October 29-30, 2020

Louis Millett Community Centre, New Minas, NS

Kody Blois, M.P. for Kings-Hants and a member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture & Agri-Food will be hosting an agriculture roundtable with commodity groups, producers, and other stakeholders in Nova Scotia’s Agriculture & Agri-Food Sector. The information collected will be provided to the Government of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada.

Thursday October 29^th
Sectoral Roundtable Conversations

• 9:30-10:45AM
  Nova Scotia’s Horticulture and Fruit Growers
  How can the Nova Scotian horticulture and fruit growing industry innovate to find increased market share internationally and here in Canada?
• 11AM-12:15PM
  Nova Scotia’s Supply Managed Sector
  What are the key priorities and factors to support future growth and prosperity for Canada’s SM5, including partnerships with government to support value-added products?
• 12:15-1PM
  Break for Lunch
• 1PM-2:15PM
  Nova Scotia’s Wine and Grape Industry 
  How can we collectively build upon the success of Nova Scotia’s wine and grape sector to promote further growth of exports to other provinces of Canada, international markets, while encouraging an increase in Nova Scotians drinking local wines?
• 2:30-3:45PM
  Nova Scotia’s Beef, Pork, and Livestock Industry
  What areas of focus should government and producers collaborate on to support the sustainability and resiliency of our provincial beef, pork, and livestock industry?
• 4-5:15PM
  Organic, local and smaller-scale farming
  How can government, individual producers, cooperatives/food hubs, and farmer’s markets build a pathway to support smaller producers thereby increasing food security, creating additional access to healthy foods, and offsetting imports to generate local economic benefit?
• 7:30PM-8:45PM
  Keynote Speaker via Zoom Call
  Speaker TBC

Friday October 30^th
Thematic Sessions open to all stakeholders

• 9:30AM-10:30AM
  Session #1: How can the agriculture industry prepare and transition for success in a low-carbon economy?
• 10:45AM-11:45AM
  Session #2: How can we improve regional and local agri-food capacity in Atlantic Canada to further strengthen our supply chain?
• 11:45-1PM
  Break for Lunch
• 1PM-1:30PM
  TBC: Agriculture Ministers Question & Answer
• 1:45PM-2:45PM
  Session #3: What type of research and innovation is needed to position Canada’s agriculture sector as a global superpower? OR Ways in which industry and levels of government can encourage and support more individuals to work in the agriculture sector?
• 3PM
  End of Roundtable Thank You to all Participants  

*Schedule is subject to change

**For more information on the Agriculture Roundtable please email [email protected] or call 902-542-4010