Cattle Country: Canadian conference on agriculture has been expanding knowledge for sustainable food production for a decade
The following article was written by Peter Frolich, University of Manitoba, for the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment (NCLE). It was originally published in Cattle Country in May 2025.
Over 600 researchers, government representatives, farmers and industry members logged on to view the 10th Annual Sustainability of Canadian Agriculture Virtual Conference, co-hosted by the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment (NCLE) at the University of Manitoba and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). From March 4-6th, speakers explored Indigenous perspectives for a secure food system, the factors leading to producer decisions when adopting best management practices (BMPs) and on the potential to expand the boundaries of agricultural production systems in Canada. The event featured panel discussions, a GHG farm emissions modelling workshop and student presentations highlighting the latest in food systems research.
What does it mean to be a carbon neutral company?
Micheal McCain, Executive Chair of the Board at Maple Leaf Foods (MLF) kicked off the event with a keynote presentation that provided insight on how the company evolved and changed to become carbon neutral. To drive change, it is impossible to be a thriving sustainable enterprise while ignoring the degradation of the environment, animal welfare, human health, food insecurity and diet related diseases. He shared his perspectives about the importance to creating business value by providing solutions to some of the world’s critical issues while protecting the companies’ brands and reputation since “trust is everything over time”. As a result of these goals, the company has become a North American leader in raising animals without antibiotics, invested in systems for open sow housing, eliminated ingredients from products that people can’t find in their pantry, is on the path to 100% sustainable packaging and has established the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security. McCain believes that the company is integrally tied to the health and wellness of the ecosystem and to the societies within and wants to ensure that the natural environment is recognized as a vital stakeholder. Maple Leaf Foods continues to invest in practices that benefit their competitive advantage and the natural environment like regenerative agriculture and anaerobic digestion. McCain’s message to the industry highlighted the need for the Canadian agri-food sector to lead and to continue to make significant strides in building a sustainable industry, focusing on long term goals and not on the alure of short termism. His message to students who are launching their careers was to use their energy and passion to work towards meaningful change that will lead sustainable food production into the future.
It’s about the people and building resilient food systems
Derrick Hastings is a farm manager at the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in farm and market garden. Located on Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in territory, southeast of Dawson City, the farm has some of the best soils in the Yukon and produces a diverse line of products that include vegetables, grains, livestock and honey. The produce from the farm serves as a local supply of organic food that provides fresh, healthy meals benefiting the people and the land. As the only First Nations working farm north of the 60th parallel, the farm is an example of the revival of northern farming and its products contribute to food security in the region. Hastings emphasized the role of the farm to function in harmony with the environment, the surrounding wildlife and to meet stewardship values and philosophy of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in people. The farm also plays an important role in training as it specializes in education and youth mentorship by creating a healthy environment for learning while providing a sense of community for the people in the area.
Hannah Keenes is a River Métis Citizen. She is the Agriculture Portfolio Lead with the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) – National Government of the Red River Métis. Keenes defined what Red River agriculture looked like in the past and what it looks like today. She described the MMF government structure and how MMF programming engages Métis Citizens across all levels of the food system with a focus on environmental sustainability, economic resiliency and establishing infrastructure to address food insecurity across the Métis Homeland. Programs administered by MMF include an on-farm climate action program, a food security initiative, Riel House Graden, a small scale Three Sisters planting research project and the care of a small bison herd. Initiatives also engage youth and community through field days, crop tours and other training events.
This session was moderated by Kyle Bobiwash, Assistant professor and Indigenous Scholar, Department of Entomology at the University of Manitoba.
Making decisions and adopting best management practices
Shawn Catherwood is a 5th generation farmer in Ceylon SK. Continuing the family legacy of farming is a powerful motivator that drives him to find ways to ensure his farm will have future success. He addressed the questions “Who do I farm for? And why do I farm for them?” and described his transition from farming in a conventional framework to a more regenerative one. Catherwood made reference to the need for shifting mindsets, setting goals that lead to positive changes to the farm business and to soil health. His philosophy is to observe and cooperate with nature and don’t compete with it.
Tyler Fulton is a producer who owns and operates a 600 head cow/calf/backgrounding operation south of Birtle, MB. He serves as a Director with Manitoba Beef Producers, the President of the Canadian Cattle Association and is passionate about improving the tools and programs available for cattle producers to manage risk. Fulton shared several factors that influence successful adoption of BMPs including producer’s time management, use of technology and innovation, social norms and values and cost/benefit tradeoffs. Further, Fulton drew on the practical experiences gained on his ranch and shared these perspectives regarding factors that led to sustained, effective practices, as well as those that were less successful. He suggested developing a scoring system that combines all the factors and assesses the likelihood of successful outcomes from BMP adoption.
Cam Dahl is the General Manager at Manitoba Pork. He has broad experience throughout the agriculture sector in grain and livestock production. Dahl described the importance of an inclusive collaborative process throughout the value chain during BMP development; one that includes producers, processors, retailers with consideration of fiscal and capital realities. He used the Canadian Round Table for Sustainable Beef and the Verified Beef Program as an example of a successful collaborative program that has delivered benefits to producers. Dahl believes that the process of consultation with producers is integral to the successful rollout of sustainability programming and must occur throughout the development of BMPs. Finally, he suggested that incentives through market forces or government intervention are effective to mitigate BMP adoption risks.
Marla Riekman is a Soil Management Specialist at Manitoba Agriculture and provides extension to promote sustainable practices, improve soli health and maintain long-term productivity of farms across
the province. Riekman discussed three key audiences for Manitoba Agriculture’s extension programs including farmers, agronomists and the public. According to Riekman, extension can be a challenge because the benefits from adopting certain practices are not realized immediately. The solution lies in actively demonstrating research results, providing visual, innovative, engaging, repetitive and fun methods of extension, and where possible, building one-on one relationships with farmers.
This session was moderated by Susie Miller, Executive Director with the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops.
Expanding the Boundaries of Ag Production Systems
Shabtai Bittman, a Senior Researcher with AAFC Agassiz Research and Development Centre works to improve soil nutrient management in the Lower Fraser Valley which he described as a peri-urban region. A peri-urban region is a non-urban landscape that is adjacent to or surrounding metropolitan areas that can include agriculture. The Lower Fraser Valley region is subject to substantial agriculture activity and a large population base, and these activities result in increased nutrient flow and nutrient overloading in the ecosystem, specifically nitrogen from both humans and animals. Bittman and his team are exploring strategies to mitigate increased nutrient flows from agriculture practices in this valley, which is vulnerable due to vital watersheds and airsheds, wildlife and endangered soils. He provided examples of mitigation strategies that include internal improvement to farm nutrient management, like testing a high efficiency manure applicator, intercropping over winter using cover crops as well as integrating manure across farms, and co-processing human waste from cities.
Karen Landman is a Professor Emerita from the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph. She has expertise in horticulture, landscape architecture, cultural geography and has worked with students on design and research for green infrastructure, including urban agriculture. Urban agriculture involves growing food for local consumption on a scale larger than a backyard garden. With increasing consumer interest in food, a more ethnically diverse population, and a growing urban population, Karen suggested that there is an opportunity to help connect people to their food system via urban agriculture. Landman discussed opportunities, benefits and challenges for designing food production back into the city. Several successful urban farming initiatives discussed included the McQuesten Urban Farm, roof top food production, including urban agriculture into the city of Guelph official plan and repurposing arable city lands for food production.
Laird Crow is the Farm Manager at the Yukon Grain Farm in Whitehorse and passionate about the role the farm plays in the food security of the local community. Located north of Whitehorse along the banks of the Yukon River, the farm produces grains and vegetables. Grains are processed on the farm into livestock feed available to local producers. Crow believes that the long days and cool nights of the Yukon’s short growing season contribute to the great taste of the veggies grown on the farm. The farm receives support from the communities in the area because it strives to be a consistent, reliable and affordable source for locally grown food for residents in the region. Crow discussed the challenges and the opportunities of farming in Yukon. He believes that the secrets of success of farming in a Northern community include knowing your market, diversifying, scaling up, investing and value adding. For Crow it is important to advance sustainability wherever possible, to farm for the next generations while ensuring profitability.
This session was moderated by Emma Stephens, Research Scientist with AAFC.
Student Videos and Holos Workshop
Twenty-one graduate students featured their research to improve the sustainability of agriculture in 3-minute videos. The short videos covered topics ranging from livestock production, agronomy and soil health to grain and oil crop processing. The top videos were submitted by Laura Carruthers from the University of Saskatchewan, and Zainab Husain and Amanda Desrochers from the University of Manitoba. Fatemeh Mohammadian, also from the University of Manitoba received the People’s Choice Award.
More than 100 conference participants joined the Holos model training workshop and received hands-on training using the model, designed to estimate and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on information entered for individual farms.
The 2025 Sustainability of Canadian Agriculture Conference organizing committee would like to thank all speakers, session moderators and student video session chairs and conference participants for making this annual conference a success. For questions and comments about the conference please contact Peter.Frohlich@umantoba.ca See you all next year!
Visit the SCAC 2025 conference website to view recorded presentations, information about speakers, student research videos and more. https://umanitoba.ca/agricultural-food-sciences/sustainability-canadian-agriculture-2025