Agritech for Food Security

December 20, 2022

How can Canada develop and deploy next generation technologies to build up domestic food supply?

North American food supply is facing compounding pressures. In response, a collection of new and innovative technologies are emerging across the industry that are addressing those pressures. Canada can be a leader in their development and deployment.

These technologies are bolstering domestic food supply in Canada and the US by reducing dependencies on global trade, amplifying production at home, and increasing export capacity into global markets.

They include environment-controlled facilities that produce fruits and vegetables anywhere, cellular agriculture that produces alternative proteins, and AI, robotics, and IoT that increase efficiency and accuracy on the farm, boosting productivity and limiting human error.

CityAge, the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and EMILI are coming together on December 20 to profile some of these technologies, discuss how the province can foster more tech development, and explore strategies for scaling these solutions to keep our food supply secure.

Brought to you in collaboration with

Themes will include:

SPEAKERS & GUESTS

Stuart Lilley

CEO Refeed Farm

Dr. Evan Fraser

Director, Arrell Food Institute University of Guelph

Laila Benkrima

Director Innovation & Technology Agritech, Simon Fraser University - BC Centre for AgriTech Innovation

Jacqueline Keena

Managing Director EMILI

Alycia van der Gracht

Founder, QuantoTech Solutions Ltd

Timothy Kendrick

President & Chief Designer, BW Global

Joe Dales

Co-Founder & President, Agri & Food Innovation RH Accelerator Inc.

Bill Greuel

CEO Protein Industries Canada

Glen Lougheed

Co-Chair, BC’s Regenerative Agriculture and Agritech Task Force

Greg Stewart, PhD

Founder and CEO, Geco Engineering

Paul Squires

Executive Lead, Regenerative Agriculture and Climate Initiatives, Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Julie McGill

Independent VC & PE Investor, Advisor and Board Director

Zahra Alani

Broadcast Meteorologist & Communications Strategist, CityAge Anchor CityAge

PROGRAM

11:35 am

Opening Presentation by: Evan Fraser, Director, Arrell Food Institute, University of Guelph

11:45 am

Presentation by: Jacqueline Keena, Managing Director, EMILI

‍

11:50 am

Panel 1: Scaling Tech to Maximize Supply at Home

Climate controlled indoor farming could shape the future of food security in Canada. Which solutions are most viable here and how do we commercialize them at scale? This session will explore capital and financing strategies for the sector.

Alycia van der Gracht, Founder, QuantoTech Solutions Ltd
Timothy Kendrick, President & Chief Designer, BW Global
Julie McGill, Independent VC & PE Investor and Advisor
Panel Host: Glen Lougheed, Co-Chair, BC’s Regenerative Agriculture and Agritech Task Force

12:20 pm

Presentation: Bill Greul, CEO, Protein Industries Canada

12:30 pm

Presentation: Paul Squires, Executive Lead, Regenerative Agriculture and Climate Initiatives, Ministry of Agriculture and Food

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12:40 pm

Panel 2: How to Accelerate BC Agritech

BC can lead Canada in developing and deploying agritech that bolsters our food security. Industry partnerships are a critical component of ensuring success. What kind of support do founders need beyond capital? How can academic and research institutions help?

Stuart Lilley, CEO, Refeed Farms
Laila Benkrima, Director Innovation & Technology Agritech, Simon Fraser University – BC Centre for AgriTech Innovation
Greg Stewart, CEO, Geco Engineering
Panel Host: Joe Dales, Co-Founder & President, Agri & Food Innovation RH Accelerator Inc

1:10 pm

Close

ALL TIMES PT, SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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