Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Talking Tough Topics - Farm & Food Care Annual General Meeting & Conference

Event Details

Talking Tough Topics - Farm & Food Care Annual General Meeting & Conference

Time: April 15, 2014 at 1pm to April 16, 2014 at 4pm
Location: Teatro Conference & Event Centre
Street: 121 Chisholm Drive
City/Town: Milton
Website or Map: http://www.farmfoodcare.org
Phone: 519-837-1326
Event Type: conference, workshop, annual, meeting
Organized By: Farm & Food Care
Latest Activity: Mar 28, 2014

Export to Outlook or iCal (.ics)

Event Description

Conference: Sustainable food and farming. What does it really mean in Canada? (April 15: 1 to 5 p.m.)

Sustainability has different meanings to different people. Come and hear insights on what it means to the Canadian public and Ontario farmers and join the discussion to share your thoughts.

Workshop: Talking Tough Topics (April 15: 7 to 9:30 p.m.)

Biotechnology, pesticides, antibiotics and hormones are all issues that farmers deal with on a day to day basis - but they can be difficult to explain to a non-farming public.  In a workshop setting, participants will be given tips and techniques related to answering questions and having confident conversations about topics like these.  

Annual Meeting (April 16: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

The morning keynote speaker will be Dr. Joe Schwarcz, Director of McGill's Office for Science & Society on the topic "Science, Sense and Nonsense". 

The second feature speaker will be Ruth Salmon of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance on the topic "Farmed Seafood Sustainability Movement: A case study". 

Kim McConnell, strategic advisor & former CEO of AdFarm and director on Farm & Food Care Foundation will present on the topic of "What are we going to do about turning up the volume?"  McConnell will give an update on the creation of a strategy designed to help grow public trust and confidence in Canadian food and farming.  

The meeting will also include highlights of Farm & Food Care’s 2013 activities, presentation of the Farm & Food Care Champion Award, election of the 2014-2015 Board of Directors and more. 

Registration:

Registration for both the April 15 conference and workshop are free to all Ontario farmers. The cost to other participants is $60 for the conference and $100 for the communications workshop. Registration for the annual meeting is $80 in advance of March 31 and $100 after that date for all registrants. To register, visit www.farmfoodcare.org.

Comment Wall

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Farm tractor struts its stuff on F1 track

A Valtra T236 reached 54 mph at the Red Bull Ring in Austria

Diploid Potato Breeding May Improve Yield and Storage

AAFC researchers have found that diploid potatoes offer improved genetics, high yields, and disease resistance, providing a resilient alternative for Canadian potato growers.

Boosting soybean protein: The essential role of zinc and sulfur in sustainable crop production

Soybean is a critical element of the global food supply: Between its use for animal feed and human consumption, it accounts for roughly two-thirds of plant-based protein meal output world-wide. Canada is a global leader in sustainable soybean production, with 70% of its crop, one of the country’s top three by value, exported annually. According to Brazilian scientist Gabriel Montanha, soy production has “exploded” in recent decades to meet demand – but there hasn’t been a corresponding increase in soybean’s protein content. “To ensure soy remains a sustainable crop, we need to increase the protein content of soy seeds,”  says Montanha, who is doing a postdoctoral fellowship at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France. “It's critical we find ways want to generate more protein without increasing the amount of land we’re currently cultivating.” Montanha and colleagues used the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), and Brazil

New insights into lung health risk for female farmers

Exposure to a mix of common airborne agricultural contaminants could lead to lung effects in females, a new University of Saskatchewan (USask) study has uncovered. Farmers are exposed daily to a variety of potential contaminants such as endotoxins (substances associated with certain bacteria) in dust, which are well-known to trigger lung inflammation and asthma. However, how endotoxins specifically impact women’s health is not well understood, particularly when there is also exposure to a herbicide called glyphosate, widely used in agricultural work. Now, USask researchers have detected lung effects in female mice models just five days after a combined exposure, simulating the same quantity of endotoxins and herbicide farmers could breathe over a work week. The team was able to take detailed images of the affected lungs thanks to the powerful X-rays of the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at USask. These images showed that fluid had built up in the lungs during this short exposure perio

Wet harvest? Protect Stored Cereals from OTA

Wet harvest conditions across parts of the Prairies have put added focus on how cereal grain is managed in storage. Cool, wet weather has slowed harvest progress in some areas, with reports of tough cereals and grain quality concerns. For growers bringing grain off at higher moisture levels, careful drying, cooling and monitoring will be especially important this fall. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that can develop in stored cereal grain when moisture and temperature conditions are favourable for fungal growth. Unlike deoxynivalenol (DON), which develops in the field as a result of Fusarium infection, OTA develops during storage. Grain stored above safe moisture levels, condensation or water entering the bin, contaminated dust or soil, and residues from previously stored grain can all contribute to OTA development. Even a small pocket of damp grain can create problems. That means managing the entire grain mass, not just relying on an average moisture reading. Make Storage Manage

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service