Editorial

The Ontario Corn Producers' Association has long supported and funded research and development activities judged to be of value to our members. We invest about $300,000 annually in research projects and through participation in various government-funded programs have been able to attract another $600,000 annually in "matching" funding. In this issue, we have summarized current research and development projects. Readers will see that the listing is extensive and broad-based.

Traditionally, OCPA has invested in "applied" research projects rather than "basic" scientific research. In this context, "basic" scientific research implies research that is meant to expand humanity's common knowledge base; research that expands our understanding of how things work, how they interact, how they might be altered or mitigated, as well as development of new methodologies and technologies. "Basic" research could be viewed as being for the common good with no specific use or application in mind. It is our view that "basic" research should therefore be funded by society as a whole since it is for the betterment of all.

On the other hand, "applied" research takes understandings gained through "basic" research and attempts to apply the knowledge in order to solve specific real-life problems. "Applied" research is meant to answer specific questions, to validate the new findings, technologies, methodologies, or products. "Applied" research should be funded by society as a whole to some extent (since generally everyone eventually benefits to some degree if costs are reduced, or safety improved, or new products developed, etc.), but also by those who stand to benefit directly .... us.

From the listing, readers can see that the majority of OCPA funds continue to be directed to such "applied" research as tillage projects, herbicide and pesticide projects, nitrogen application research, cold tolerance research, etc. We also support the communication of results obtained from such "applied" research projects through our unique arrangement partially funding OMAF's Corn Specialist position (Greg Stewart). As OMAF has, over time, withdrawn from the communication of research results to individual farmers, this arrangement has become increasingly valuable as a means of keeping Ontario corn producers abreast of the latest developments from here and abroad.

But readers will also note that OCPA is providing support for more extensive market development efforts than in the past. We are investing in a High Quality Food Grade Corn project aimed at improving our competitiveness in food grade yellow and white corn markets. We think there are potential new food use markets in which our members

might participate if specific problems (i.e., date-to-maturity, drying and handling, etc.) can be overcome through research. We think also that these new food uses will generate a higher return because of the higher level of management required. At least that has been the pattern in the U.S.

We are also investing more in developing new value-added industrial uses for corn than we did in the past. Our thinking is that existing uses for Ontario corn will come under increasing pressure over time. Livestock production (which uses 2/3 of a normal crop) is at risk given manure generation and handling constraints, BSE-like outbreaks, frictions with rural non-farm neighbours, etc. High fructose corn sweetener markets (processing for which utilizes the majority of the other 1/3 of a normal crop) are awash in North America and being connected (unjustly) to obesity issues. We need to develop additional value-added markets for corn to offset the possibility that one or more of our traditional processing avenues begin to shrink. We have therefore invested in corn starch based paint resin development and in the development of corn starch based inks. We are also actively involved in exploring and pursuing investment in bio-refineries, likely centered around ethanol plants, which would produce fibres, chemicals, paints, and plastics from corn in the future.

There are challenges. Governments at both levels are reducing support for agriculture and not merely financial support for safety net programs. Governments everywhere have essentially abandoned involvement in extension services. Government favours "basic" research over "applied" research. The future of valuable long-term applied programs such as corn performance trials, pesticide trials, fertility trials are all in question, viewed within government as not being worthy compared to headline-grabbing higher profile projects related to the bioeconomy (or whatever else is the issue of the moment). Even if we are successful in developing new uses for corn, the challenge will be to ensure that producers benefit and are not merely "serfs" in the new world as they are in the old. We want to be more than merely producers of a bulk commodity. Producers must be able to participate and benefit from the bioeconomy.

OCPA views our commitment to research over the long-term. We are concerned about uncertainties surrounding the continuation of government funding programs and their direction. We are concerned about the lack of enthusiasm for "applied" research which our members view as of primary benefit. But at the same time, we are enthusiastic about the opportunities we see. Research and development are the key to our future prosperity.