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A National Call to Action |
Elevating Canada to an Agri-Food Innovation Superpower |
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Venue TwentyTwo
11 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 9H4
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Monday, November 25, 2024
08:30am - 05:00pm ET |
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November 25, 2024 | TwentyTwo @ The Westin Ottawa |
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| Join us in Ottawa on November 25th for A National Call to Action – Elevating Canada to an Agri-Food Innovation Superpower, the capstone of our national roundtable series.
During this event, we’ll present the key findings from our seven regional roundtables, highlighted in our comprehensive insights report. We’ll engage in collaborative stakeholder discussions to deepen the conversation and unveil our policy recommendations and strategic action plan for a more efficient, productive, and competitive future for Canadian agri-food innovation.
Your perspectives and contributions will be instrumental in refining these strategies. This is a unique opportunity to influence the future of our agri-food sector and propel Canada towards becoming a global leader in agri-food innovation.
Based on our analysis during the regional roundtables, we will present and discuss the following outcomes and recommendations:
- Regional Review and Insights Report: A summary of key insights, challenges, and opportunities identified during the roundtables, including case studies and successful best practice initiatives that can be applied nationally.
- Innovation Ecosystem Roadmap: A detailed mapping of each region’s resources and key players, serving as a guide to excellence and a tool for efficiently supporting existing initiatives while addressing gaps and roadblocks.
- Collaboration Framework: A blueprint to enhance cooperation between government, academia, industry, and other stakeholders.
- Policy Recommendations: Specific proposals aimed at improving the innovation commercialization process, fostering collaboration between research institutions and industry, and reducing regulatory barriers.
- Strategic Action Plan: Short-, medium-, and long-term strategies that chart a clear path forward to strengthen national supply chains, improve competitiveness, and elevate Canadian agri-food innovation toward international leadership.
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| Agenda 8:00 - 8:30 AM – Registration 8:30 AM – Opening & Introduction
- Welcome message: Justine Hendricks, CEO, Farm Credit Canada
- Remarks: Shannon Nix, Assistant Deputy Minister, AAFC
- Sponsor Comments: Representatives from Bennett Jones and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture
9:00 AM – Setting the Stage
- Overview of Key Insights: A summary of findings from the regional and provincial roundtables
- Discussion of Challenges and Successes: An exploration of what works, what doesn’t, and the gaps identified in agri-food innovation
9:30 AM – Presentation of Recommendations
- Recommendations and Solutions: Presenting actionable strategies from entrepreneurs, ecosystem stakeholders, innovation leaders, and investors
11:00 AM – Entrepreneur Panel: The National Entrepreneur Perspective
- Panel Discussion: Leading entrepreneurs share experiences, challenges, and opportunities in agri-food innovation
- Rob Hannam, CEO - Farm Health Guardian
- Wade Barnes, former CEO - Farmer’s Edge
- Darren Anderson, CEO – Vive Crop Protection
- Scott Ross, Executive Director - Canadian Federation of Agriculture
- Brennen Young, Senior Director, Centre for Regulatory Innovation, RAS, Treasury Board Secretariat
12:15 PM – Lunch break 1:00 PM – Ecosystem Panel: The National Ecosystem Perspective
- Panel Discussion: Ecosystem players discuss collaboration, support systems, and enhancing innovation across regions
- Dana McCauley, CEO - CFIN
- Karen Churchill, CEO - AgWest Bio
- Darrell Petras, CEO - CAAIN
- Dave Smardon, CEO - Bioenterprise Canada
- Steven Jurgutis, Director General, PPI Directorate, Strategic Policy Branch, AAFC
2:15 PM – Investor Panel: The National Investor Perspective
- Panel Discussion: Insights from investors on funding, investment gaps, and strategies to stimulate financial support for agri-food innovation
- Richard Cloutier, Managing Partner - EcoFuel Fund
- Graeme Millen, Vice President, BD & Ecosystem Support - FCC Capital
- John Cassidy, Managing Director, Canada - SVG Ventures | Thrive
- Michael McGee, former Partner - Avrio Capital Inc.
- Marco Valicenti, Director General, Innovation Programs Directorate, Programs Branch, AAFC
3:30 PM – Coffee Break 4:00 PM – Open Discussion & Next Steps
- Audience participation and open exchange on identifying recommendations and ecosystem interest in next steps
4:30 PM – Closing Remarks
- Summarizing key takeaways and outlining the action plan moving forward to elevate Canada’s agri-food innovation sector
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