Agri-Food Innovation in the Spotlight at Upcoming Conference

September 29, 2008

NEWS

Register now for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' 2008 Outlook Conference, an international forum on innovation in agriculture, food and beyond. This year's prestigious biennial conference takes place at the historic Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, on Thursday, November 13, 2008.

Discussion at the conference will focus on future directions and opportunities in the agri-food sector with topics ranging from future technologies and consumer trends, to economic and environmental challenges.

Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Leona Dombrowsky will be on hand to kick-off the one-day conference. Other confirmed conference speakers include:

• Dr. Molly Anderson
  Consultant, and Project Manager, Wallace Center. Coordinating Lead Author on the North America/Europe section of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development
• Dr. Kristian Borch
  Senior Scientist, Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark
• Dr. Marion Nestle
  Paulette Goddard Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, New York University
• Dr. Rob Vos
  Director, Development Policy and Analysis Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations
• Dr. Pratima (Tima) Bansal
  Associate Professor, Director of the Centre on Building Sustainable Value, Executive Director, Research Network for Business Sustainability
• Mr. Ronald Wright
  Author, A Short History of Progress

QUOTE

"We are bringing experts from around the globe to share ideas on agri-food innovation," said Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Leona Dombrowsky. "I hope that representatives from across Ontario's agriculture and agri-food spectrum will join us to explore new ideas for the future of the industry."

QUICK FACTS

• Agri-food innovations in Ontario are recognized through the Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. These have ranged from biogas systems and cutting-edge freeze-dried technology, to specially-adapted high tunnels for field crops and innovations for the honey bee industry.
• The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is helping to fund 17 new projects under the Alternative Renewable Fuels Fund and the Life Sciences Agri-Food Innovation Fund.
• Ontario's innovative companies are attracting venture capital; in fact 59 per cent of foreign venture capital invested in Canada is invested in Ontario.

LEARN MORE

Discover what's on at this year's Royal Agricultural Winter Fair at www.royalfair.org.

For more information contact:
Sherry Persaud, Minister's Office, 416-326-6439
Brent Ross, Communications Branch, 416-326-9342