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Future of Feeds Forum
Welcome to the "Future of Feeds Forum"

April 19-20, 2011
Saskatoon, SK

This foresighting event will take place over two days at the Wanuskewin Heritage Park


This Forum will ask the question:

“What will be demanded of the Western Canadian animal feed sector to be prosperous and sustainable by 2030?”

The goal of this event is to explore the future of the feed sector with the intent of identifying new opportunities for innovation in the feed value chain.

This two-day forum will include representatives of the feed value chain from each of the four Western Canadian provinces.  A facilitated process called Strategic Scenario Creation will be employed to explore the forces and factors that will impact the Western Canadian animal feed sector over the next two decades.

The “Future of Feeds Forum” will create a common understanding of the possibilities that exist within the feed industries.  Participants will be able to utilize this understanding and shared experience when making decisions related to strategic positioning over the long term.

By participating in this foresighting event, you will learn about the possible trends and opportunities that our feed and livestock industries will face in the next 20 years.  You will also make business and research connections with influential feed/crop/livestock/policy/economic stakeholders, and explore a new approach to thinking about the future.

This forum will complement other future-oriented initiatives in Western Canada.  For example, the Premier’s Council on Economic Strategy, under the chairmanship of Dr. David Emerson, is examining the future of Alberta’s economy using a similar strategy.  In addition, the deans of the three Western Canadian agriculture faculties agreed in September 2009 to develop a strategy regarding educational and research activities addressing potential climate change in Western Canada. 

The “Future of Feeds Forum” will inform strategies and promote innovation in the Western Canadian Feed Sector.



**We have collected some reports and articles that may interest you.  They are not required reading for participants in the Forum; they are being posted as background information.  Please click on the underlined title to access the contents.**

Articles of Interest for the "Future of Feeds Forum"


From the "Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society of Biological Sciences":

Aquaculture: global status and trends

Competition for land

Competition for water for the food system

Dimensions of global population projections: what do we know about future population trends and structures?

Ecosystem services and agriculture: tradeoffs and synergies

Energy and the food system

Feeding the world healthily: the challenge of measuring the effects of agriculture on health

Food consumption trends and drivers

Food price volatility

Food security and marine capture fisheries: characteristics, trends, drivers and future perspectives

Food waste within food supply chains: quantification and potential for change to 2050

Globalization's effects on world agricultural trade, 1960-2050

Implications of climate change for agricultural productivity in the early twenty-first century

Income distribution trends and future food demand

Inland capture fisheries

Livestock production: recent trends, future prospects

Possible changes to arable crop yields by 2050


The future of the global food system

The roles and values of wild foods in agricultural systems

Urbanization and its implications for food and farming


Agenda

Future of Feeds Forum

Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatoon, SK

April 19-20, 2011

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Pre-Forum Activities, April 18

9:00    a.m.     Tour of the Canadian Light Source, Saskatoon

1:00    p.m.     Transportation to Canadian Feed Research Centre (North Battlford) from Saskatoon

2:30    p.m.     Tour of Canadian Feed Research Centre

6:00    p.m.     Meet and Greet at the Saskatoon Inn

To 9:00 p.m.


DAY 1

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Forces, factors and trends impacting the western Canadian animal feed sector, research and outreach

8:00

a.m.

(Light breakfast foods available)

8:30

a.m.

Opening remarks:

·      Introduction, Overview and Purpose of WCFIN’s Strategic Planning Process: Dr. Colleen Christensen

·      Overview of Scenario Creation Workshop: Drs. Axel Meisen and Lois Macklin

9:00

a.m.

Keynote Speaker, Art Froelich

10:00

a.m.

Refreshment Break

10:15

a.m.

Brief review of the scenario creation process: Lois Macklin

12:00

noon

Lunch (provided)

1:00

p.m.

Present the Focal Question: Axel Meisen

1:15

p.m.

Identification of forces, factors and trends: All participants; Axel Meisen facilitator

Identification of critical uncertainties: All participants; Lois Macklin facilitator

2:15

p.m.

Break and informal discussion

2:30

p.m.

Development of Scenario Framework and preliminary identification of scenario characteristics: All participants; Lois Macklin facilitator

3:00

p.m.

Detailed development of scenarios: Four Working Groups

5:00

p.m.

Adjournment

6:00

p.m.

Networking dinner (provided)

DAY 2

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Scenario creation and implication assessment

8:00

  a.m.

(Light breakfast foods available)

8:30

a.m.

Introduction: Axel Meisen

Day 1 recap and Day 2 agenda

8:45

a.m.

Detailed development of scenarios: Four Working Groups

·      Identification of scenario characteristics

·      Decision on scenario names

Break as desired

10:45

a.m.

Scenario presentations by each group

12:00

noon


Lunch (provided)


1:00

p.m.

Discussion of scenarios 

1:45


Assessment and implications of scenarios for the animal fed sector: All participants, Axel Meisen facilitator

3:15

p.m.

Summary and next steps: Axel Meisen and Colleen Christensen

4:00

p.m.

Adjournment