The federal standing committee on Agriculture and Agrifood toured Olds last week as part of an examination of the bio-tech industry and the benefits to agriculture. As part of the tour, seven members of the committee, including Wild Rose MP Blake Richards, looked at the bio-fuels research facility at Olds College, as well as the Banner Pharmacaps facility.Bio-technology and bio-fuels are the wave of the future and facilities such as those at Olds College are a key part of developing that future, said Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Larry Miller, chair of the committee.ìIf we want to be a big part of feeding the world Ö facilities like Olds College here and the things that they're doing in bio-fuels for example is just kind of a pattern of industry and educational research facilities in Canada that will help us to achieve what we want long term,î he said.The tour is part of a study of the bio-tech industry related to agriculture. The committee is also studying Bill C-474 on genetically modified foods. The bill was due to be debated on Wednesday in the House of Commons. It was brought forward by British Columbia Southern Interior MP Alex Atamenko, who was not on the tour, but instead chose to stay behind in Ottawa for the final debate on the bill, which was expected to pass on Wednesday. Miller said many members of the committee wanted to nonetheless investigate all bio-technology research.Miller said part of the debate that surrounds genetically modified foods is that the bill needs to include all sides of the argument and make room for organic as well as genetically modified foods.ìWe need all the options as consumers, producers and governments,î he said.Wild Rose MP Blake Richards said he thought members of the committee should come to Olds to see the work being done on bio-fuels and other research areas.ìAs a (former) resident of Olds Ö I knew the college was doing a lot of work in the area of innovation and Ö so I felt that Ö it would be a good thing for the committee to come and hear about some of the innovation that's happening at the college,î he said, adding that members of the college acquitted themselves well in explaining the research that goes on.The committee is looking into the opportunities and challenges that bio-technology presents to producers and the industry in general. Richards said from both a research and application standpoint, he thought it would be beneficial for the committee to come to Olds to see the type of work being conducted at the college.Dan Fullerton, director of innovation at Olds College, said the tour was an excellent opportunity to educate MPs on the work being done.ìThe essential thing is that a large group of Members of Parliament come to Olds ñ specifically to Olds College ñ and to see first-hand what we're doing in terms of applied research Ö with a specific interest in renewable energy,î he said.The federal government has given the college $2.3 million for the college's main bio-diesel project of increasing production to 200,000 litres per year. The funds have also allowed the college to perform fuel and processing trials on crops other than canola that may yield bio-diesel potential. The project is in its third of five years. About $800,000 has also been contributed to the project by private industry partners.Fullerton said anytime college personnel can showcase their research ñ particularly to a group that represents communities across Canada ñ they are happy to do so.ìThis particular group is very important. They're in the House of Commons, they're representing communities across Canada, and to have them come here and see what we are doing first-hand is Ö. (an) opportunity. It's good for both groups,î he said.
