OCTA

February 7 and 8 are going to mark a big date in Toronto. The Metro Toronto Convention Centre will be the host location for Canada’s Food Summit with special host guests Galen G. Weston and Anne Golden.

This will be the perfect opportunity to meet industry leaders, policy makers, and regulators, and provide your input into the Centre for Food in Canada’s Canadian Food Strategy that will be published in 2012.

Why a Food Summit, and why now?

The reason is simple—few issues matter more to people than the quality and availability of food. Food prices are rising in Canada and globally, and the efficiency and effectiveness of the food supply chain directly impact our quality of life.

Food sustains us, and food choices affect health and healthcare costs, life expectancy, and lifestyle. Also, food production, processing, distribution, and retailing are cornerstones of the Canadian economy.

The Conference Board of Canada is pleased to host the Canadian Food Summit 2012, convening Canada’s food system leaders and national and international experts to discuss the latest research, share insights from other jurisdictions, and determine how to address Canada’s major food challenges and opportunities.

Benefits of attending the Canadian Food Summit include:

A unique foundation, and extraordinary event! The Summit will be:

1. Large. We plan on engaging hundreds of industry leaders in this event
2. Inclusive. Many events in this sector address the interests of niche groups. This will be Canada’s only event that brings together all the disparate players, including producers, processors, retailers, regulators, governments, associations, unions, consumers, advocates and independent experts.
3. Influential. Through its association with the CFIC the Summit will attract the key players from industry and government whose opinions and actions will help shape the future of food in Canada. You will have a chance to join with them in discussing the direction for the Canadian Food Strategy
4. Significant. Discussions at the event will be recorded and published by the CBoC to ensure maximum reach for the information and opinions presented at the event.
5. Comprehensive. By including discussion on health and safety, security and sustainability the event will cover the three most critical aspects of food in Canada. And speakers will come from all areas of the food sector – from farmers to consumers and everyone in between
6. Informative. Carefully chosen presenters will share practical information and perspectives.
7. Visionary. This summit will be the most future focused event on food in Canada.

Featured speakers at the conference will include:

• Michael H. McCain President and Chief Executive Officer, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
• John Knubley Deputy Minister, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Mark Bittman New York Times Columnist and Author of Food Matters, How to Cook Everything, and Cooking Solves Everything
• James Withers Chief Executive Officer, Scotland Food & Drink
• Wayne D. Jones Head, Agro-Food Trade and Markets Division, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris, France
• Sarah Church Head of Food Policy, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom
• Helen Clarkson Head, Forum for the Future, United States
• Richard Souness General Manager Food, Agricultural Productivity Division, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Government of Australia

View the full schedule and list of speakers here.

For ticket and registration information, click here.

For all full overview of the conference and to view contact information, click here.