Organic Summit Schedule - Monday, November 18

 

Register for the Organic Summit here

 

8:00AM 

Registration 

 

9:00AM

Welcome & Overview of the day

 

9:10AM

Making the Business Case for Sustainable Value in Food and Agriculture

Elyse Douglas, Senior Scholar, NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business

Learn how companies making commitments to sustainable goals are creating value today. In addition, hear how they can further leverage their investments and continue to drive progress in the face of uncertainty due to changes in regulations, technology, and consumer preferences.

 

9:50AM

Digging In: An Economic Outlook for Organic - The Market Overview

Ross Prusakowski, Deputy Chief Economist and Director at Export Development Canada (EDC)

This year has seen a significant amount of change and uncertainty in the global economy with inflation, interest rates and political risk all impacting the outlook for consumers and companies. This session will at the trends in the organic sector and provide Export Development Canada’s outlook on what issues companies and customers will be facing and opportunities to help build a successful path forward.

 

10:25AM

Refreshment break

 

10:40AM

Navigating the pressure points to find growth in the Canadian organics market

Francis Parisien, SVP Sales SMB Canada, NielsenIQ

Even though CPG inflation has dropped back to 'regular' levels in the country, Canadians are still struggling with higher food prices. As a result, they have to manage their expenses carefully. While organic foods remain a priority for many, the higher cost of purchase is influencing their choices, leading some households to cut back. It’s crucial to understand who your core organic buyers are to effectively cater to their needs and preferences during these challenging times.

 

11:20AM

The Tale of Rodale's Vegetable Systems Trial

Dr. Gladis Zinati, Director of Rodale Institute’s Vegetable Systems Trial, Rodale Institute

The Vegetable System Trial analyzes five crops representing tubers, fruits and vegetables grown side-by-side in organic and conventional cropping systems under intensive and reduced tillage practices to evaluate the effect of employing different practises. The areas of study are on nutrient density, differences in soil over time, resilience to drought, insects, diseases, weed pressure and profitability of the crops.

 

12:00PM

Lunch

 

1:00PM

Lessons from an Organic Revolutionary

Grace Gershuny, Author of Organic Revolutionary: A Memoir of the Movement for Real Food, Planetary Healing, & Human Liberation

Learn from the woman who was there through it all, this session will provide an overview of Grace's experience working at the National Organic Program when the Act, regulations and program came into existence.

 

1:40PM

Lessons Learned from US Trade Association to Ensure Effective Cooperation with their Regulator

Tom Chapman, Co-Executive Director, Organic Trade Association

As the world leader in global organic demand, the USA is ramping up tremendous support to increase production and provide market supports. Hear from our US Trade Association's Co-Executive Director at OTA to hear about the role a trade association plays in creating long-term positive regulatory change.

 

2:15PM

Update from the Canadian Organic Regime

Valeriya Staykova, Lead Auditor, Canada Organic Regime (COR), Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

In this session, Valeriya Staykova from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency provides key updates on the Canada Organic Regime (COR). This session is crucial for organic producers, certifiers, and stakeholders to stay informed on compliance and standards in the organic industry.

 

2:40PM

Refreshment break

 

2:55PM

The Pesticides Crisis in Canada

Laura Bowman, LLM, Senior Lawyer, Ecojustice

Pesticide sales have been rapidly increasing in Canada, urgent restrictions on pesticide use are needed to reduce exposure to pesticides in Canada. The current regulatory system has failed in its stated objective to prevent health and environmental risks from pesticides. Increasingly toxic mixtures of pesticides are being used at high levels, with potential damage to the agricultural sector.

 

3:30PM

The Political Landscape in Ottawa

Aaron Freeman, Founder, GreenPAC

Aaron will provide an overview of the current political landscape, elaborating on the current priorities and challenges of each of the major political parties. He will specifically address which arguments for sustainable and organic agriculture may resonate most with different audiences.

 

3:50PM

Preparations for COTA's Organic Parliament Day

My-Lien Bosch, Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs Manager

 

Register for the Organic Summit here