Farming
with the Biotech Edge - What
Fungi can do for the World’s Crops
with
John Cross
Philom Bios Inc., Saskatoon
Microbes have been both friend and foe for food producers since the beginning
of time - friends as drivers of natural processes to prepare nutritional
foodstuffs, and foes as disease-causing agents. Both fungi and bacteria
are used in agriculture to give plants better access to nutrients and
improve fertility. Known as inoculants, and normally applied as seed treatments,
these products put more grain in the bin for farmers, and bring real environmental
benefits. The presentation will focus on the problems and potential of
this exciting field.
John Cross is President and Chairman, of Philom Bios Inc., a Canadian-owned
company that has developed and commercialized two "world-first"
inoculant products now in use by Prairie farmers. A master's graduate
in chemical engineering (University of Western Ontario), he has pursued
an outstanding career in the development of new products for the fermentation,
food, beverage, dairy and animal feed industries. He was named Entrepreneur
of the Year, Prairie Region, in Science and Technology in 1995, and received
the first Agribusiness Leadership Award from the Saskatoon and District
Chamber of Commerce in 1998.
Simultaneous translation will be provided.
Co-Sponsors:
--the Speaker of the Senate, the Hon. Gildas Molgat
--the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Hon. Gilbert Parent
--Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE)
--NSERC
DATE: Thursday, April 13, 2000 from 7:30 am - 9:00 am
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