Prof to Speak to House of Commons Committee
October 06, 2011 - In the News
University of Guelph professor Sylvain Charlebois will speak on Canada’s future in food and agriculture today at a House of Commons committee meeting.
Charlebois, associate dean of research and graduate studies in the College of Management and Economics, will speak to the standing committee on agriculture and agri-food in Ottawa. The committee will meet from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
He will speak on “Growing Forward 2,” the new federal strategic framework for agriculture and food. The current framework will expire March 31, 2013. It was created in 2008 as the federal government’s vision for a profitable and innovative agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products industry.
Charlebois plans to discuss Canadian food security, food prices, climate change and sustainable agricultural production. He will also discuss consumer demand and response to changing global markets, including the organic and fair-trade movements.
He will suggest that universities use public awareness and education to help improve relations between consumers and the food industry.
As an award-winning researcher and teacher, Charlebois is an expert in food distribution and safety. The author of two books and numerous articles, he is now writing a book on global food safety systems. He belongs to the national expert advisory committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Jim Brandle, CEO of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Vineland, Ont., will also speak to the standing committee. The centre works on research with U of G.
