Sustainability of Canadian Agriculture 2025 Virtual Conference

Theme 1: Indigenous Perspectives for a Secure Food System

Greetings from (University of Manitoba) and Lisa Charette (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Moderator: Kyle Bobiwash - University of Manitoba

• Terry Lerat – National Circle for Indigenous Agriculture and Food

Ted Poyser lecture in soil health

Presenter-Awardee: Laura Van Erd - University of Guelph

Theme 2: Adopting Best Management Practices: Understanding Producer Decision-Making

Moderator: Susie Miller - Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops

• Cam Dahl – General Manager at Manitoba Pork

• Marla Riekman - Soil Management Specialist at Manitoba Agriculture
  Promoting Sustainable Practices through Effective Extension Services

  Twenty years into her extension career, Marla has learned a few things about effective communication techniques…and continues to learn with every new interaction!  Marla will speak to her experience in promoting soil management practices with producers, land managers, and policymakers, and reflect on her role in the decision-making process.

• Shawn Catherwood – AAg, Founder, CEO at Spur Line Crop Solutions Ltd. and 5th generation farmer at Soli Vivi Farms Inc.
  Who Do You Farm For and Why Do You Farm for Them?
• Tyler Fulton - Producer

Theme 3: Expanding the Boundaries of Ag Production Systems

Moderator: Emma Stephens - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

• Shabtai Bittman and Derek Hunt – Senior Researchers at AAFC Agassiz Research and Development Centre
  Nutrient Flows in a Model Peri-Urban Agricultural Region

  The peri-urban Lower Fraser Valley with about 65k ha of agricultural land and 2.5 million people embodies the issues of farming intensity, food security, land use, environmental and human health, and landscape management, and this forms the background and context for our studies and the subject of this presentation.

• Karen Landman - Professor Emerita, School of Environmental Design & Rural Development at University of Guelph
  Urban, Meet Agriculture: Reintroducing Food Production to the City

  Agriculture has long been a part of the urban landscape, having been largely pushed out of Canadian cities since the mid-20th century. However, with increasing consumer interest in food, a more ethnically-diverse population than a century ago, and a growing urban population, there is now a strong opportunity to help connect people to their food system via urban agriculture (UA). The goal of UA is not to replace rural agriculture but to be complementary to larger-scale production, providing opportunities for urban farmers through access to arable soil, reduced distance to market for specialty crops and, where appropriate, building knowledge and skills for youth. This presentation will cover some of the opportunities for, and benefits of, designing food production back into the city through both public-space landscapes and farmer entrepreneurship. Some of the challenges to successful UA will be discussed as well.

• Derrick Hastings - Farm Manager, Tr'ondek Hwech'in Government Employee
  Tr'ondek Hwech'in Teaching and Learning Farm : Past, Present, and Future

  T.H. Farm 10 years of growing, resilience, and rebellion. We must acknowledge the needs of the people and start addressing them. Our farm was brought forth by the wisdom of the elders and community members that could foresee the challenges that we now face in food costs, quality and supply. Over ten years the farm has grown from a small plot of experimental gardening to a flourishing site that has a wide range of products and services that provide a semblance of security in our remote isolated community. We have faced flood, fire and pandemic and we are continuing to strive towards the unique experience of a peaceful rebellion, locally grown.

• Laird Crow - Farm Manager, Yukon Grain Farm Ltd in Whitehorse, Yukon
  Yukon Grain Farm, Feeding the North

  Yukon Grain Farm was established in 1999 by Steve & Bonnie Mackenzie-Grieve. The farm is located 1/2 hour north of Whitehorse along the banks of the Yukon River. The farm started out with growing grain to provide a locally sourced alternative for Yukon's small but active livestock industry. Oats, barley, wheat, peas, and polish canola are the principal field crops. Grain is processed on the farm year-round into a variety of animal feeds. In 2004 the first crop of potatoes was planted. Over the years carrots, beets, parsnips, and cabbage were added to the lineup. The long days and cool nights of the Yukon’s short growing season contribute to the great taste of these cold-hardy veggies. Yukon Grain Farm produce is stored, processed, and packaged on the farm and has been enjoyed by Yukoners across the territory for years. Farming in the Yukon has it's challenges, but the midnight sun, stunning landscape, and terrific community make it worth it every day. Topics that will be discussed: Background of the YGF operation, secrets to success in a Northern community, challenges and opportunities in the Yukon.