Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

AALP Class 16 Interacts with Leaders in Canada and the United States

Guelph, ON, July 25, 2016 - Over 10 days in early July, the future agricultural leaders that make up the current Advanced Agriculture Leadership (AALP) class were exposed to interactive learning through their North America Study Tour (NAST).


The 2016 NAST included stops in Eastern Ontario, Quebec, New York State, Washington DC, Maryland and Pennsylvania focusing on production challenges, unique marketing initiatives, environmental obligations and the evolving concept of social license. Each stop offered a unique perspective for the class members to learn about and to analyze through discussion amongst the class.


The multitude of stops included a processing vegetable facility, several farm market operations, a couple different dairy operations, the Canadian Embassy, the battlefield in Gettysburg and the campus of Pennsylvania State, among others.


Throughout the tours, common issues arose. For example, many stops included discussions around an easement on land development rights – an alternative approach to Ontario’s ‘Green-Belt’ program. This approach allows for land owners to ensure that their land is not developed in the future by receiving monetary compensation, but it struggles by creating large swaths of contiguous land bases that are protected. Another common theme was that of “social license” – the concept that society has a vested interest in how food is produced and the role agricultural leaders can play in both earning and maintaining societal acceptance of farming practices.


The trip also included many inspirational examples of how hard work, dedication and a vision can move agriculture forward as well as how it can stagnate if those things are missing or ignored. Zach Gihorski, a current class member of the Pennsylvania equivalent to AALP, The Rural Urban Leadership (RULE), summed up the experience perfectly by telling the class “when you leave here, remember why you came.”


The current AALP class began in September 2015, and the NAST experience marks approximately the half-way point for the class of 16, which concludes in March of next year. To follow the rest of journey, connect on Twitter at @AALPClass or like the AALP Facebook page.


During the 19-month program, AALP participants learn about leadership and organizational development theories and practices, government and political process, economics, trade policy, global affairs, sector and industry related issues in Ontario and globally through seminars across Ontario, analysis issue projects, the NAST and an international study component.


AALP is delivered by the Rural Ontario Institute (ROI). Established in 1984, the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) has graduated almost 450 leaders who are making a positive difference across Ontario and beyond. For more information, visit ruralontarioinstitute.ca/aalp.

For information, contact:
Rob Black
Chief Executive Officer
Rural Ontario Institute
(519) 826-4204 (Ext. 222)
rblack@ruralontarioinstitute.ca

Views: 339

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

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

Replenish Nutrients Announces Steven Glover as Special Advisor to the Board and Director Nominee

Replenish Nutrients Holding Corp. (CSE: ERTH) (OTC: VVIVF) ("Replenish" or the "Company"), a leader in regenerative agriculture solutions, is pleased to announce that Steven Glover, FCPA, FCA, will join the Company as a Special Advisor to the Board of Directors, effective April 7, 2026. Mr. Glover will be nominated for election to the Company's Board of Directors at its upcoming Annual General Meeting on June 19, 2026. Mr. Glover is an independent director nominee. Upon election, it is anticipated that he will serve as the Company's audit committee chair. Mr. Glover brings nearly five decades of experience in accounting, financial oversight, and public-company governance, with a career spanning senior executive roles, regulatory and professional leadership, and extensive board and audit committee service. Mr. Glover currently serves as Lead Director and Audit Committee Chair of Genesis Land Development Corp. (TSX: GDC), where he provides oversight of financial reporting, enterprise r

Government of Canada invests in low-carbon agrichemicals to advance sustainability in agriculture

Canada's agricultural sector is at the forefront of building a greener future and ensuring Canadians have access to sustainable, homegrown solutions. Supporting leading-edge technology is critical to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fortifying Canada's food systems for generations to come. Today, Wade Chang, Member of Parliament for Burnaby Central, on behalf of the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an investment of up to $1,236,310 for Anodyne Chemistries Inc. through the AgriScience Program - Projects Component, under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. This investment will support Anodyne Chemistries in developing and demonstrating an innovative bio-electric process that converts carbon dioxide and water into high-quality, low-carbon formic acid and hydrogen peroxide, resulting in significant GHG reductions and reduced reliance on petrochemical feedstocks for Canada's agricultural sector. Formic acid and hydrogen

Canada's two major railways see slight improvement in grain deliveries in week 34: Ag Transport Coalition

The Ag Transport Coalition reports week 34 saw system performance improve notably, with CN and CPKC Rail combined, supplying 80% of hopper cars ordered. That's an improvement from the 65% performance seen in week 33, and the best performance seen since week 25 in mid-January. System performance remains below the 90% performance threshold for a tenth consecutive week, but returns to the 80% threshold for the first time in nine weeks. In supplying 85% of cars ordered by shippers in week 34, CN saw performance improve from the 79% order fulfillment performance seen in week 33. This marks the best performance seen from CN in the last five weeks, but CN performance remains below the 90% threshold for a tenth straight week. Meanwhile, in supplying 75% of shipper orders, CPKC saw performance improve dramatically from the 52% order fulfillment performance seen in week 33, with the railway posting their best performance in eight weeks. CPKC performance remains below the 90% performance th

Crop input retailer happy United Farmers of Alberta bought AgraCity

A competitor is pleased with United Farmers of Alberta’s purchase of the AgraCity Group of companies. Farmers Business Network thinks the deal is good news for farmers. “The work that AgraCity did to build their portfolio of products and labels will still be available to farmers going forward,” said Breen Neeser, FBN’s general manager for Canada.“They have some really good products.” He is happy that the AgraCity assets are staying in the hands of an established western Canadian company that has been in the agriculture business for a long time. “They know farming,” he said. “They’re partners with farmers.” Neeser believes UFA was keen on expanding their footprint in Saskatchewan. “I think that was part of the play,” he said. He is pleased that the assets did not end up in the hands of a foreign entity. “UFA is part of the fabric of western Canadian farming, especially Alberta and in some ways Saskatchewan now,” he said. “I’m glad it’s in the hands of somebody who sees the bus

Greenbelt Seen as Key to Ontario Food Security and Agri-Food Growth

Ontario’s Greenbelt should be treated as a strategic pillar of food security and economic growth, according to a new report released by the Greenbelt Foundation.  

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service