UP TO THE

Agriculture has met the challenge of producing safe and affordable food for Canadians and a number of other countries for almost 150 years. As we look ahead to the next 150+ years, Canada’s agriculture industry is up to the challenge of continuing to be adaptive and resilient to get food from the farm to the table and doing so in a way that’s good for the environment and the next generation.

December 6–8, 2016Westin Ottawa

11 Colonel By Drive,Ottawa, Ontario

The GrowCanada partnership is a coalition of national stakeholders working together to promote innovation in Canada’s agriculture and agribusiness sectors.

Our vision is for Canada to be a world leader in providing new products and innovative solutions for agricultural, nutritional, health, energy and environmental challenges in Canada and around the world, so that all Canadians can enjoy the economic, environmental and social benefits of the bio-economy.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON TWITTER AT #GROWCANADA16

INFORMATION FOR DELEGATESTo access conference sessions, please wear your name badge.

RESERVE A TABLE FOR THE BANQUET:To reserve a table, please see the registration desk before 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

DIETARY REQUESTS:We are pleased to accommodate special meal requests for those with dietary and health concerns. Please inquire at the conference registration desk.

CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS:

JIM EVERSON Executive director, Soy Canada

JEFF REIDGeneral manager, SeCan and CropLife Canada board of directors

WIFI NETWORK:GrowCanada

PASSWORD:Dow

GROWCANADA 20162

CONFERENCE AT A GLANCEAll conference sessions take place on the fourth floor of the Westin Ottawa.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6

ICEBREAKER6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7

SUSTAINABILITY AT SUNRISE BREAKFAST7:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

CONFERENCE SESSIONS9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

GROWCANADA 5KM FUN RUN AND YOGA4:20 p.m.

RECEPTION6:00 p.m.

BANQUET7:00 p.m.

POST-BANQUET RECEPTION9:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8

CONFERENCE SESSIONS9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

UP TO THE CHALLENGE 3

CONFERENCE SESSIONS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6

ICEBREAKER6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.Governor General ballroom

Greet old friends, make new ones and visit with industry colleagues at our opening night icebreaker.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7

SUSTAINABILITY AT SUNRISE BREAKFAST7:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.Confederation ballroom foyer

Ducks Unlimited, Soil Conservation Council of Canada and Nutrients for Life invite you to breakfast to learn about their commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and environmental stewardship.

GROWCANADA 20164

CONFERENCE SESSIONS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.Keynote: Hug Your Haters: How to embrace complaints and keep your customersIf it feels like there are more complaints than ever, and that you’re spending more time and money deal-ing with negativity and backlash, you’re right. But the rise of customer complaints is actually an enormous opportunity. In this eye-opening presentation, Jay reveals brand-new, proprietary research into why and where your customers complain. Find out why you need to hug your haters and embrace their complaints. Jay will teach you how to keep those customers and grow your business.

Jay Baer is the world’s most retweeted person among digital marketers. He is a renowned business strategist, keynote speaker and the New York Times best-selling author of five books, who travels the world helping business people get and keep more custom-ers. Jay has advised more than 700 companies since 1994, including Caterpillar, Nike, Allstate, The United Nations and 32 of the FORTUNE 500. He is the founder of Convince & Convert, a strategy consulting firm that helps prominent companies gain and keep more customers through the smart intersection of technology, social media, and customer service. Jay is an active venture capitalist and technology advisor, as well as an avid tequila collector, and certified barbecue judge.

JAY BAERRenowned business strategist and author

UP TO THE CHALLENGE 5

10:15 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.Break

10:40 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.The Food Police In a time when many people call themselves food experts, Jayson Lusk takes a critical look at the politics behind food and agriculture. He argues that the “food movement” is built on ever-greater govern-ment involvement in the nation’s grocery stores and kitchens, and that consumers should be wary of who is redesigning their food system.

Jayson Lusk is a professor and the Willard Sparks Endowed Chair in the agricultural economics department at Oklahoma State University. Lusk has published more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals on topics related to consumer behavior, food marketing, and food policy. His book, The Food Police: A Well-Fed Manifesto about the Politics of Your Plate is a critical account of food and agriculture economics.

Following many years of studying food regulation and comparing costs and benefits of the policies in ques-tion, Lusk grew disenchanted with a movement that he feels ignores the realities facing most American con-sumers and farmers. Lusk argues that the “food elite” in America have made food more expensive—putting lower-income consumers at a disadvantage—and prevented us from taking full advantage of emerg-ing technologies in the food industry. In his book, Unnaturally Delicious: How Science and Technology are Serving Up Super Foods to Save the World, Lusk writes about how technology and agriculture can work together to help solve the world’s largest food issues and improve our farming system.

JAYSON LUSKFood and agricultural economist, author of The Food Police

GROWCANADA 20166

Food politics: what everyone needs to knowDeveloping a food policy is a priority for the Canadian federal government, but what makes good food policy? Robert Paarlberg will discuss what everyone needs to know when it comes to food politics and how technology plays a role in Canadian agriculture.

Robert Paarlberg is an adjunct profes-sor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, a visiting professor at Harvard College, and an associate at Harvard’s Weatherhead Center. He is the author of six university press books, including Food Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford 2013) and The United States of Excess: Gluttony, and the Dark Side of American Exceptionalism (Oxford 2015). Paarlberg has been a member of the Board of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the National Research Council of the National Academies, and he has been a frequent consultant to the International Food Policy Research Institute, USAID, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Aspen Institute, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He currently serves as chair of the Independent Steering Committee of the Agriculture for Nutrition and Health Research Program at the CGIAR.

12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.LunchGovernor General and Provinces ballrooms

ROBERT PAARLBERGAdjunct professor of public policy, Harvard Kennedy School

UP TO THE CHALLENGE 7

1:15 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. Climate change: what you should knowClimate change arises from human emissions of gases into Earth’s atmosphere that change the atmosphere’s transparency to certain wavelengths of electromag-netic radiation. This change produces an imbalance between flows of radiation into the atmosphere from space and then back out; more flows in than out, which means the atmosphere slowly heats up over time. The total amount of extra heat trapped in the planet’s atmosphere is enormous—roughly equivalent to the energy that would be released by the explosion of 400,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs a day. Dr. Homer-Dixon will explain what this means for the earth and how agriculture will need to adapt in the face of changing climate conditions.

Called “one of the best-informed and most brilliant writers on global affairs today,” by The Guardian, Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon is chair of global systems at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and professor in the Faculty of Environment, at the University of Waterloo.

Dr. Homer-Dixon is the author of the bestselling and award-winning books The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization; The Ingenuity Gap; and Environment, Scarcity, and Violence. He writes regularly for The Globe and Mail, and has been published often in The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, The Washington Post, The Financial Times, and Scientific American.

DR. THOMAS HOMER-DIXONChair of global systems at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and professor in the Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo

GROWCANADA 20168

Agriculture in a changing climateThe changes we are observing in the weather are real, with at least some of the effect due to human activity. The global temperature is increasing along with global carbon dioxide concentration, as we transfer carbon from within the planet into our atmosphere. Scientists studying everything from wheat maturation, to peach flowering, to corals have concluded that the earth is warming and it happens in concert with carbon diox-ide levels. Folta will explore how new technologies can help mitigate the effects of climate change and respond faster to the challenges that are impinging on agricultural production. The hope is that new technol-ogies will help us respond to change, and at the same time allow us to adjust carbon pollution at a pace that does not affect car-bon-based economic drivers.

Kevin M. Folta is a profes-sor and the chairman of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida. His strawberry research uses novel genomics approaches to identify genes related to flavor and disease resistance. His research also examines how parts of the light spectrum affect strawberry shelf life and flavor. He has been recognized as an expert in guiding the communications efforts in agricultural technol-ogies, and recently has been recognized with the presti-gious CAST Borlaug Award in Agricultural Communications.

2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Break

KEVIN M. FOLTAProfessor and chairman, Horticultural Sciences Department & Graduate Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida

UP TO THE CHALLENGE 9

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.Exponential exports – Canada’s next big economic opportunity Agriculture and agri-food is a $108 billion indus-try annually in Canada, generating 6.6 per cent of Canada’s GDP and Canada is the fifth largest agricul-tural exporter in the world. Trade has been identified by the federal government as a key area for growth and diversification for Canada’s economy. This session will focus on trade issues, notably Canada’s accom-plishments, challenges, and future in the field of international trade and what can be learned from the European Union.

Warren Everson is the senior vice-president of policy at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. His responsi-bilities include the identification of priority issues and development of related policies. Mr. Everson manages a multi-sectoral team of researchers and lobbyists, and coordinates the work of 11 policy committees.

Prior to joining the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Everson held government relations positions at Bell Canada and StrategyCorp. He was the vice-president for policy and strategic planning for the Air Transport Association of Canada during a turbulent period, which included the attacks of 9/11 and the outbreak of SARS in Canada. Mr. Everson has also had a decade-long career in govern-ment, where he served as chief of staff to the minister of transport and the solicitor general, and was on the staffs of five other ministers, including the minister for international trade during the negotiation of the Canada/U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

WARREN EVERSONSenior vice-president, policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

GROWCANADA 201610

After seven years of negotiations, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was signed by Canadian and European leaders. However, Canadian businesses continue to deal with the reality of European Union regulations and troubling signals from Europe on even tighter non-tariff trade barriers. How can Canadian agriculture maintain and grow its access to critical European markets?

Is there a path forward for dealing with the European Union on science-based regu-lation and how are European farmers dealing with their own govern-ments in terms of accessing tools of modern agriculture? David Plunkett, former Canadian Ambassador to the European Union, will speak of the his-tory of Canadian trade with Europe, the promise and chal-lenges of CETA, and what lessons Canadians can take from this as we continue to try to grow our markets around the globe.

H. David Plunkett was nominated Ambassador of Canada to the European Union from August 2011 to August 2015. He joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1981 first as a trade policy officer. From 1987 to 1991, he was counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in Geneva. In his work abroad, he was also counsellor for Trade Policy at the Embassy of Canada in Washington from 1993 to 1997 and minister-counsellor (economic) in London from 2002 to 2006.

4:20 p.m.GrowCanada 5km fun run and yogaRunners meet in the lobby at 4:20. Yoga will take place in the Provinces 2 room on the fourth floor of the Westin.

H. DAVID PLUNKETT

UP TO THE CHALLENGE 11

6:00 p.m.Reception

7:00 p.m.Banquet Dreaming big: living biggerWhile Jon Montgomery always wanted to be a Canadian National Team athlete, he didn’t know which sport it would be in! Keeping his eyes wide open, living outside his comfort zone, trying new things and accepting the challenges that presented themselves enabled him to find his passion and his opportunity to realize his dreams. Jon’s story inspires others to go after what they’re looking for, no matter how daunting a task it may at first seem.

Jon Montgomery captured the hearts of Canadians—and the attention of everyone—during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. After years of hard work, training and perse-verance, Montgomery won a gold medal in the skeleton, securing his place in history as one of the best. His celebra-tory walk through Whistler showcased his passion, spirit, and sense of humour—traits that he brings to every plat-form, whether in front of a live audience or acting as the host of The Amazing Race Canada.

9:30 p.m.Post-banquet reception

JON MONTGOMERYGold medal Olympian, host, The Amazing Race Canada

GROWCANADA 201612

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.Past, present, future: how public opinion shapes public policyPopular opinion polls today are driving decision mak-ing and influencing government policy. But the ability to accurately predict has changed significantly over the last decade: few predicted a Liberal majority gov-ernment in Canada in 2015, that Brexit would become a reality, or that Donald Trump would become the president of the United States of America. With polling accuracy slipping, why is it that decision makers seem to look to polls more and more frequently to help shape public policy? This panel will explore what’s different about reading and predicting polls today and how the outcomes of polls affect decisions differently in 2016 and in years to come.

Moderator: Donna Dasko is one of Canada’s best known pollsters. During her career as senior vice-president of Environics Research Group Ltd., she played a crucial role in building the firm into one of Canada’s leading research and consulting organizations and took a leadership role in bringing opinion analysis to bear on some of this country’s most important public policy and communica-tions issues. Working primarily with public-sector clients, she led major research studies in areas including federal and provincial budget priorities, the economy, national unity, Quebec sovereignty, political choice, health promotion, tobacco con-trol, and many others.

DONNA DASKOFellow, School of Public Policy, University of Toronto

UP TO THE CHALLENGE 13

Panellists:With more than 20 years of experience, Doug Anderson is a seasoned researcher on public affairs and public policy issues. Whether on behalf of the public, private, and non-profit sectors, non-governmental organizations, or the academic community, Doug has conducted studies on most major policy issues. Doug helps clients clearly understand the public or stakeholder environments they face and ensures that research programs are designed, executed and lever-aged to maximum strategic benefit. He is an expert at applying advanced analytics to uncover valuable and actionable insights.

David Coletto is CEO and a found-ing partner of Abacus Data, a full-service market research and public opinion research firm based in Ottawa. With almost a decade of experi-ence in the industry, David and his partners founded Abacus Data six years ago and since then it has grown into one of Canada’s most respected market research firms. Earning a doctorate in political science from the University of Calgary in 2010, David is an adjunct professor at the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs at Carleton University where he teaches courses on public affairs strategies, polling, and political marketing. In 2013, he was named one of Ottawa’s Top 40 under 40.

DOUG ANDERSONPrincipal, Earnscliffe Strategy Group

DAVID COLETTOCEO, Abacus Data

GROWCANADA 201614

Shachi Kurl is a public policy analyst and is the executive director at the Angus Reid Institute. She directs research, communica-tions, partner development and operations and brings 15 years of experience to her role. She spent the first part of her career as a political reporter and as a representative for the small business community. Shachi is a recipient of the prestigious Jack Webster award for Best TV Reporting. A frequent columnist and commentator, she holds a degree in journalism and political science from Carleton University in Ottawa and serves on the boards of the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation and the CKNW Orphans’ Fund.

10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.Break

SHACHI KURLExecutive director, Angus Reid Institute

UP TO THE CHALLENGE 15

10:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Is Gwyneth Paltrow wrong about everything? When celebrity culture and science clash Celebrities are everywhere! This matters. Seriously. Research shows that popular culture has a profound influence on people’s health and that our ideals of beauty and success are framed by a celebrity-dominated worldview. In this fun and provocative presentation, Professor Timothy Caulfield will examine what science tells us about the influence of popular culture. He will also debunk common health myths and provide practical, evidence-based recommendations relevant to both healthcare professionals and to individuals seeking to live a healthy lifestyle.

Professor Timothy Caulfield is an unrivaled communicator who debunks myths and assump-tions about innovation in the health sector—from research on stem cells to diets to alternative medicine—for the benefit of the public and deci-sion-makers. He is a Canada research chair in Health Law and Policy, and a professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. He has been the research director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta since 1993. Professor Caulfield is involved with the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee and Genome Canada’s Science Advisory committee.

TIMOTHY CAULFIELDProfessor, Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, University of Alberta

FUTURE INFLUENCERSThe Future Influencer program at the GrowCanada confer-ence was developed to provide learning opportunites and exposure to students who have a strong interest in agriculture. The future influencers are students in Grades 11 or 12 or in a post-secondary agricultural program. At the end of each session, the future influencers share their opinions and views giving our audience insights into what the future generation is focused on.

KAYLA VELDMANUniversity of GuelphKayla Veldman is in her fourth year at the University of Guelph, studying a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in crop sciences. When she completes her degree, she intends to obtain her Certified Crop Advisor certification and work in the agronomy field. Eventually she would like to return home to work on the egg and grain farm she grew up on, in Embro, Ontario. Her interests include hockey, politics, traveling and aviation. She is very passionate about the agriculture industry and is excited to begin her career in it.

Emmett Sawyer lives on a grain and cattle farm west of Acme, Alberta. He is a Grade 11 student at Acme School, where he plays on a number of school sports teams and is the vice-president of the school student association. Emmett is a member of the Swalwell 4-H Beef Club and has had a market beef project for the past eight years. He’s the president of his club and president of the Kneehill 4-H District. Public speaking is Emmett’s favourite activity in 4-H and he has placed in the top two in the Calgary Region for the past five years. Emmett is very passion-ate about agriculture and takes pride in being an agvocate. He was honored to be involved in Ag More Than Ever’s newest “Be Somebody” campaign this fall. Emmett’s future career goal is to work within the agriculture industry and be part of the value chain that feeds the world.

EMMETT SAWYERGrade 11 student

Thanks to all of our sponsors for making the GrowCanada conference possible.

JOIN US NEXT YEAR IN CALGARY FOR GROWCANADA 2017

Hyatt Regency Calgary November 28–30, 2017 growcanadaconference.ca