Sustainability of Canadian Agriculture 2025 Virtual Conference

Keynote: Michael McCain – Executive Chair of the Board, Maple Leaf Foods

Building a sustainable future in the Canadian Agri-food industry
Canada has made significant strides in building a sustainable agrifood industry. In a sector that contributes up to one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, Canada is one of the lowest emitters worldwide. As a carbon neutral company, Maple Leaf Foods continues to invest in scale solutions such as regenerative agriculture and anaerobic digestion, to reduce our footprint and move the industry forward in ways that benefit our competitive advantage. With climate change impacting our economies and societies in real time, the Canadian agrifood sector needs to embrace opportunities to lead by creating shared value for business and the planet.

Theme 1: Indigenous Perspectives for a Secure Food System

Greetings from Nicki Ferland, Director of Land Based Education and Indigenous Curriculum (University of Manitoba) and Lisa Charette, Director, Indigenous and Sector Diversity Policy (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Moderator: Kyle Bobiwash - University of Manitoba

• Terry D Lerat – ReconciliAg Advisor for the National Circle for Indigenous Food and Agriculture (NCIAF), and elected councillor for Cowessess First Nation.

  2025 The Next Generation of Farming and Food Sustainability on First Nations.
  Starting with a short historical presentation on the successes and setbacks of First Nations Farming on their respective First Nations then moving on to the loss of valuable Agricultural Producing Lands through shady and illegal Land Surrenders in the early 1900s, the efforts of First Nations Farmers into the 1940s were hindered by most everyone around them from local settlers to Indian Agents, Elevator Agents and on to Federal Government Officials. Over the past 75 years most First Nations continued to produce some outstanding farms and livestock production by local members however there has also been a move by the current past 2-3 generations to distance themselves from the commitment farming and livestock production demands. Now we are in a situation where privately owned and operated farming lifestyles are few and far between. The leadership's of today are slowly starting to view Band owned and operated farms on their own lands as a means of Own Sourced Revenue and realizing success, we are also experiencing multiple agricultural enterprises that want to see First Nations successfully farm their own lands. All Governments, Federal, Provincial, along with Farm Support groups and entities such as Farm Credit Canada, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, the response from all Farm Supply Enterprises and support groups such as NCIAF is overwhelming. Now is the time to jump on the wave of support and steer that wave in the most advantageous direction not only for our First Nations but also for Canada, it's a win - win situation for all.
   

• 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.
   

• Hannah Keenes - Agriculture Portfolio Lead, Manitoba Métis Federation

  The Red River Métis – Building Resilient Food Systems Across the National Homeland
  The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) revitalized the Agriculture Portfolio in 2020 for the purpose of advocating for Red River Métis agricultural producers, and the collective, rights, claims, and interests of Red River Métis Citizens in the agriculture and agri-food sector. In the time since, the MMF’s Agriculture Portfolio has developed programming initiatives that engage Citizens across all levels of the food system, with specific focus on supporting environmental sustainability and economic resiliency of Red River Métis-owned farms, and establishing infrastructure to address food insecurity across the National Homeland. Through this work, the MMF prioritizes self-determination, incorporation of traditional Red River Métis knowledge, and intergenerational knowledge transfer, in an effort to build a more resilient food system for the Red River Métis.

Holos model workshop 
Holos V4 is Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) whole-farm model to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and changes in soil carbon from Canadian agricultural lands in response to changes in management practices. Holos is designed as an exploratory tool to look at both "what are my emissions?" and beyond that to "what could my emissions be?" Holos is designed to help farmers estimate their GHG emissions and to explore possible ways of reducing emissions from their farms. Holos provides a means to identify those practices and management strategies that provide mitigation while at the same time maintaining or improving productivity and profitability. Holos is designed for a diverse group of users which includes farmers, food processors, policy makers, consultants, and academics alike.

Session prep: overview and publications | Holos installation package | GitHub repository | Training guide

Ted Poyser lecture in soil health
Laura Van Eerd - University of Guelph

Linking soil health to crop yield and resiliency based on BMPs: Can it be done? Can it be scaled?
Soil health awareness has grown significantly in recent years, but standard measures of soil function remain undefined, as do the best indicators to quantify it. Crop yield, a key measure for farm economics, is linked to soil health, yet this relationship is poorly characterized, especially regarding better management practices (BMPs). Long-term experiments exploring the effects of practices like tillage, crop rotation, and cover crops on yield and soil properties can help identify BMPs that enhance both productivity and resiliency. Advancing this knowledge is vital for developing scalable tools that promote BMP adoption and measurable impacts across agricultural landscapes.
 

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

Moderator: Susie Miller - Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops

• 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?
  I initially fell in love with the concept of soil health while obtaining my agronomy major in university. What shocked me at the time was the lack of education that existed for learning about soil health. Fast forward to today, seeing the options that exist now for students in this field is a sign we are moving in the right direction as an industry. When I left school and jumped into the family farm it took me a few years of farming "like everyone else" before I had my "Ah-Hah!" moment. Once I started asking myself on a deeper level "Who do I farm for? And why do I farm for them?" everything changed for me. The specific question isn't the important thing to remember, but rather it was the action of shifting my mindset when I pondered it. Too often as producers we farm for someone else. We farm for the banker, the accountant, the chemical companies, and on it goes. Once we shift our mindset to understand what it is WE want to accomplish on our operation and start putting more of the uncontrollable factors into our own control, the quicker we can start making positive changes to our farm business and our soils.
   

• Tyler Fulton - Director with Manitoba Beef Producers, Vice-President of the Canadian Cattle Association and a Producer

  Continuous Improvement on the Farm
  When considering the adoption of Best Management Practices on the farm, there are several factors that have an influence. Management time is the most obvious factor, but risk/reward tradeoffs, technology and social norms can all ‘make or break’ these attempted changes. Tyler will draw on his practical experience on the ranch and discuss some of these factors that have led to both sustained, effective practices, and failed attempts to improve.
   

• 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.
   

• Cam Dahl – General Manager at Manitoba Pork

  Collaboration, Consultation, and the Carrot vs. the Stick
  It this presentation Cam will explore producer decision-making by examining topics that include the collaborative process, consultative process, incentives work better than regulations and producer responsibilities.

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.
   

• 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.