The First Sixteen

Announcing the two winners of the Food Waste Reduction Challenge (Business Models Stream)Two companies took away $1.5 M! Find out who they are. Learn what it took to become the winners of the challenge, and leaders in this new sub-sector. The funds will help the winning companies further expand their success in fighting food waste and reducing greenhouse gases.  And, we’ll give you a glimpse behind the scenes with Dr Jean-Charles Le Vallée, who will share insights into being a jury member of the challenge. 

Ag-robotics specialists Chuck Baresich believes you’ll have a robot in your field sooner than you think.  What will they do? How will they add value to your farm? Chuck paints a picture of that future. And what is the government doing to help the agricultural sector be ready for those robots? Marco Valicenti, Director General of Innovation Programs Directorate and Brett Maxwell, Director of Strategic Policy Branch explain how Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s programs are enabling that future.

Hear from two innovators who are successfully tackling labor shortages in our sector: one at the national level with an all-encompassing, all-stakeholders-engaged strategy; and the other on a regional level with a smart program for hiring and settling new immigrants into a rural community.

How is pesticide use evolving on farms? What are maximum residue limits? How does the government determine what is safe? Brian Rideout, a fruit and vegetable grower from Ontario, explains how pesticide use has changed on his farm in the last 20 years. And Fred Bissonnette, Executive Director of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, explains the regulations behind pesticide use in Canada. Let's dig in!