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Our Food Has A Story: Celebrating Agriculture Month In Saskatchewan

 
The Government of Saskatchewan has once again proclaimed October as Agriculture Month in Saskatchewan. Today, Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart kicked off the month of events with industry partners at the Westview Co-op in Saskatoon. 
 
This year’s theme, Our Food Has a Story, encourages people to talk about the passion that drives food production. Throughout the month, stories of how food goes from farm to table will be shared. The stories will highlight the dedicated people who sustainably produce the healthy, affordable and safe food we eat.
 
“Producers and consumers want the same thing: an affordable and safe food supply for their families,” Stewart said. “As an industry, we need to start talking to consumers about our shared values and the decisions we make every day to produce the quality food that feeds people here in Saskatchewan and around the world.” 
 
The Ministry of Agriculture, Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan and industry are working together to share food stories and discuss modern agriculture with consumers. The month-long campaign features four weekly sub-themes: “Health and Nutrition” from October 1 to 8, “Affordability” from October 9 to 15, “Food Safety” from October 16 to 22, and “Sustainability” from October 23 to 31.
 
As the faces of Agriculture Month, five individuals will share their connection to food and what agriculture means in their lives. These voices are mommy blogger Tenille Lafontaine, chef Dale Mackay, Veterinarian Leigh Rosengren, registered dietician Steph Langdon and the Leguee family, who operate a grain farm. To find out more about these spokespeople, visit www.OurFoodHasAStory.ca. 
 
“We are excited to host the Our Food Has a Story social media contest to connect with consumers and encourage conversations throughout the month,” Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan Chair Shannon Meyers said. “We all have a story to tell and we know sharing these stories using #OurFoodHasAStory and #AgMonth16 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram will generate great conversations about our values and the role of modern agriculture.”
 

 

Source : Government of Saskatchewan

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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.