Fields on Wheels 2024
Webinar - Wednesday, December 11, 2024 9 am to 3:30 pm CST
A story goes that a politician hoping for re-election finds a genie in a bottle. The genie grants him one wish. The politician asks for an immediate 25% drop in food prices. Voters are very sensitive to food prices as seen in the recent US election. Canada also has had significant food price inflation, but where do we stand now?
Our keynote speaker, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, will provide an assessment of trends in food prices and some issues resulting from a second Trump administration in the US that could affect Canada. This is followed by Volker Kromm who will address the reality of food affordability as seen by the demand at Food Banks. The first panel is completed by Dr. Shirley Thompson who will address the impacts of food insecurity on mental and physical health.
As much as rising food prices affect the average consumer, those who live in Canada’s remote communities feel it even more. The high cost of transportation means that northern food prices are double or triple the food prices in the cities. This topic will be addressed by a panel that considers traditional means of transport, and the potential for the use of cargo airships as a way of reducing food insecurity in the North.
The afternoon program examines the international trade and transport of agricultural commodities. The disruptions caused by labour action at the ports, railways and grain terminals have taken their toll in terms of higher operating costs and greater delivery risk. Carlo Dade, of the Canada West Foundation, will lead off the discussion of these supply chain upheavals. He will be joined by Jill Verwey, President, Keystone Agricultural Producers, and supply chain experts. The afternoon discussion continues with perspectives from within these supply chains. Marc Brazeau, President, Railway Association of Canada will discuss the transportation impacts felt at the ports and other railway linkages.
The 29th Fields on Wheels conference brings together a wide range of interests that involve the agricultural supply chains. Canada enjoys a natural advantage in the production of agricultural goods to trade on world markets. As an open trading economy, the impacts of global events find their way home to the grocery store and much as to the farm stead.
Join us on Wednesday, December 11 at 9:00 am CST for a free daylong webinar that explores the state of local and external agriculture and food supply chains. This webinar is a joint effort of the Asper School of Business and the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.
Co-hosts
Webinar details
AGENDA
| A.M. CST 9:00 | Welcome from the University of Manitoba Dr. Bruno Silvestre, Dean, I.H. Asper School of Business Dr. Martin Scanlon, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences | |
| 9:10 | Taking Stock of Food Price Trends Session Chair: Barry E. Prentice, Director, Transport Institute "Food Price Inflation in Canada" "Increasing Demand for Food Assistance" "Impacts of Food Insecurity on Communities" | |
| 10:30 | Northern Food Insecurity Session Chair: Dan Shin, Assistant Professor, SCM "Winter Road Service: Past and Future" "Realities of Northern Air Service" "Cargo Airship Transportation System" | |
| 12:00 | Stretch, Bend and Lunch | |
| 12:20 Noon-hour Talk | Session Chair: Barry E. Prentice, Director, Transport Institute "Cold Weather Testing for Cargo Airships" | |
| P.M. CST 1:00 | Grain Supply Chain: Disruption and Reputation Session Chair: Derek Brewin, Head, Dept. Ag. Business and Ag. Economics "Challenges to Canada’s Reputation and Trade Competitiveness" "Impacts on Supply Chains Markets and Productivity" "A Farm Perspective" | |
| 3:00 | Modal Impacts of Supply Chains Disruptions Session Chair: Narendra Malalgoda, Assistant Professor, Transport Institute "Impacts of Disruptions on the Railway Networks" "Impacts of Disruptions on the Ports" | |
| 4:00 | Concluding comments |