Presenters' Slides & videos synched with mp3 recordings of speech now available in Agenda section of website! Simply click on the Quicktime icon beside a presenter's name to view their audio-synched presentation.

Les diapotives et les vidéos synchronisées sur MP3 sont maintenant offertes à la section Ordre du jour du site Web. Cliquez sur l’icône QuickTime située à côté du nom du conférencier pour visionner sa présentation.

Research Posters now posted! Click on the "PDF" icon beside the poster title to view posters and abstracts.

Les communications par affiche sont maintenant accessibles! Cliquez sur l’icône PDF située à côté du titre pour visionner la communication et le résumé.

Conference Overview

The Canadian agriculture policy conference is considered the premier national policy outlook for the agriculture sector.

The focus for this year's conference was the ability for Canadian agriculture to grow forward in such a volatile business environment. Plenary sessions considered policy questions, such as:

• What processes can make regulation work better (for consumers and industry)?
• Making regulation: Are there best practices?
• Regulation: Can better processes reduce the drag on innovation?
• Will the level and volatility of commodity prices remain high?
• What are the best strategies to manage risk for individual farms and firms?
• For years, government policy was set in a context of low prices. Is there a role for policy in the current context?
• What will continuing changes in the climate mean for Canadian agriculture?
• Adaptation in a volatile environment: what can Canada learn from policies adopted in other countries?
• What strategies should we consider to address issues surrounding water in agriculture?
• What do the continually changing consumer preferences and attitudes imply for Canadian agriculture?
• How can experiences with changing consumer markets in other countries inform Canadian food policies?
• How do risk perceptions change the way farmers, processors and retailers need to deal with the consuming public in Canada and in export markets?

A blend of presentations from invited speakers, invited agriculture policy research network members and research posters highlighted the issues and potential policy solutions facing the agricultural sector in Canada today. The research being undertaken throughout the country was featured and the exchange of ideas between invited speakers, industry participants, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada policy analysts and researchers in the five ERCA Policy Research Networks facilitated.

This conference is for Canadians interested in food and agriculture policy and its role in dealing with the volatile business environment we find ourselves operating in. This conference will provide policy analysis and information in order to improve the dialogue between industry stakeholders. Attendees will have access to the country’s cutting edge research in food and agricultural policy and an opportunity to interact with decision makers from across the country and across the globe. The speakers represent some of Canada’s and the world’s best experts in their respective fields.

The Growing Forward in a Volatile Environment Conference was organized jointly by the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society and the five ‘Enabling Research for a Competitive Agriculture’ policy research networks – Canadian Agriculture Trade Policy Research Network (CATPRN), Canadian Agricultural Innovation and Regulation Network (CAIRN), Linking Environment and Agriculture Research Network (LEARN), Consumer and Market Demand Policy Research Network (CMD), Structure and Performance of Agriculture and Agri-products Industries network (SPAA).

This policy conference was held January 11- 13, 2012 in Ottawa, ON at the Chateau Laurier.

Financial support for this conference has been provided Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Agenda

Click here, to download conference brochure.

	Click on the PDF icon beside a presenter's name to view their presentation slides. Cliquez sur l’icône PDF située à côté du nom du conférencier pour visionner sa présentation.
	Click on the Quicktime icon beside a presenter's name to view an audio synched video of their presentation slides. Cliquez sur l’icône QuickTime située à côté du nom du conférencier pour visionner sa présentation synchronisée. Having trouble viewing the presentation videos? Download Quicktime for free Vous éprouvez de la difficulté à visionner les vidéos? Télécharger gratuitement QuickTime
	Click on the MP3 icon beside a presenter's name to listen to the audio recording of their presentation. Cliquez sur l’icône MP3 située à côté du nom du conférencier pour écouter l’enregistrement sonore de sa présentation.

Wednesday, January 11
7:00-9:00 PM				Meet & Greet Reception (Laurier Room) Registration Packet Pick-up
All sessions will be in the Ballroom. Simultaneous interpretation is available.
Day 1 - Thursday, January 12
7:30 AM			Continental Breakfast
7:30 AM			Registration
8:45 AM			Welcome & Opening Remarks (all sessions take place in Ballroom)
			Al Mussell, CAES President; George Morris Centre
9:00-10:00 AM			Keynote Address Agriculture in Uncertain Times
			Neil Conklin, Farm Foundation, NFP
NETWORKING BREAK
SESSION 1: ADAPTABILITY AND REGULATION
Organized by Canadian Agricultural Innovation and Regulation Network (CAIRN) Motivation: Regulation is a vital aspect of any business environment and is particularly important for innovation. This session will explore how innovation can be accelerated by changing regulatory development processes and through adopting guiding principles to improve regulatory consistency. Chair: Richard Gray, University of Saskatchewan
10:30-12:00 PM			Judging Biotech: How We Adapt to the Challenges of Regulating Biotechnological Innovation
			Jeremy de Beer, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law Panelists: Donald J. Mackenzie, Pioneer Hi-Bred International Owen McAuley, Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI)
LUNCHEON (Adam Room)
SESSION 2: AGRI-FOOD VOLATILITY AND RISK
Organized jointly by Structure and Performance of Agriculture and Agri-products Industries network (SPAA) and Canadian Agricultural Trade Policy and Competitiveness Research Network (CATPRN) Motivation: Driven by technological advances, real grain and oilseed prices followed a long term declining trend until 2006 when prices spiked upward. Frequently mentioned causes for this reversal include declining investment in R&D, rapid income growth in emerging economies, the expansion of the ethanol industry and extreme weather conditions in large producing countries. The emergence of index trading commodity funds is often blamed as well for the increases in the level and volatility of commodity prices which have obvious implications for Canada’s livestock producers. The objective of this session is to examine the factors causing prices to rise; the importance of index trading commodity funds in explaining the increase; and, the impact of increased price volatility on the role of private market institutions and governments in risk management in both the cereals and livestock markets. Chair: Bruno Larue, Université Laval
1:30-3:00 PM			Conventional Wisdom and the Impact of Market Volatility
			Scott Irwin, University of Illinois
			Panelists: Stewart Skinner, Stonaleen Farms
			Bertrand Montel, National Bank of Canada
NETWORKING BREAK
SESSION 3: RISK AND VOLATILITY IN CLIMATE, WATER, LAND & ENERGY
Organized by Linking Environment and Agriculture Research Network (LEARN) Motivation: Climate change will require adaptation and innovation to respond to changing weather patterns including an increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as flooding and drought. This session examines the impact of climate change and extreme weather events as drivers of policy to address risk in the sector. Chair: Peter Boxall, University of Alberta
3:30 - 5:00 PM			Farming in a Volatile Climate: an Australian Perspective
			Dr. Jammie Penm, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
			Where Agriculture Meets Water Security: The Challenges for Canada Howard Wheater, University of Saskatchewan, Global Institute for Water Security
			Discussant: Vic Adamowicz, University of Alberta
EVENING RECEPTION (Laurier Room)
6:00 - 8:00 PM			Research Poster Display with wine & cheese
End of Day 1
Day 2 - Friday, January 13
8:00 AM				Continental Breakfast
SESSION 4: UNCERTAINTY IN CONSUMER DEMAND & VALUE CHAIN
Organized by Consumer and Market Demand Policy Research Network (CMD) Motivation: Consumer behaviour around food is complex. Consumers see the risks and benefits of consuming foods in many different ways – some prefer processed foods to ensure food is safe while others prefer natural foods they prepare themselves for the same reasons. Risk/benefit perceptions and attitudes relate to the safety of foods, the nutritional quality of foods and the types and degree of processing of foods. In this environment with constantly changing circumstances understanding consumer behaviour is key to successful agriculture. Chair: Ellen Goddard, University of Alberta
9:00-10:30 AM			Risk-Benefit Perception and Communication in the Agro-Food Industry
			Wim Verbeke, Ghent University
			Panelist(s): Ted Bilyea, Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI)
			Andrew Knight, Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture
NETWORKING BREAK
11:00-12:00 PM			Closing Speaker Regulation and Subsidy Responses to Variability in North American Agriculture
			Dan Sumner, University of California, Davis
12:00 PM			Closing Comments
			John Cranfield, University of Guelph
End of Conference

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Registration

Registration is now closed.

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Location & Transportation

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Conference Sponsors

We would like to thank the following sponsors!

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Research Poster Competition

In order to highlight some of the research conducted by the research networks and their partners, a poster presentation was held in conjunction with the evening reception on Thursday, January 12. Conference delegates were invited to view the posters and direct any questions on the research to the researchers who were present with their posters at the event. Delegates viewing the posters had an opportunity to submit voting ballots for their first and second choice for the poster awards provided by the George Morris Centre.

First Place - CAIRN-02 - Neighbourhood and Farmers' Characteristics Effects on the Adoption of Zero Tillage Technology in the Canadian Prairies: An Empirical Analysis - Lana Awada and Murray Fulton

Second Place - CAIRN-04 - Dynamics of Innovation System for Funding R&D in Australia - Katarzyna Bolek and Richard Gray

	Poster Title	Researcher/Institution	Research Network
Poster & Abstract	IPR, Public Funded and Levy Funded Research in Agricultural Knowledge Systems	Richard Gray and Buwani Dayananda, University of Saskatchewan	CAIRN
Poster & Abstract	Neighbourhood and Farmers' Characteristics Effects on the Adoption of Zero Tillage Technology in the Canadian Prairies: An Empirical Analysis	Lana Awada and Murray Fulton, University of Saskatchewan	CAIRN
Poster & Abstract	Exploring the Adoption of Traceability and Food Quality Verification Technologies in Canada	Albert Ugochukwu and Jill Hobbs, University of Saskatchewan	CAIRN
Poster & Abstract	Dynamics of Innovation System for Funding R&D in Australia	Katarzyna Bolek and Richard Gray, University of Saskatchewan	CAIRN
	A Proposal to Explore Pricing Behaviour in Canola Seed Industry	Mohammad Torshizi and Richard Gray, University of Saskatchewan	CAIRN
	An Empirical Investigation into the Determinants of Trade Policy Bias	Matthew Hink, Ryan Cardwell and Chad Lawley, University of Manitoba	CATPRN
Poster & Abstract	Trade Agreements, Political Economy and Endogenously Incomplete Contracts	Na Li and Alan Ker, University of Guelph	CATPRN
Poster & Abstract	Dairy Farm Structure in Canada: International Comparisons and the Effect of Farm Quotas	Valeria Castellanos, Charles McArthur and Richard Barichello, Univeristy of British Columbia	CATPRN
Poster & Abstract	Explaining Consumers' Attitudes Towards Carbon and Water Footprints	Carola Grebitus, Bonn University; Bodo Steiner, University College Cork ; Michele Veeman, University of Alberta	CMD
	Measuring Consumer Resistance to Innovation in Meat Packaging - Evidence from Choice Experiments	Qing Chen, Sven Anders and Henry An, University of Alberta	CMD
	Farm Direct Marketing: Challenges, Barriers and the Need for Performance Analysis	Andreas Boecker and Melanie Lang, University of Guelph	CMD
Poster & Abstract	The Role of Origin in European Demand for Canadian Beef	Gregory Colson, University of Georgia; Carola Grebitus, University of Bonn; and Wuyang Hu, University of Kentucky	CMD
	An Opportunity Cost Model for Species at Risk Within Saskatchewan's Milk River Watershed	A. Entem, V. Adamowicz and P. Boxall, University of Alberta	LEARN
Poster & Abstract	Transitioning to a New Approach for Sustainable Development: The Case of Manitoba Agriculture	Kerri L. Holland, University of Alberta	LEARN
Poster & Abstract	Potential for Weather-Indexed Insurance in China's Loess Plateau Dryland Cropping Region	Baojing Sun, G. Cornelis van Kooten and Fan Zhang, University of Victoria	LEARN
	A Study of the Attitudes and Awareness to Carbon Offset Protocols in Alberta's Agricultural Community	Onnolee Nordstrom and Brent Swallow, University of Alberta	LEARN
Poster & Abstract	Weather-indexed Insurance and Financial Weather Derivatives as Complements or Alternatives to Crop Insurance in Western Canada	Fan Zhang, Peter Bell, G. Cornelis van Kooten and Linda Wong, University of Victoria	LEARN
Poster & Abstract	Agricultural Nutrient Management Employing the Concept of Ecological Goods and Services in BC Agriculture	Karen Ageson and Sumeet Gulati, University of British Columbia	LEARN
	Estimating a Wealth Account for Agricultural Land in Quebec: Incorporating Natural Capital into a System of Environmental-Economic Accounts	René Roy, Université du Québec à Montréal and Paul Thomassin, McGill University	LEARN
Poster & Abstract	Political Market Power Under Supply Management	Na Li and Alan Ker, University of Guelph	SPAA
Poster & Abstract	Market Share and Pricing Behaviour of Private Label and National Brand in Health Differentiated Food Products	Waseem Ahmad and Sven Anders, University of Alberta	SPAA
	Demand for Dairy Products in Canada and the Aging of the Population	Jean-Germain Ntetani, Gale West and Bruno Larue, Laval University	SPAA

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Conference Contact Information

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