8th Annual Canadian Agri-Food Policy Conference - Canadian Agricultural Economics Society

Conference Overview

For eight years this conference has come to be known as the premier national policy outlook for the agri-food sector. This year the conference addressed current issues in Canadian agri-food policy. The agricultural sector is facing several hot button issues including the NAFTA renegotiation, the future of supply management, the current BRM review, and food security. This year’s policy conference featured speakers from industry, government, and academia dealing with these pressing topics.

The eighth annual agri-food policy conference was held in Ottawa at the Château Laurier from January 24-26, 2018.

Presenter slides are posted in PDF format. Click “VIEW PRESENTATION” beside each presenter’s name to view presentation slides.

FULL CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Conference Agenda

Wednesday, January 24

6:00-8:00 pm

Meet & Greet Reception
Includes conference packet pick-up

Thursday, January 25

7:30 am	CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST AND REGISTRATION
8:30 am	Welcome Comments Alan Ker , CAES Past-President
8:45 am	Session 1: Keynote 1 – International Implications of the US Farm Bill (Sponsored by the Ontario Agriculture College, University of Guelph) Chair: John Cranfield, University of Guelph Barry Goodwin, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Graduate Alumni Distinguished Professor in the Department of Economics at North Carolina State University The US Farm Bill has and will continue to have significant implications for Canadian agriculture and food consumers. Professor Goodwin has been deeply involved in the 2018 farm bill debate and will share his thoughts on current developments. VIEW PRESENTATION
10:00 am	NETWORKING BREAK (30 MINUTES)
10:30 am	Session 2: Looking Back and Looking Forward – Perspectives on Supply Management Programs (Collectively sponsored by the Departments of Agricultural Economics) Chair: Brady Deaton, University of Guelph This session will be a Munk-style debate on supply management in Canadian agriculture. Moderated by Brady Deaton, University of Guelph. Debaters include Maurice Doyon (VIEW PRESENTATION) and Bruno Larue (VIEW PRESENTATION) of Laval University.
12:00 pm	LUNCH – DRAWING ROOM (90 MINUTES)
1:30 pm	Session 3: NAFTA 2.0 or Not (Collectively sponsored by the Colleges and Faculties of Agricultural Deans) Chair: James Rude, University of Alberta NAFTA has been fundamental to Canadian agriculture. Panelists will present and discuss issues related to the current renegotiations. NAFTA Modernization within the Global Trade Context Frédéric Seppey, Assistant Deputy Minister, Market and Industry Services Branch, Canada’s Chief Agriculture Negotiator, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; presented by Denis Landreville, Lead Negotiator, Trade and Negotiations Division, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada VIEW PRESENTATION Key Issues in North American Agricultural Trade Policy Steven Zahniser, Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture VIEW PRESENTATION Renewal or Failure: NAFTA in Perspective Mike Gifford, Chief Agricultural Trade Negotiator for the Canada-U.S. FTA, NAFTA, and the Uruguay Round VIEW PRESENTATION
3:00 pm	NETWORKING BREAK (30 MINUTES)
3:30 pm	Session 4: Food Security (Sponsored by the McCain Family Chair in Food Security, University of Guelph) Chair: Getu Hailu, University of Guelph This session will present issues related to changing climate for Canadian agriculture and food security. Innovation and Climate Induced Volatility and Food Security in Canada and the US Tor Tolhurst, University of California–Davis VIEW PRESENTATION Climate Change and Food Security in Developing Countries Kathy Baylis, University of Illinois VIEW PRESENTATION Food Security: Meaning and Matters for Canada and First Nations Brady Deaton, University of Guelph VIEW PRESENTATION
5:30-7:30 pm	Wine & Cheese and Annual Policy Poster Contest

Friday, January 26

7:30 am	CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST AND REGISTRATION
8:30 am	Session 5: Keynote 2 – Risk Management in an Era of Big Data and Changing Climate (Sponsored by the Solomon Sinclair Farm Management Institute, University of Manitoba) Chair: Derek Brewin, University of Manitoba Keith Coble, Giles Distinguished Professor and Head of the Agricultural Economics Department at Mississippi State University Risk management is the dominant domestic agricultural support policy for producers in Canada, the U.S. and most developed countries. Big data and changing climate have significant implications for future risk management policies. VIEW PRESENTATION
9:45 am	Top Three Poster Contest Presentations
10:00 am	NETWORKING BREAK (30 MINUTES)
10:30 am	Session 6: BRM Under Review (Sponsored by the Institute for the Advanced Study of Food and Agricultural Policy, University of Guelph) Chair: James Vercammen, University of British Columbia Currently the BRM suite of programs are undergoing review. This session will speak to some of the current problems and potentials fixes for BRM in Canada. Canadian Agricultural Partnership: Business Risk Management Programs Francesco Del Bianco, Director General, Business Risk Management Programs Directorate, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada VIEW PRESENTATION Business Risk Management – Positioning Canadian Agriculture for Continued Growth Scott Ross, Canadian Federation of Agriculture VIEW PRESENTATION Canadian BRM Programs Revisited Feng Qiu, University of Alberta VIEW PRESENTATION
12:00 pm	Closing Comments & Announcement of Contest Winners Peter Boxall, University of Alberta

Policy Brief Competition

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) hosted its second policy brief competition at this year’s 8th Annual Canadian Agri-Food Policy Conference. The competition required each student write a policy briefing note, providing content and advice to the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Strategic Policy Branch at AAFC on a policy issue. Winners received cash prizes (1st $300 – 2nd $200 – 3rd $100) and free registration to the next CAPC conference. The first place winner also receives the opportunity to intern at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

2018 AAFC POLICY BRIEF COMPETITION WINNERS

1st Place: Kate Jones, University of Guelph
2nd Place: Lisa Wong, University Guelph
3rd Place: Brianne Chan, University Guelph

Research Poster Competition

The Canadian Agricultural Economics Society held the 8th Annual Research Poster Competition around the theme of current issues in Canadian agri-food policy. Researchers and graduate students prepared posters for presentation during the wine and cheese reception on Thursday, January 25, 2018. Reception attendees voted to determine the top three posters. The top three presenters each gave a 3-minute presentation on Friday morning. The top poster won a free trip to the 2018 CAES Annual Meeting in Vancouver, BC.

2018 RESEARCH POSTER COMPETITION WINNERS

1st Place: Anna Kauffman, University of Alberta
2nd Place ($300): Kate Jones, University of Guelph
3rd Place ($200): Alistair Campbell, University of Saskatchewan