  I'd like to amend somewhat the sense that it's just from the public sector. The public sector, the government, has an opportunity in dealing with the major corporations that work in the agricultural biotechnology field. It's not just about tax cuts, which of course ring well if you're politicking; it's also about structuring those taxes and tax regimes so that companies are encouraged and enabled to invest in these areas.

Agriculture committee  Okay.

Agriculture committee  There are two areas, and one is just generally bringing youth in. We know the farms are no longer providing enough young people into this area, so our outreach into urban areas and our education around the impacts of agriculture and ag-bio are really essential. We're developing new programs in the area, and those programs need to be supported and sustained in outreach.

Agriculture committee  I don't think it does--I think biotechnology is a good term--but we do need to continue to define it publicly. I agree that most people seem to assume that it's just dealing with GMO.

Agriculture committee  I think the forum can be good, but the basis upon which you're making decisions in the forum is crucial. I know the temptation in politics is to make them on what's popular or what's going to have impact in terms of a vote, but if you're making them, I would make the appeal that what needs to be used in this area in particular is the very best of our science.

Agriculture committee  Yes.

Agriculture committee  I won't answer the mechanics part, so I'll wait for a moment if somebody else wants to do it.

Agriculture committee  Thank you. It's nice to be here. It's really a privilege to have the opportunity to appear before the agriculture committee, and particularly to address this subject on the part of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. I've been in association with the college to some extent for over seven years.