Lab-grown meat - Earth's saviour or unnatural? Monday, August 4, 2014 Cultured meat, in vitro meat, test-tube meat – the stuff goes by many names. Some see it as the only feasible option for an overpopulated Earth. Others turn up their noses at the concept, calling it "unnatural."Two Dutch researchers, Cor van der Weele and Johannes Tramper, hope to bridge the divide. In a paper published in the June issue of Trends in Biotechnology, they envision a future in which "pigs in backyards or on animal-friendly (urban) farms would serve as the living donors of muscle stem cells through biopsies. These pigs live happy lives as companion animals while their cells are cultured in local meat factories."The pigs would suffer only the occasional prick of a needle, and consumers would be able to see and touch the living pig that produced their meat. This, van der Weele and Tramper believe, would "reverse feelings of alienation."The paper cites research estimating that cultured meat could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, land use and water use by 90 per cent compared with standard European beef production. At this point, production of the "cultured-meat slurry" (yum!) is too costly to make it a real market contender. BP Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea: is porcine blood plasma 'an open portal'? Diving pigs a hit in China
Ag in the House: Oct. 20 – 24 Friday, October 31, 2025 MPs brought up ag and related issues multiple times during last week’s question period. On Oct. 20, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked if the Liberals would remove four taxes to make food more affordable for Canadians. “They now have four inflationary taxes that apply to... Read this article online
Kinew says drop tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to get Chinese duties dropped Friday, October 31, 2025 Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is asking the prime minister to scrap Canada’s 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles in return for China lifting its tariffs on Canadian canola and pork. Kinew says in a letter to Mark Carney on Saturday that while he believes protecting Canada’s... Read this article online
Canadian Organic Alliance Launches National Action Plan Thursday, October 30, 2025 New Strategy Aims to Boost Canada’s Organic Agriculture The Canadian Organic Alliance; a coalition of the Canada Organic Trade Association, Canadian Organic Growers, and the Organic Federation of Canada has unveiled an Organic Action Plan for Canada. The initiative urges federal and... Read this article online
Federal Bureaucracy Grows While Service Quality Declines Thursday, October 30, 2025 New CFIB Report Shows Small Businesses Face Slow, Inconsistent Service from Federal Departments A new report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) reveals that despite significant growth in the federal public service, small businesses continue to experience slow,... Read this article online
CGC licencing change updates Thursday, October 30, 2025 A company in B.C. recently received a licence from the Canadian Grain Commission. As of Oct. 22, Seatarra Ingredient Alliance West Ltd. at 305-4190 Lougheed Highway in Burnaby, B.C., has a grain dealer licence. This type of licence is for “a person who, for reward, on his own behalf or... Read this article online