Podcasts about canadian agriculture

This week on The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois welcome Jean-François Archambault, Founder and General Manager of La Tablée des Chefs, for an inspiring conversation about food recovery, food security, and the power of community action. Recorded live at SIAL Montreal, this episode showcases one of Canada's most remarkable social entrepreneurs and the national movement he has built to reduce food waste while feeding those in need. Since founding La Tablée des Chefs in 2002, Jean-François has transformed a bold idea into one of Canada's most impactful food recovery organizations. What began as a mission to rescue surplus food from hotels, restaurants, sporting venues, and major events has grown into a nationwide network that has recovered enough food to create more than 26 million meals. From the Bell Centre and NHL arenas to Formula 1 events and major hospitality venues, La Tablée des Chefs now redirects millions of meals annually to frontline organizations serving vulnerable Canadians. The conversation explores the organization's two core pillars: feeding people facing food insecurity and educating young Canadians about food autonomy and cooking skills. Jean-François shares the remarkable growth of the Kitchen Brigades program, now operating in hundreds of schools across Canada, empowering nearly 100,000 young people with practical food knowledge while building confidence, self-esteem, and life skills. He also discusses innovative initiatives such as the Solidarity Soups program and the Grand Marmite fundraising events that are helping expand school food programs across the country. The discussion also examines the growing challenges of food insecurity in Canada, the importance of food literacy, the role chefs can play in social impact, and why Canada needs a more ambitious and coordinated national approach to food security. Jean-François offers a compelling vision for how governments, businesses, community organizations, and citizens can work together to create lasting change. Before the interview, Michael and Sylvain unpack a busy week in food and agriculture news. Topics include the Competition Bureau's new examination of Canada's food supply chain, the federal government's newly announced food strategy, food waste research revealing Generation X as Canada's most wasteful demographic, the future of salmon farming, Quebec's move to restrict energy drink sales to minors, the return of frozen juice concentrate, and Foodtastic's continued expansion. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues. Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

Farm succession remains one of the most important and challenging conversations facing Canadian agriculture today. Throughout 2026, we've welcomed experts, advisors, and industry leaders to The Impact Farming Show to discuss the realities of transitioning farms, navigating family dynamics, creating financial clarity, and preparing the next generation for success. In this special compilation episode, we're revisiting some of the most impactful moments from six succession-focused episodes featured on the show this year. Whether you're actively working through a transition plan, preparing for future discussions, or simply exploring what's possible for your farm family, this episode highlights key insights, lessons, and perspectives you won't want to miss. Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:53– The $15 Million Lesson Driving Jace Young, His Work, and the Launch of Legacy Farmer 09:40 – Farm Succession in Today's Reality: Planning, Insurance, and Financial Clarity with Ken Doll 14:51 – Enabling the Next Generation of Canadian Agriculture and Food with Colin Brisebois 20:21 – Farm Succession Across the Globe: What Farmers Are Facing Right Now 27:20 – Simplifying Farm Succession: A New Approach for Canadian Farm Families 32:27 – Walking in the Shadows: Taking Over the Family Farm with Trevor MacLean If you enjoy this compilation, we encourage you to listen to the full episodes featured below. Thanks for tuning in, Tracy ========== Featured Episodes 1) The $15 Million Lesson Driving Jace Young, His Work, and the Launch of Legacy Farmer A powerful conversation about the lessons learned from a costly succession experience and how those insights are helping shape better outcomes for farm families today. Listen to the full episode: https://www.farmmarketer.com/Resources/ResourceItem?resourceItemId=594 2) Farm Succession in Today's Reality: Planning, Insurance, and Financial Clarity with Ken Doll Explore the financial realities of succession planning, including risk management, insurance considerations, and creating clarity for all generations involved. Listen to the full episode: https://www.farmmarketer.com/Resources/ResourceItem?resourceItemId=597 3) Enabling the Next Generation of Canadian Agriculture and Food with Colin Brisebois A discussion on supporting young farmers and strengthening pathways for the next generation to enter and thrive in agriculture. Listen to the full episode: https://www.farmmarketer.com/Resources/ResourceItem?resourceItemId=604 4) Farm Succession Across the Globe: What Farmers Are Facing Right Now Featuring: • Eamonn Walsh (Ireland) • Mike Downey (United States) • Derryn Shrosbree (Canada) This international panel explores how farm families around the world are approaching succession planning and the common challenges they face. Listen to the full episode: https://www.farmmarketer.com/Resources/ResourceItem?resourceItemId=614 5) Simplifying Farm Succession: A New Approach for Canadian Farm Families Discover practical approaches designed to make succession planning more accessible and achievable for farm families. Listen to the full episode: https://www.farmmarketer.com/Resources/ResourceItem?resourceItemId=619 6) Walking in the Shadows: Taking Over the Family Farm | Trevor MacLean An honest and powerful conversation about the emotional realities, pressures, expectations, and responsibilities of stepping into the next generation's role on the family farm. Listen to the full episode: https://www.farmmarketer.com/Resources/ResourceItem?resourceItemId=624 Additional Farm Succession Episodes You May Have Missed: 7) Thousands of Family Farms at Risk Due to Outdated Inheritance Rules Explore how outdated inheritance legislation could impact farm families and what changes may be needed to protect family farm continuity. Listen to the episode: https://www.farmmarketer.com/Resources/ResourceItem?resourceItemId=602 8) 10 Mistakes Farm Families Make in Succession Planning with Tracy Brunet Learn the most common succession planning mistakes farm families make and practical steps to avoid them. Listen to the episode: https://www.farmmarketer.com/Resources/ResourceItem?resourceItemId=618 Farm Transition Planning, Farm Succession Planning, Tracy Brunet, Impact Farming Show, Agriculture, Farming, Farmlife, Agribusiness, Farm Business, Farm Finance, Farm Management, Sustainable Farming, Farming Tips, Farm Business Management, Farming Success, Farm Funding Solutions, Agricultural Finance, Farming Innovations, Farm Financial Solutions, Farm Founders, Farm Successors, Agribusiness #Agriculture #Farming #Farmlife #Farmer #Farm #FarmSuccession  ⚠️ Disclaimer: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research.  Copyright Notice: This video and my YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of The Impact Farming Show: Produced by Farm Marketer. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to my YouTube channel is provided.  © The Impact Farming Show: Produced by Farm Marketer

This week on The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at SIAL Canada 2026 in Montreal, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois welcome back Karen Proud, President & Adjudicator of the Canada Grocery Code, for an important conversation about one of the most closely watched structural reforms in the Canadian grocery industry. Only months after the official launch of the Canada Grocery Code, Proud provides an inside look at how the new voluntary, industry-led framework is functioning in its early stages. She explains the mission of the Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct, the rationale behind creating a voluntary code instead of government regulation, and why more than 200 companies have already joined the initiative. Proud discusses how the code is designed to improve business relationships between retailers and suppliers, strengthen transparency, create more predictable contracting practices, and encourage long-term investment and innovation throughout Canada's food supply chain. The conversation explores the challenges of building trust across a fragmented grocery ecosystem while balancing supplier concerns, retailer expectations, and government scrutiny. Proud outlines how her office is approaching compliance, dispute resolution, reporting transparency, and stakeholder engagement while emphasizing that the code is not intended to directly control grocery prices or solve food inflation. Instead, the long-term objective is to create a healthier and more competitive grocery marketplace that ultimately benefits Canadian consumers through increased investment, innovation, and product diversity. Before the interview, Michael and Sylvain dive deep into the rapidly rising price of chicken in Canada, examining how supply management, quota allocation challenges, and surging consumer demand are contributing to record levels of poultry imports from the United States and beyond. They debate whether the current system is adequately responding to shifting protein demand as consumers move away from expensive beef toward chicken. The episode also explores Quebec's decision to permanently remove sales tax from certain grocery categories, growing concerns among Canadian beef producers over potential trade negotiations involving South American imports, and how global instability, drought conditions, and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz are beginning to impact grain and wheat prices worldwide. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues. Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

This week on The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live from the West Coast, Syvain in Chilliwack, Michael in L.A., begin with a fast-moving roundup of the biggest food, grocery, and agriculture headlines shaping Canada. First, the hosts unpack Dunkin's return to Canada and debate where the iconic brand could fit in a market dominated by Tim Hortons and McDonald's. They also explore major developments in Canada's greenhouse sector, dairy production policy, and the growing demand for dairy proteins as producers respond to changing consumer habits. The conversation then turns to some of the most consequential policy issues impacting food prices and agriculture today, including climate science, industrial carbon pricing, Canadian counter-tariffs, and what new signals from the Bank of Canada could mean for grocery inflation, farm economics, and consumer affordability. Michael and Sylvain offer their unfiltered analysis on government policy, food security, and how unintended consequences continue to ripple across Canadian households. Then, the episode shifts into a compelling long-form interview with Kim Furlong, CEO of Retail Council of Canada. In one of her first major podcast interviews since assuming the role, Kim provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the realities of modern retail in Canada. She discusses stepping into the leadership role previously held by industry icon Diane Brisebois, and explains why the grocery business remains one of the most misunderstood sectors in the country. Kim breaks down why Canadians often “see the shelf, but not the supply chain,” revealing the upstream pressures—from transportation and labour costs to energy prices and currency fluctuations—that shape food prices long before products ever reach store shelves. She also tackles some of retail's hottest issues, including algorithmic pricing, surveillance pricing concerns, the Grocery Code of Conduct, AI-driven supply chains, domestic sourcing, Buy Canadian momentum, and how retailers are preparing for a future defined by geopolitical disruption, economic volatility, and changing consumer expectations. We also hear about Michael's visit to Laurel Supply, a new bespoke grocery store in West Hollywood that could be the most beautiful grocery store in America, thanks to the amazing work of Kevin Kelley's Shook Kelley retail design firm. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues. Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

Welcome to this Monday edition of RealAg Radio with your host Shaun Haney! On today’s show, learn how current business risk management tools are struggling to keep pace with shifting realities. For the discussion, Haney is joined by: Tyler McCann of CAPI; Stuart Person of MNP; CAPI board member and former Deputy Minister of Agriculture,... Read More

Welcome to this Monday edition of RealAg Radio with your host Shaun Haney! On today’s show, learn how current business risk management tools are struggling to keep pace with shifting realities. For the discussion, Haney is joined by: Tyler McCann of CAPI; Stuart Person of MNP; CAPI board member and former Deputy Minister of Agriculture,... Read More

2,333 days ago, Jeff Bennett was the second guest I ever had on this show. Different world. Different market. Different men. Since then we've lived through bull markets, bear markets, a pandemic, and all kinds of crazy in our personal lives. Jeff runs a grain farm in Saskatchewan while quietly building a parallel business out of his garage — custom laser engraved glass and wood pieces, high-end 3D crystal branding work. He didn't start building because it was trendy. He started building because five rough crop years forced a simple question: what do you control when the weather and the banks don't care? This conversation is not polished. It's not motivational. It's a farmer sitting across from me telling the truth about debt, structure, generational disconnect, and what it actually takes to keep going when the math doesn't work. If you farm, you'll feel this one. If you don't, you'll understand something about resilience you didn't before. Timestamps [00:00:00] Cold open — "What breaks first in your life?" [00:01:00] Dan's intro — 2,333 days since Jeff's first episode [00:03:00] What breaks first — Jeff on why breaking isn't an option [00:04:00] What Jeff refuses to depend on anymore [00:05:00] If your kids copied your current operating model [00:07:00] Why Jeff rates himself "just below jaded" on the industry [00:08:00] Five rough crop years and the financial reality no one talks about [00:10:00] "Agriculture is not struggling. Farmers are struggling." [00:11:00] What makes a good farmer — passing it to the next generation [00:13:00] Diversification that isn't just more agriculture [00:15:00] The difference between being tough and being stubborn [00:17:00] Why Dad can't help — the generational disconnect in farming [00:20:00] The economics gap — when a $100K off-farm job won't cover your nitrogen [00:24:00] Succession planning and the kind of help that actually works [00:25:00] "I don't think farming is a good business" — the structural problem [00:27:00] Who's actually making the money in agriculture? [00:29:00] The equipment deal Jeff regrets — and what it cost him [00:32:00] What Jeff would do with $5 million (the answer is boring and brilliant) [00:34:00] What people romanticize about farming that's just wrong [00:36:00] If everything works, what does Jeff's life actually look like? [00:38:00] His son Axel, a 3D printer, and teaching your kids they're not just farmers [00:41:00] If the farm disappeared tomorrow [00:43:00] Has Jeff ever thought about quitting? [00:45:00] "Farmers feed the world" — a belief Jeff doesn't hold [00:50:00] Advice to his younger self: "Buckle up kid. She's about to get rocky." Connect with us Growing the Future Podcast Website: https://www.growingthefuture.ca YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrowingtheFuturePodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growing-the-future Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growingthefuturepodcast Join the Growing the Future Mastermind on Skool: https://www.skool.com/growing-the-future Register for the Convergence Conference at convergence.ag and stay updated by subscribing to the Growing the Future Podcast at growingthefuturepodcast.ca.

Craig Lester is back from Brazil. In this episode, sponsored by Kubota Canada, we dive into what he saw on the ground from +30°C fields in the state of São Paulo. Craig talks about many forms of agriculture in a country that has transformed into a global agriculture powerhouse in just 50 years, a single generation.

Spring 2026 is arriving with a fertilizer market that looks nothing like anything most producers have seen. Urea at $700 a short ton. Elemental sulfur up nearly 8x in 18 months. Global ammonia production down 30–35%. China not exporting. India running at 50–60% production capacity because they can't get LNG shipments through the Persian Gulf. And retailers across Saskatchewan are 30–40% behind on bookings. Josh Linville, one of the most followed voices in fertilizer on X, joined from a ski condo in Colorado. Mario Gaudet has been in the thick of the elemental sulfur trade and has the kind of inside knowledge that doesn't show up in the headlines. Together, they broke down what's actually happening, what even the best-case scenario looks like if the Strait reopens tomorrow (answer: not great), and what decisions producers need to be making right now. This one got into places you don't hear about in mainstream ag media. Why you can't have a green energy mandate without oil and gas refining. Why Morocco building a massive triple super phosphate plant now looks like genius. Why the US imports over 5 million tons of urea per year when North America is sitting on some of the cheapest natural gas in the world. And why the retailer down the road isn't willing to hold inventory anymore, even if he thinks you're going to need it. The practical advice coming out of this conversation was clear: talk to your retailer now, build a forecast together, buy in chunks to spread your risk, and don't cut the nutrition inputs that will cost you two bushels of corn per acre to save $5 upfront. As Josh put it, the market is undefeated, and nobody has ever sold every bushel of grain in one shot. Why would fertilizer be any different? Timestamps [00:00:46] Setting the stage: Urea nearly doubled since December, global ammonia down 30–35%, spring is here [00:02:16] Josh Linville's call: the worst economic environment for farmers he's ever seen [00:05:18] Josh joins from a ski condo in Colorado; the market doesn't stop [00:06:04] Audience poll: Where are you at with your 2026 crop plan? [00:09:34] Mario's rant begins: how elemental sulfur went from $70 to nearly $580 a ton [00:10:31] The connection nobody's making: sulfur, battery production, lithium, and why green mandates need oil and gas [00:13:34] Geopolitics, the Strait of Hormuz, and 40–50% of global sulfur supply at risk [00:14:33] The 10-million-ton sulfur stockpile in Fort McMurray and why it can't get to market [00:15:40] Buying patterns: how procrastinating on fertilizer decisions became the industry's biggest self-inflicted wound [00:19:39] Josh on sulfur: how cleaner air created a new farm input problem [00:20:46] Phosphate and the Strait: Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, three of the top 10 anhydrous exporters, all behind the closure [00:22:23] Tampa Index negotiations, phosphate production costs, and why summer fill pricing won't go down [00:23:22] Josh: we have already seen the cheapest phosphate price we are going to see [00:25:20] Even when the Strait reopens, the tail of this thing will last longer than people think [00:28:29] Morocco's triple super phosphate expansion: playing chess while everyone else played checkers [00:30:21] How high input costs are going to change what farmers buy this season [00:34:15] Josh's biggest rant: don't make a cut that feels good today and feels terrible in October [00:40:17] Alberta's 10-million-ton sulfur block, the LNG pipeline we didn't build, and the opportunity we've squandered [00:43:13] Is this the moment North America gets serious about fertilizer self-sufficiency? [00:45:21] The global food security conversation: who really pays when fertilizer prices go to the moon [00:48:31] Iran, the Strait, and the proxy war between the US and China [00:49:20] Why N-46 is at $1,250 Canadian when we make it in Indian Head, SK [00:54:04] Final advice from Mario: talk to your retailer, forecast what you need, buy in chunks [00:55:19] Final advice from Josh: no farmer sells all their grain at once, so stop treating fertilizer differently Connect with our guests: Josh Linville, VP of Fertilizer at StoneX. Follow him on X for daily fertilizer market updates: @JoshLFert Mario Gaudet, Busy Salt. Elemental sulfur supply across North America Growing the Future platform partners: Crop-Aid Nutrition, soil health and crop nutrition: cropaidnutrition.com Hammond Realty, Saskatchewan agricultural real estate, succession and tax planning: hammondrealty.ca Gripp, farm management software for tracking equipment, logging maintenance, and keeping your team aligned: gripp.ag Bone Trail Originals, handcrafted live edge resin art from a 110-year-old family farm in Saskatchewan: bonetrail.store Growing the Future: Subscribe on YouTube. Follow on LinkedIn and Instagram: growingthefuture.ca Register for the Convergence Conference at convergence.ag and stay updated by subscribing to the Growing the Future Podcast at growingthefuturepodcast.ca.

A great change of pace for an interview and learning about the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame was fun. I reference LEGENDS in this podcast frequently. In the Hall of Fame, these are industry Legends immortalized by their stories and with a beautiful portrait. Located in Toronto on the fair grounds, the CAHF is a first class organization dedicated to the history of those that built up Canadian Agriculture and had an impact locally, nationally and globally. Make sure to check out their website: cahfa.com. Look up some inductees. Read some of the history and great stories. My wife and I have also signed up as lifetime members, it took all of 15 seconds and I feel like the networking opportunities from future events will be tremendous. Phil Boyd, the Chair of the Board was gracious to walk through the process of applying for the hall and other details. He also talked about how to visit the Hall. This is now on my bucket list of places to visit and spend time taking in the beautiful portraits and reading the stories of great people.  There are over 245 inductees in the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame. It was a cool feeling as I looked through the members to say that I personally knew some of their stories. Make sure to go have a look yourself. You never know, what if your name could be inducted one day? Thank y'all so much for tuning in for the 6th season. Thank you to Season 6 sponsors:Klassen Industries BoviGen Reproductive ServicesRK Animal Supply F'd Up Farming PodcastPlease leave us a 5 star rating and review on your favorite app. Kurtis ReidContact us:Lifestockpodcast@gmail.comFacebook @LifestockPodInstagram @LifestockPodX @LifestockPodYouTube: Lifestock Podcast

Welcome to this mid-week edition of RealAg Radio with your host Shaun Haney! On today’s show, Haney is presenting a conversation about innovation, food security and resilience: Tyler McCann and Elise Bigley of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) co-host this conversation with Alison Sunstrum, the CEO of ConserveX. Plus, don't miss today's spotlight interview... Read More

Welcome to this mid-week edition of RealAg Radio with your host Shaun Haney! On today’s show, Haney is presenting a conversation about innovation, food security and resilience: Tyler McCann and Elise Bigley of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) co-host this conversation with Alison Sunstrum, the CEO of ConserveX. Plus, don't miss today's spotlight interview... Read More

A new national initiative is aiming to shift the narrative around Canadian agriculture — not with a short-term marketing push, but with what Farm Credit Canada's Justine Hendrciks describes as a long-term movement. Hendricks, president and CEO of Farm Credit Canada, outlines the vision behind Let’s Grow Canada, that launched with a website reveal on... Read More

Welcome and thanks for tuning in to this week’s edition of RealAg on the Weekend with Shaun Haney! Broadcasting from Calgary, Alberta, your host Shaun Haney is joined by Tyler McCann, managing director of CAPI, and Saskatchewan farmer Daryl Fransoo to talk about profitability in ag and the role of the biofuel industry from a... Read More

The future of Canadian agriculture is being shaped by a new generation of producers, innovators, and industry professionals. In this episode, we sit down with Colin Brisebois, Vice-President of Products and Market Strategies at FCC, who brings a unique perspective as both an agriculture leader and an active farmer. Colin shares why this is an incredibly exciting time to enter agriculture and highlights the opportunities, challenges, and key trends shaping the next generation of farming in Canada. From succession planning and technology adoption to sustainability and financial confidence, this conversation dives into what it truly takes to build a successful and resilient agricultural career. You'll also hear a powerful real-life story illustrating how knowledge, advice, and capital work together to help young producers succeed. Episode Highlights - Why agriculture is full of opportunity for the next generation - The evolving role of technology, sustainability, and innovation in farming - Key trends shaping the future of Canadian agriculture - What emerging producers really need beyond financing - The importance of building confidence through knowledge, advice, and capital - A real-world success story highlighting FCC's support of young farmers - Why attracting diverse talent into agriculture is critical - Practical first steps for young or aspiring producers Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction Introducing Colin Brisebois and his role at FCC, along with his personal farming experience. 3:49 – Why This Is an Exciting Time for the Next Generation Opportunities emerging in agriculture including innovation, sustainability, and evolving business models. 8:00 – Key Trends Shaping the Future of Agriculture Discussion around succession planning, digital agriculture, climate-smart practices, and diversified income streams. 13:45 – What Emerging Producers Really Need to Succeed Moving beyond financing — building confidence through knowledge, advice, and capital. 24:40 – How FCC Supports the Next Generation: Sarah's Story A powerful example of how strategic support helps young producers navigate education, growth, and business transitions. 33:13 – Investing in the Future of Agriculture How industry leaders and young professionals are helping strengthen the ag sector as a whole. 35:50 – The Importance of Attracting Talent Beyond Producers Why agriculture needs accountants, technology experts, advisors, and other professionals to thrive. 39:41 – First Steps for Aspiring Producers Practical advice and resources for those looking to begin their journey in agriculture. Don't miss this positive and encouraging conversation enabling the next generation of Canadian Agriculture and food.  If you enjoyed this conversation and you are curious about the FCC Transition Loan episode discussed in this episode, you can tune into that conversation here:

With shifting global trade dynamics, extreme weather events, and continued budget cutbacks, Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector enters 2026 facing a mix of challenges and opportunities. This webinar, presented in partnership with the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, examines what's ahead for the sector in the coming year from economic fundamentals, to policy gaps, and onto... Read More

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois unpack two powerful and timely themes shaping Canada's food system: the shifting geopolitical landscape of agri-food and the growing threat of food fraud. The episode opens with a wide-ranging news segment focused on Canada's evolving trade relationship with China, recent developments at Davos, and new data on food inflation.Sylvain shares insights from Manitoba Ag Days, where optimism is building among farmers following Canada's short-term agricultural trade deal with China, particularly for canola, lobster, and beef exports. The hosts explore the strategic implications of re-opening Chinese markets, noting how geopolitical uncertainty is now a permanent feature of food systems. Sylvain argues that Canada must invest more heavily in domestic manufacturing, modernize supply management, and incentivize green technologies to strengthen long-term food sovereignty. The conversation also turns to food inflation, with Sylvain explaining why Canada's 6.2% food inflation rate cannot be blamed solely on the GST holiday, pointing instead to opportunistic pricing and structural inefficiencies across the supply chain.The second half of the episode features a compelling interview with Deleo de Leonardis, CEO and Co-Founder of Purity IQ, a science-based company specializing in food and supplement authenticity testing. Drawing on her 30-year career in grocery retail, including two decades at Sobeys, Deleo explains how food fraud represents one of the most underestimated risks in modern retail. While many companies rely on basic identity testing, Deleo highlights the critical difference between identity and authenticity: a product may technically meet regulatory standards while still being diluted, substituted, or adulterated.Deleo introduces advanced tools such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and DNA-based testing, which allow for non-targeted analysis at the molecular level. This approach enables Purity IQ to detect unknown adulterants and inconsistencies across batches—something traditional testing methods often miss. She outlines high-risk categories such as olive oil, honey, fish, avocado oil, sesame oil, and dietary supplements, emphasizing that food fraud is an opportunistic crime driven by global supply shocks, climate events, tariffs, and geopolitical instability.Together, the episode paints a sobering picture: as supply chains become more complex and economic pressures rise, food authenticity will become a defining issue for retailers, brands, and regulators alike. The hosts conclude that in an era of shrinking trust and rising prices, transparency and scientific verification may be the only sustainable path forward for the global food industry. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues. Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

The final episode of The Food Professor Podcast for 2025 delivers a timely, wide-ranging examination of Canada's food system, blending macroeconomic analysis with a compelling, real-world industry case study. Co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois open the episode by reviewing their Top 10 Food Stories of 2025, a list that reflects a year defined less by short-term volatility and more by deep, structural challenges.Among the key themes is the growing consensus that food inflation in Canada is structural rather than cyclical, driven by long-standing issues such as interprovincial trade barriers, fragmented labour policy, logistics inefficiencies, regulatory complexity, and limited scale in food processing. The hosts revisit major developments including tariffs and counter-tariffs, the Grocery Code of Conduct, meat counter economics, the Ozempic and GLP-1 drug effect on food consumption, and the controversy surrounding cloned meat approvals. Together, these stories underscore why Canada's food system struggles to absorb shocks compared to larger, more flexible global peers.The second half of the episode features an in-depth interview with Ryan Koeslag, Executive Vice President & CEO of Mushrooms Canada, joined by Janet Krayden, Workforce Specialist at Mushrooms Canada. Together, they provide a rare inside look at one of Canada's most technologically advanced yet frequently misunderstood agricultural sectors. Listeners learn that Canadian mushrooms are grown 365 days a year, supply nearly 100% of domestic grocery demand, and export approximately 40% of production to the United States—all while operating with largely organic practices and world-class automation.A central focus of the discussion is labour. Koeslag and Krayden explain that mushroom farming is non-seasonal, capital-intensive, and highly technical, yet still dependent on skilled human labour for harvesting. Recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, combined with the cancellation of the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot, have created significant unintended consequences for growers, threatening productivity, workforce stability, and long-term investment.The conversation also explores sustainability and innovation, highlighting Canada's leadership in mushroom automation, organic growing methods, and environmental stewardship. Krayden emphasizes that farmers are strong advocates for worker well-being and housing—an aspect often overlooked in public debate.The episode closes with forward-looking commentary on 2026, including front-of-package labelling, AI-driven pricing ethics, and the ongoing challenge of scaling Canada's “unscalable middle” in food processing—making this episode both a reflective year-end review and a practical roadmap for the year ahead.Mushrooms Canada Jobs webpage https://mushrooms.ca/mushroom-jobs/Mushrooms CanadaRecipes https://mushrooms.ca/recipes/Nutrition Page:   https://mushrooms.ca/nutritional-benefits/Quality farm worker housing Highline campus in Leamington: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CNj4H8dGz/MORE high quality mushroom farm worker housing offered in Ontario for our farm workers https://youtu.be/ocrXL9DX7ys?si=Okdfpk2kx9lVHOoo The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this can't-miss episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois return with Part Two of their exclusive, final official interview with Michael Medline, former President & CEO of Empire/Sobeys. Medline offers unusually candid reflections on leadership, culture, vendor relationships, and the evolution of one of Canada's largest food retailers.The conversation opens with a deep dive into vendor relations and the Canadian Grocery Code of Conduct. Medline explains his early shock at the combative nature of vendor–retailer dynamics and details his personal commitment to transforming the ecosystem into one built on fairness, respect, and partnership. He reflects on how mentorship from industry leaders like Michael Graydon and collaboration with executives such as Mark Taylor helped advance the Code from concept to reality — ultimately becoming one of the proudest achievements of his tenure.Medline also shares rare behind-the-scenes reflections on working with the Sobey family, leading through disruption, and preparing the company for the next era of food retail. From AI-driven transformation to the duty of stewarding an organization with 129,000 teammates, he speaks openly about responsibility, succession, and what comes next in his career. His insights offer a masterclass in modern leadership during one of the most transformative decades in grocery retail.The episode also features a rich and timely news segment. Michael and Sylvain break down Health Canada's pause on cloned beef and swine approvals, a fast-moving story with major implications for transparency, labeling, science communication, and cross-border food integration. They examine why Canada's decision diverges from the U.S., where cloned-animal offspring have been permitted for nearly two decades — often without consumer awareness.The hosts then analyze the newest edition of the Canadian Food Sentiment Index, highlighting renewed concerns about food inflation, declining trust in grocers, shifting loyalty behaviours, and the end of Canada's “couponing era.” They explore evolving consumer habits, smarter comparison shopping, and the influence of younger digital-first generations.Other key topics include:• The Lancet's callout of ultra-processed foods — and why Sylvain believes the academic narrative is oversimplified.• The rapid rise of GLP-1 drugs and their early impact on grocery and foodservice behaviour.• Nutrien's reported decision to build a major potash terminal in Washington State rather than Canada.• The tangled story behind beef prices and the federal policies that may be limiting supply.• A big win for Canadian agriculture as GoodLeaf Farms raises $52 million to expand capacity and boost controlled-environment production. Go Here for the The Canadian Food Sentiment Index, Volume 2, no. 1  The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this dynamic episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois dive into the latest headlines shaping Canada's food and beverage sector before welcoming Kiran Mann, CEO of Brar's, one of North America's fastest-growing South Asian food manufacturers.The episode opens with a timely look at the hospitality boost from the Toronto Blue Jays' World Series run, a much-needed economic shot in the arm for restaurants and bars coast-to-coast. From there, Sylvain unpacks fresh Canadian inflation data, connecting global trade policy, tariffs, and drought-driven beef shortages to continued food-price volatility. He explains why Canadian beef prices will likely remain high until mid-2027, and how regional differences—from Saskatchewan's 5.5 percent food inflation to Ontario's 3.5 percent—highlight a widening national divide. The conversation also tackles layoffs at Molson Coors and Nestlé, changing consumer habits amid the Ozempic effect, and why Big CPG must reinvent itself as Canadians buy more locally produced goods. The duo rounds out the news rundown with an update on Agropur's cottage-cheese lockout and a surprising salmonella outbreak in dog treats, underscoring the need for better pet-food safety oversight.Then, Michael and Sylvain welcome Kiran Mann, an inspirational immigrant entrepreneur and visionary leader steering Brar's from family-run origins to a national and expanding international powerhouse. Mann shares her remarkable journey—from her roots in Amritsar, India, to leading a modern Canadian company that connects authentic Indian flavours with contemporary manufacturing innovation. She explains Brar's evolution across three categories—dairy, snacks, and sweets—including its beloved samosas, signature paneer, and pure-vegetarian veggie burgers.Mann introduces her proprietary “Harmonic System”—a leadership and operational philosophy grounded in balance, authenticity, and purpose. Her approach integrates people, process, and passion, ensuring that growth doesn't outpace culture or quality. The discussion explores how Brar's sustains traditional recipes while using food science to extend shelf life naturally, create sustainable packaging, and meet the needs of health-conscious, multicultural consumers. Looking ahead, Mann outlines her strategy of “depth and impact,” combining Canadian multiculturalism, sustainable supply chains, and bold U.S. expansion to make Brar's a global ambassador of modern Indian cuisine made in Canada. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Technology and innovation have always been a key part of moving agriculture forward, and now another technology, that of artificial intelligence (AI), is set to disrupt the sector. While there are always rules and regulations required with new technology advancements, Keith Currie, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) says there are real benefits... Read More

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois open with a wide-ranging conversation on global trade tensions, the state of Canadian agriculture, and the latest policy moves shaping our food economy — before turning to the fascinating story of Stephen Mitchell, President of Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery, Ontario's only beachfront winery on the Lake Erie North Shore.Michael and Sylvain begin by unpacking the economic aftershocks of U.S. tariff wars, as soybean farmers in America face devastating losses and look for government bailouts amid shifting Chinese trade alliances. Sylvain, speaking from Purdue University in Indiana, shares first-hand insights from conversations with American farmers reeling from collapsed exports and rising equipment costs. The hosts then pivot to the EV tariff dispute between Canada, China, and the U.S., discussing whether Ottawa should drop tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to save Canadian canola farmers — a debate intensified by security concerns and diplomatic pressures. They also explore evolving Canada–India trade relations, the potential of government-run grocery stores, and Canada's climb to #7 in the Global Agri-Food Most Influential Nations report released on World Food Day, produced in partnership with MNP.Then, Michael introduces Stephen Mitchell for a compelling look at the business of craft wine in Ontario. Stephen recounts the family story behind Sprucewood Shores — from his father's dream of returning to his farming roots to the hands-on creation of a 52-acre lakeside vineyard and winery. He describes how the business evolved from a weekend “hobby farm” into a major local producer, now recognized for its Beach Glass Series, Classic Series, and signature Warm & Cozy mulled wine, distributed through the LCBO and beyond. Stephen details how the winery balances tradition with innovation — focusing on approachability, sustainability, and product diversification — while investing to capture new market momentum as Ontario's wine industry gains visibility and political support. He also shares marketing lessons learned through social media, tastings, and direct-to-consumer engagement, underscoring that success in wine is about constant connection and storytelling.Link Global Agri-Food Most Influential Nations interactive site and report released on World Food Day, produced in partnership with MNPhttps://www.mnp.ca/en/clients/food-and-beverage-processing/momentum-is-building-canadas-rise-in-global-agri-food#reportLink to Whole Foods trends report 2026https://www.freshfruitportal.com/news/2025/10/13/whole-foods-trends-2026/.  The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this powerful new episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois dissect the forces shaping Canada's food and agriculture economy—from farmland bubbles and provincial politics to the latest retail coffee price increases.The show opens with Michael's visit to Prince Edward County, where he talks about reconnecting with past guest Dan Sullivan of Rosehall Run Vineyards and celebrates the growing influence of culinary innovator and recent guest Charlotte Langley, whose tinned-seafood brand Nice Cans is redefining Canadian bespoke tinned fish dining. Sylvain weighs in on stalled interprovincial trade and Premier Doug Ford's ongoing feud with Crown Royal and Diageo, exploring the politics of booze, bans, and consumer choice - and his support of ice cream maker Chapman's. The hosts also spotlight the wild-blueberry disaster in Atlantic Canada, where drought and fires have slashed yields by up to 70%, threatening regional processors and exports.Then the conversation shifts to a fascinating—and controversial—guest: Trent Klarenbach, BSA AgEc PAg, Special Crops & Grain Marketing Analyst and Founder of Klarenbach Research. A former Saskatchewan farmer turned analyst, Trent explains how he uses technical analysis—tools typically reserved for stock markets—to assess farmland value. His research suggests land in Saskatchewan and Alberta may be overbought, echoing warning signs that preceded the dramatic farmland correction of the 1980s.Trent describes how investor psychology and market cycles shape agriculture just as they do equities, applying RSI and Elliott Wave patterns to farmland data. He details his own journey through farming's booms and busts, his motivation for building a subscription-based insights service, and the mixed reactions he's received from farmers, lenders, and ag-finance professionals. For listeners seeking deeper understanding of the economics—and emotion—behind land ownership, his approach reframes how to think about farm equity and risk.The episode wraps with Michael and Sylvain analyzing temporary-foreign-worker fines, Tim Hortons' price move and Starbucks store closures, and Donald Trump's revived talk of U.S. dairy access. They close on a high note—what soaring bullion signals about global uncertainty and food-price volatility.Website: https://www.klarenbach.ca/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@KlarenbachResearchPodcast:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL28YhqW-kvxkfu1I6xFdtaa5BN1GVoHxa&si=_iVqyKVYCkfm6S1m  The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois bring their trademark mix of food industry news analysis and an in-depth conversation with a leading Canadian food entrepreneur.The episode opens with a wide-ranging look at the Canadian retail and restaurant landscape. Sylvain shares highlights from his keynote in Brampton, Ontario, where the city is building momentum as a potential logistics hub for food and agriculture. Michael and Sylvain discuss strong retail sales numbers, resilience in consumer spending, and a new Restaurants Canada report. The report highlights shifting meal occasions, with Canadians dining out less often but increasingly turning to delivery services like UberEats and DoorDash. They also unpack the surprising rise of solo dining, with nearly 30% growth in single reservations year over year, and how restaurants can adapt to this trend through design and menu innovation. The hosts then tackle Farm Credit Canada's call for greater export diversification, weighing the challenges of competing in heavily subsidized global markets. Finally, they examine the U.S. government's controversial decision to cut data collection on food insecurity, with Sylvain stressing the long-term risks of limiting access to robust research data.The second half of the episode welcomes Kirk Homenick, President of Naturally Homegrown Foods, the Surrey, B.C.–based company behind Hardbite Chips and PopTastic popcorn. Kirk shares the story of his company's growth from humble beginnings in Maple Ridge to its current 42,000-square-foot facility. He explains how Hardbite has stood out in the competitive snack aisle by emphasizing transparency, Canadian-grown ingredients, and lifestyle-driven branding. Kirk highlights the role of avocado oil in fueling 82% annual growth since 2018, how PopTastic quickly became an award-winning hit, and why innovation in seasonal flavours and packaging keeps the brand fresh and relevant.Kirk also offers a candid look at challenges, from volatile ingredient costs to managing manufacturing complexity, and how his team leans on operational excellence and creativity to stay ahead. Looking forward, he outlines plans for geographic expansion into Eastern Canada and the U.S., while teasing the development of entirely new snack brands focused on functionality and evolving consumer demand.With both big-picture analysis and insider insights from one of Canada's most dynamic snack entrepreneurs, this episode delivers food for thought on the future of retail, restaurants, and the growing snack market. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

For many students across Canada, a farm is something they’ve only read about—but a long-running virtual tour aims to change that. Ag in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) has launched season five of The Great Canadian Farm Tour, a bilingual, online program that gives kindergarten to Grade 6 students live access to farms from coast to... Read More

Season Six of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, kicks off with hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois diving into a whirlwind of summer news, trade turbulence, and big-picture food industry shifts. This debut episode sets the tone for what promises to be a dynamic and thought-provoking season.Michael and Sylvain begin with personal updates from a busy summer, including travels to Quebec City, Sylvain's new role as Visiting Scholar at McGill University, and Michael's experiences covering retail in New York. They also announce that full video episodes of The Food Professor are now available on YouTube, expanding the show's reach as podcasting and video continue to converge.The discussion quickly pivots to critical economic and policy issues. The hosts unpack Ottawa's decision to end retaliatory countervailing tariffs on U.S. food imports—a move Sylvain argues was long overdue, as tariffs only raised costs for Canadian consumers while doing little to protect domestic industries. With food inflation running hot, Sylvain predicts prices will ease by early fall, pointing to statements from Loblaw CEO Per Bank as validation.From there, the pair explore the elimination of the U.S. “de minimis” exemption, a decision with far-reaching consequences for Canadian small businesses and independent food producers shipping across the border. Michael emphasizes how indie retailers relying on U.S. customers will be hit hardest, while Sylvain warns that Ottawa must address Canada's own $150 threshold to avoid worsening inequities.The conversation expands globally with a deep dive into China's escalating tariffs on Canadian canola, pork, and lobster—measures Sylvain interprets as retaliation for Canada's 100% tariff on Chinese EVs. He makes the case for a more nuanced approach: segment tariffs between luxury and affordable EVs, allowing consumers greater choice while protecting farmers from geopolitical fallout.Other highlights include an analysis of the pickle aisle—yes, really—where the Bick's withdrawal from Canada illustrates the tangled realities of cross-border food supply chains. The hosts also discuss Dr Pepper Keurig's acquisition of JDE Peet's, situating it within a larger trend of consumer packaged goods giants restructuring in response to inflation, climate change, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, and a rewiring of global trade flows.The episode wraps on a lighter note, celebrating the Canadian arrival of Bobby Flay's Burger concept and teasing next week's guest, Globe and Mail journalist Greg Mercer, author of The Lobster Trap.With sharp analysis, lively banter, and a keen eye on the forces reshaping food and retail, Michael and Sylvain set the stage for a season that will track how consumers, farmers, and retailers navigate inflation, trade disputes, shifting supply chains, and new food trends. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Canada has been managing sulfur throughout every stage of crop production for decades. Today, we're uncovering the lessons you can learn from their playbook.   On this episode of The Dirt, Mike Howell is joined by Ray Dowbenko, a retired senior agronomist with over 30 years of experience across the Canadian Prairies. Together, they unpack how to manage this essential nutrient and offer us lessons we can take back to our own soil.   You'll uncover the critical role that sulfur plays in our crops (from supporting amino acid production to nitrogen use efficiency), why canola has such a great demand for this nutrient, the differences between sulfate sulfur sources and elemental sulfur sources (and when to use them), the best time to apply, the 4Rs and sulfur fertilization and other insights from Ray's 30 years of experience in crop production in Western Canada.   Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit https://nutrien-ekonomics.com/   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics    

In this episode of The Impact Farming Show, we're joined by Matt Alexander, Investor Relations and Operations Director at Farm Lending Canada Inc., the team behind the AgriRoots Diversified Lending Fund LP. Matt shares his journey, the origins of Farm Lending Canada, and the unique vision that shaped their role in Canadian agriculture finance. We dive deep into the AgriRoots by Farm Lending Canada investment strategy, how it differs from traditional Mortgage Investment Entities, and why Canadian agriculture is an increasingly attractive opportunity for investors. If you're curious about how to support Canadian family farms and generate solid returns while mitigating risk, this episode is a must-listen.   In This Episode, You'll Learn: - How Farm Lending Canada was created to serve the financing needs of Canadian farmers - The mission and philosophy behind the AgriRoots by Farm Lending Canada approach - The unique structure of AgriRoots by Farm Lending Canada compared to traditional lending and investment vehicles - Why investing in Canadian agriculture is not just impactful, but also financially compelling - What the net return track record of the AgriRoots by Farm Lending Canada fund looks like - How they effectively mitigate risk for investors while supporting family-owned operations - The ideal investor profile and how you can get involved   Episode TimeStamps: 0:00 – Welcome & Introduction 1:22 – Who is Farm Lending Canada & the company mission 3:40 – What is AgriRoots by Farm Lending Canada 5:28 – Core investment strategy: Short-term mortgages to Canadian farmers 7:00 – How AgriRoots by Farm Lending Canada differs from other Mortgage Investment Companies or Entities 10:46 – Why investors should consider Canadian agriculture 14:30 – Who is the ideal investor for AgriRoots by Farm Lending Canada 16:00 – Fund performance: Net return track record 22:00 – Risk mitigation strategies for investor protection 29:00 – How to learn more   About AgriRoots by Farm Lending Canada (FLC): AgriRoots by FLC is a Canadian-based alternative lending organization offering agricultural mortgages designed to complement traditional financing. Unlike other lenders, AgriRoots by FLC never takes equity from borrowers and remains focused on supporting the long-term success of family-operated farms, which make up 98% of Canada's ag operations. They combine deep understanding of both finance and farm life to offer customized lending solutions while preserving land ownership and stewardship.  If you are interested in learning more about Farm Lending Canada Inc. and how they impact Canadian agriculture by providing alternative financing solutions for farms, watch additional interviews with their team here:  1. Supporting the Future of Agriculture with Alternative Farm Financing Solutions

The Calgary Stampede is known for its legendary rodeo and riveting chuck wagon races, but it's so much more than that.   In this episode of The Dirt, Mike Howell sits down with Chair of the Calgary Stampede's International Agriculture and Agri-Food Sub-Committee, Scott Exner, to discuss the Stampede's evolving role in international collaboration, networking and connection.   Scott shares his insights into why thousands of international guests make the trip to Alberta for this iconic event every year. It's not just for the rodeo—it's a gathering place where they can participate in meaningful networking with the entire sector, and it's a place where our industry can bridge the gap between producers and consumers.   Join the conversation to learn how the Calgary Stampede plans to continue to serve as a vital hub for thought leadership and ag innovation around the world.   Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

What's next for Canadian agriculture, and what role does the Calgary Stampede play in helping us get there?   Sit down with Mike Howell and Canadian Agriculture Hall of Famer, AdFarm Founder and Canadian agriculture advocate, Kim McConnell, as they explore food and farming at one of Canada's most iconic events - the Calgary Stampede.   Tune in to uncover the Stampede's history and roots in cattle country and its evolving role as a platform for policy, connection and education - helping to bridge the gap between Canadian producers and consumers.   Explore the challenges and opportunities facing Canadian ag, the future of the agri-food industry and why mentoring the next generation is critical for our success.   Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

RealAgriculture and the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) are pleased to announce a new collaboration aimed at expanding conversations and analysis around agricultural policy in Canada. Through this partnership, RealAgriculture and CAPI will deliver a series of webinars, policy briefs, and written commentary designed to engage and inform stakeholders across the agri-food value chain. CAPI,... Read More

Despite the on-going tariff and trade battles, for many Canadians, affordability remains their biggest concern. There are countless families who struggle to put food on the table. So food and the future is on the menu today. The founder of the global company AGT Foods and Ingredients – is Murad Al-Katib (a.k.a. The Lentil King) and his mission is combatting food insecurity and making a sustainable future for agriculture possible… and he does it all from Regina, Saskatchewan!Canada is in fact the world's leading producer and exporter of lentils, 95% coming from Saskatchewan where there are over 5000 active lentil farmers. In 2023, Canada produced nearly 1.7 million tons of lentils (it was 2.3 million in 2022) and we exported nearly 2.0 million tons of lentils in 2023!But Murad and AGT don't have an easy road ahead with geopolitical and trade tensions on the rise. Even the PM is now downplaying the prospects for the trade negotiations! But Murad says this uncertainty may be a blessing in disguise… we need the incentive to reduce our dependence on the US while growing and building new markets. And get our own house in order, reduce regulations and put incentives in the right places… more carrots, fewer sticks.The tariff wars have hit agriculture hard and one of AGT's biggest customers, India, imposed huge tariffs on Canadian pulses in 2019 and so Murad had to move quickly to find and secure new markets… much as Canada must do today as we try to navigate Trump's turbulent waters. He's got some great insights into what Ottawa needs to do! Remember, as well as U.S. tariffs, China too, has imposed powerfully punitive 100% retaliatory tariffs on Canadian canola as well as peas and lobster. This has caused farmers to move to other non-tariffed pulses to survive as well as to ensure that soil rotation can be maintained so that crops can be grown, harvested and sold!For example, India consumes 40 pounds of pulses per person, so they buy a huge amount of lentils from Saskatchewan and  plant protein like pulses have enormous benefits that can help battle food insecurity. They have excellent shelf life, they are much more efficient to produce than livestock – and more environmentally friendly. And they have tremendous health benefits such as decreased cholesterol and reduced cardiovascular risk. Key to Murad's vision is to use 100% of a plant with zero waste. Pulses already have extended shelf stability, a low food wastage footprint and require low-water input- and AGT has some innovative work going on to use biodegradable materials like starches and fibres to make fossil fuel alternatives!So this is not just some trendy product for vegetarians and health food enthusiasts. AGT Foods is a massive international company with more than 45 global facilities serving more than 120 customer countries… and more than 1400 food products! They are one of the biggest pulse processors in the world… and thereby they help feed the world! A stunning statistic Murad cites: the world will need to produce the same amount of food in the next 40 years as we have produced in the last 10,000 years! He thinks we can do it!Murad is a true leader in the ag sector… and the trade sector... and he advises governments everywhere and has received numerous awards and much deserved recognition for his work, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal which I had the pleasure of presenting to him (via his kids) this year! You will see why when you hear our conversation as Murad is our guest on this episode of No Nonsense.  -         

In this insightful summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Keith Currie, President at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, live from the floor of SIAL Toronto. Representing more than 190,000 farmers and ranchers across the country and an eighth-generation farmer himself, Currie provides a candid, wide-ranging view on the future of Canadian agriculture—and why it's time for policymakers to pay closer attention.Currie highlights that agriculture contributes more than $150 billion to Canada's GDP and employs 2.5 million Canadians, surpassing the combined total of the auto, forestry, oil and gas, and steel industries. Yet agriculture remains a "quiet success story," underrepresented in national economic strategy. He argues that improved connectivity between farm producers, food processors, retailers, and policymakers is essential for ensuring sustainable growth.Topics include the implications of carbon pricing on rural producers, where Currie underscores the infrastructure gap that limits farmers' ability to adopt greener technologies. He advocates for more innovative climate solutions—such as cap-and-trade and regionally tailored resiliency programs—that don't unfairly penalize producers while acknowledging that border carbon adjustments are rapidly approaching in trade policy.Currie also stresses the importance of regulatory reform, referencing Ontario's red tape reduction model as a blueprint. Trade remains a central pillar of his advocacy, particularly in addressing non-tariff barriers and ensuring that agreements are effectively enforced, especially in complex markets like India.On the issue of succession planning, Currie discusses tools now available to help multi-generational farm families transition wealth and ownership without heavy tax burdens. With rising land values and farm assets, he emphasizes the need for financial institutions and governments to support the next generation of agricultural leaders.Throughout the conversation, Currie brings passion, realism, and a long-view perspective on agriculture's unique position in the Canadian economy. He calls on policymakers to shift from viewing farming as a sector in need of aid to one of untapped potential and national strength.From food security to innovation and sustainability, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who eats, votes, or works in the food industry. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of The Truth About Ag, Evan Shout sits down with Tyler McCann, Managing Director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), for a candid conversation about the state of ag policy in Canada. They start with the role CAPI plays in shaping agri-food dialogue, including the value of its regular newsletter, before diving into the aftermath of Canada's recent federal election.They examine how policies around capital gains, tax incentives, and trade disputes are shaped, not always by evidence or industry needs, but by shifting politics. The conversation also takes a critical look at Canada's supply management system, comparing it to the U.S. model and asking hard questions about long-term competitiveness and economic resilience.For anyone trying to understand where Canadian agriculture policy is headed—and what's getting in the way—this episode brings needed clarity.

n Season 5 of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois take listeners inside the bustling SIAL Food Innovation Show in Toronto, bringing fresh insights on global food trends and the shifting dynamics of agri-food trade. The episode kicks off with their live reflections on the show floor, surrounded by global exhibitors from Brazil, Peru, Jamaica, and Italy. They note a growing demand for diverse flavors and ethnic cuisines, as well as a strategic pivot by companies to balance foodservice and retail sales post-pandemic.Sylvain highlights how COVID reshaped supply chains, pushing businesses to avoid overreliance on single sectors and prompting innovations that blur lines between restaurant and retail offerings. They discuss ongoing tariff challenges, food inflation stabilizing, and the complex impact of retaliatory tariffs on Canadian importers and exporters.Shifting gears, the duo analyze Canada's post-election political landscape, unpacking what Mark Carney's new government could mean for agri-food policy, carbon taxation, and Canada's trade relationships with the U.S. and Mexico. They speculate about potential reforms to supply management and agri-stability programs, while exploring Western Canadian frustrations over political representation and federal agricultural policy.The second half features an exclusive interview with Martin Lavoie, President & CEO of Groupe Export Agroalimentaire Québec-Canada, Canada's largest agri-food export association. Martin shares how his organization supports over 450 Quebec food exporters through trade shows, market intelligence, and export services. He explains how diversification strategies are evolving amid global tariff volatility, why intra-Canada trade holds untapped potential, and how government procurement could boost domestic food producers.Martin also addresses the challenges of breaking into international markets like Europe, where food economies remain hyper-local, while noting rising demand in Asia and Mexico. He underscores the importance of reducing interprovincial trade barriers to unlock growth and reveals the criteria behind Group Export's annual Export Gala awards.Wrapping up, Michael and Sylvain reflect on Michael Medline's upcoming retirement from Sobeys, discussing his leadership legacy and impact on the grocer's national growth and industry advocacy. They also celebrate T&T's continued U.S. expansion and the launch of Loblaws' Maxi stores outside Quebec.Tune in for expert insights on the evolving agri-food export landscape, retail's competitive shifts, and the policies shaping Canada's food industry future. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this power-packed episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois bring listeners up to speed on one of the most complex and fast-moving stories in the global food and agriculture sector: the unfolding international tariff war. Appropriately titled “The Global Tariff War Edition,” this episode features a timely and incisive interview with Mark Warner, Managing Director at MAAW Law and one of North America's leading experts on trade, investment, and competition law.The conversation kicks off with Michael and Sylvain diving into the latest developments in U.S.–China trade tensions, which have seen tariffs skyrocket to 125% on inbound U.S. goods into China. They explore the ripple effects on key commodities like soybeans and canola, discuss the surprising resilience of commodity markets, and examine why Canada isn't positioned to step in as a major alternative supplier.The hosts also explore cultural signals from the food world, including the increasing trend of Americans packing lunches and the declining use of doggy bags in restaurants—signs Sylvain suggests may point to growing economic insecurity and workplace anxiety.In the second half of the show, Michael and Sylvain sit down with Mark Warner, who brings deep legal and historical context to the tariff debate. Warner unpacks how the Trump administration is using the rarely-invoked International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to sidestep traditional trade channels. He outlines the risks and potential rewards for Canadian agri-food exporters navigating this new landscape, and why subtle diplomacy—not headline-grabbing bravado—may serve Canada better in the long run. From trade agreements and geopolitical strategy to supply management and softwood lumber, Warner's nuanced take is essential listening for anyone working in, or watching, the agri-food space.And there's also a moment of celebration: Dr. Sylvain Charlebois shares his recent honour—receiving the prestigious Charles III Coronation Medal from the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec. In a heartfelt reflection, he dedicates the medal to his wife, Janelle, recognizing her essential support in his research and public policy work. It's a well-deserved acknowledgment of Sylvain's national impact on food policy and scholarship.With sharp insight, humour, and a dash of royal recognition, this episode offers listeners a blend of timely news and expert analysis that defines The Food Professor Podcast.Tune into Bite Sized!Corus Entertainment is excited to add a brand-new topical program to its Talk Radio lineup on April 12called Bite Sized, which explores the business of food in the country. 640 Toronto Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET980 CFPL Sundays at 9 a.m. ET680 CJOB Sundays at 2 p.m. CST770 QR Calgary Sundays at 3 p.m. MST880 CHED Sundays at 3 p.m. MST730 CKNW Sundays at 1 p.m. PSTAbout MarkMark is an Ontario and New York attorney who has practiced trade, investment and competition law in Toronto, New York, Washington, D.C and Brussels and as counsel to the OECD in Paris.  He advises natural resource clients through Pilot Law LLP and fintech and financial Services clients through Atlantis International. Mark has also recently been appointed as a Fellow of the US Canada Institute in Washington, D.C.Mark is a former Legal Director of the Ontario Ministries of Economic Development & Trade, Research & Innovation and Consumer Services. He led Ontario's legal team for trade negotiations (including the Canada-EU Trade Agreement and the Canada-U.S. Agreement on Government Procurement), trade disputes (including the Green Energy Act and softwood lumber) and various NAFTA Chapter 11 investor-state disputes and for the insolvency / restructuring of General Motors and Chrysler.Mark was also co-author of the Second Edition of a leading Canadian trade law treatise (with the Hon. William C. Graham and Professors Jean-Gabriel Castel and Armand de Mestral). He has been listed in the Euromoney / International Financial Law Review Guide to the World's Leading Competition lawyers and in 2015 was elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.Mark earned a BA (Joint Honours) from McGill, an MA in Economics from the University of Toronto, a JD from Osgoode Hall Law School and an LLM from Georgetown University Law Centre. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode, we're joined by Shaun Haney, founder and CEO of RealAgriculture, Canada's leading online ag publication and home to RealAg Radio on SiriusXM. Shaun shares his journey from growing up on a Southern Alberta seed farm to becoming a trusted voice in agriculture. We discuss how RealAgriculture provides farmers with essential information on agronomy, farm business planning, trade policies, and global ag trends. He also shares insights from speaking at top industry events and weighs in on key issues like US-Canada trade relations and farm show coverage worldwide. If you're looking to stay ahead in the ag industry, this episode is a must-listen! Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don't forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

This episode of The Food Professor Podcast brings together global trade drama and local wine opportunity. In the opening news segment, Michael and Sylvain react to the latest trade bombshell from Donald Trump: sweeping new tariffs aimed at dozens of countries, with Canada & Mexico left off—for now. They dig into how this could reshape the Canadian food sector, focusing on dairy and the persistent challenges of supply management. Sylvain calls out the inefficiencies of Canada's quota system and urges a national strategy, comparing our lack of vision to New Zealand's Fonterra success. The conversation also covers the real reasons behind “Buy Canadian” sentiment—whether driven by tariffs or values—and highlights the implications of avian flu outbreaks on Canadian poultry supplies.In the second half, Michael and Sylvain welcome Michelle Wasylyshen, President and CEO of Ontario Craft Wineries. With a public affairs background spanning government, industry, and advocacy, Michelle brings a sharp perspective on the role of VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) wines in the current climate. She explains how VQA signifies wines that are 100% Ontario-grown, produced, and bottled, and why that matters for consumers and the local economy.Michelle details how the removal of U.S. wines from LCBO shelves has created a rare and significant opening for Ontario wine producers. Early data already shows a 30% jump in VQA sales, with some members seeing growth as high as 70–80%. Her team is capitalizing with cheeky, targeted campaigns like “Screw the Tariffs, Pop the Cork,” and partnering with groups like Restaurants Canada and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters to amplify the message.She also addresses a long-standing pain point: interprovincial trade. Michelle shares the absurd reality that it's currently easier to sell Ontario wine to Sweden or Denmark than to Quebec. She expresses cautious optimism that the current tariff climate might finally create the political will to tear down these barriers.On the topic of consumption trends, Michelle acknowledges the growing “sober-curious” movement but remains confident that Ontario wines, especially given their quality and local value, remain a compelling choice. She concludes with policy priorities including sustained shelf presence at the LCBO, education on VQA labels, and increasing restaurant availability of local wines.The episode wraps with lighter banter on the possible revival of Hooters and a shoutout to Quebec-based food brand Mid-Day Squares, capping off a wide-ranging conversation rooted in both disruption and opportunity. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of the Ag Tribes Report, host Vance Crowe is joined by Amanda Radke, a prominent figure in the agricultural community known for her work as a cattle rancher, motivational speaker, and children's book author. Amanda shares her insights on the controversial use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines, highlighting her relentless fight against these projects in South Dakota. She discusses the origins of the carbon pipeline projects, the political and financial implications, and the grassroots efforts to protect private property rights.Amanda also introduces "Bid on Beef," a platform connecting consumers with ranchers to purchase high-quality beef directly. She explains the motivation behind the initiative and its impact on rural America.The episode delves into the implications of RFK Junior's confirmation as the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, exploring potential shifts in US health policy and its effects on agriculture. Vance and Amanda discuss the mixed reactions within the agricultural community and the broader implications for public health.The conversation shifts to the beef checkoff program and its recent controversial tweet regarding private cattle sales. Amanda shares her perspective on the program's effectiveness and the need for transparency and accountability.Vance and Amanda also explore the potential impact of ending managed supply in Canada, discussing the political and economic ramifications and the possibility of Canadian provinces seeking US statehood.The episode concludes with discussions on Bitcoin land prices, the Peter Thiel paradox, and Amanda's views on government intervention in agriculture. Amanda shares her thoughts on the importance of free markets and entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector.Legacy Interviews - A service that records individuals and couples telling their life stories so that future generations can know their family history. https://www.legacyinterviews.com/experienceRiver.com - Invest in Bitcoin with Confidence https://river.com/signup?r=OAB5SKTP(01:06) Introduction and Guest Introduction(02:24) Bid on Beef: Connecting Consumers with Ranchers(03:35) The Fight Against Carbon Pipelines(10:28) RFK Jr.'s Confirmation and Its Implications(13:05) Controversy Over Beef Checkoff Program(16:19) Managed Supply and Canadian Agriculture(21:24) Bitcoin Land Price Report(24:45) Peter Thiel Paradox: Unique Beliefs(28:27) Worthy Adversaries: Respectful Disagreementshttps://serve.podhome.fm/the-vance-crowe-podcast_638721156549613591

Tariffs are expected to have a huge impact on Canadian Agriculture.

This week's Ag Tribes Report features Kristjan Hebert, a prominent Canadian grain farmer, zero-till advocate, and ag-tech entrepreneur from Saskatchewan. Hebert, who manages Hebert Grain Ventures (HGV) covering 40,000 acres, initially worked as a Certified Public Accountant before returning to farming. The discussion includes:Canadian farmers' reactions to Trudeau's resignation.Expectations of rising Canadian land prices in 2025 despite profitability concerns.The controversy surrounding the BANGs Vaccine and mandatory RFID chips for cattle.Other topics covered are:Kristjan's take on the Peter Thiel Paradox.Insights from the Bitcoin Land Price Report.Discussion on the concept of a worthy adversary in agriculture.Hebert, known for his co-hosting role on "The Truth About Ag," emphasizes sustainable agriculture, business management, and the importance of agricultural policy.If you buy your Bitcoin with River, River will give the show a few Sats. https://river.com/signup?r=OAB5SKTP 

In this episode of the Growing the Future podcast, host Dan Aberhart interviews Sara Shymko, the executive director of Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) Saskatchewan. They discuss the importance of creating hands-on educational opportunities for students to explore careers in agriculture. Sara shares insights from her global experience and emphasizes the need to connect kids with meaningful food experiences to understand the local and global impacts of agriculture. The conversation highlights the Acres for Education campaign aimed at raising $100,000 to provide farm visits and out-of-school experiences for students. This episode underscores the critical need to inspire future generations to consider careers in agriculture and the collective effort required from the industry.  Connect with Sara: Website: https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITCCanada/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AITCCanadaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aitccanada/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbDjICByAj9euDpyUMb9aZg   Family of Companies:https://aberhartagsolutions.ca https://aberhartfarms.com https://suregrowth.ca https://www.convergencegrowth.com Connect with us on AGvisorPro: https://getagvisorpro.com/?_branch_match_id=1190325681402129952&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz8nMy9ZNLCjQS0wvyyzOLyooytdLzs%2FVT0xKLcpILCrRTUnMAwC2pzF0LAAAAA%3D%3D If you want to be part of the Growing the Future community, make sure to say hi on social at: https://linktr.ee/Growingthefuturepodcast 

We're going to be talking a lot in the next few weeks about 'year-in-review stories'.Two specialists have examined the ten most important variables impacting Canadian Agriculture for 2025. It was compiled by two senior analysts from GrainFox---Neil Townsend and Ranulf Glanville. They will share their thoughts on 2024 and the year to come. Canadian Western Agribition wrapped up with organizers expecting attendance to be near the record set one year ago. Agribition President Michael Latimer will talk about some of the highlights of the event and particularly the purebred and commercial cattle shows and sales.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sophie and Ferg catch up about Ferg's recent trip to Ontario, Canada, where he visited 14 different sheep farming enterprises on his 10-day trip with Ontario Sheep Farmers. Highlights:- The differences in production systems, compared with New Zealand and Australia - Feeding strategies- Lambing systems- Health challenges- Market dynamics- The potential for genetic improvements in sheep breedingHead Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: info@nextgenagri.com.Thanks to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger Australia and New Zealand. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.Check out Heiniger's product range HERECheck out the MSD range HERECheck out Allflex products HERE

Discussions surrounding different agricultural policies and their impacts on Canadian industry have been a common theme in the last while. A few of those policies that could end up having a notable impact are three that are in the process of being introduced in the United States. In an interview about these three policies and… Read More

Discussions surrounding different agricultural policies and their impacts on Canadian industry have been a common theme in the last while. A few of those policies that could end up having a notable impact are three that are in the process of being introduced in the United States. In an interview about these three policies and... Read More

A strike impacting the port of Vancouver is causing the loss of a billion dollars a day - with Canadian farmers being hit the hardest. Sylvain Charlebois explains the impact on Canadian food security.

AI, automation, robots, and drones are all impacting the way we grow food — and it's happening right here on Canadian soil. With a growing population, an affordability crisis, and increasing food insecurity, greenhouse innovation has a huge role to play in the agri-food sector. Can Canada emerge as a leader in a low-carbon global food system? To find out, John visits the greenhouse capital of Canada; Leamington, Ontario, where he's joined by Peter Quiring, CEO at Nature Fresh Farms and Matt Korpan from the SEF Center for Horticultural Innovation.

What’s it going to take to maintain and grow Canadian agriculture in the future? After all, that’s ultimately the definition of that word “sustainable” that we hear so often these days. Whether you consider yourself a full-fledged ag policy nerd or just dabble every now and then, we’re excited to let you know that the... Read More

Canada and the U.S. are unique, different, and not at all the same in many ways, but these two countries also have a laundry list of things in common. There’s also the trade relationship that exists, where plenty of products — agriculture and otherwise — flow both north and south freely. Some of where we... Read More