By Jean-Paul MacDonald
Farms.com
In a gathering fostering international collaboration, Charlottetown, PEI played host to the bi-annual North American/European Union Agriculture Conference (NA/EU) from September 12-14.
The event, facilitated by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture in conjunction with multiple prominent agriculture organizations, saw around 280 delegates from the EU, Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
“This conference is an opportunity to share a wide range of perspectives on the key issues and solutions to some of the issues that affect agriculture across the globe, and share lessons learned on how we can best solve the challenges we face as an industry,” said Keith Currie, CFA President.
The primary focal points of the discussion panels were global challenges, agricultural trade dynamics, sustainability, innovation, adapting to market and consumer trends, and bolstering food security and resilience in agricultural systems.
A series of dignitaries, including the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, shared their expertise through presentations and speeches.
They emphasized the common pressures farmers endure globally such as climate change impacts, labor shortages, and fluctuating market and consumer trends.
“Farmers on both sides of the Atlantic are facing similar pressures from climate change, high input costs, labour shortages and changing market and consumer trends. The North American European Union Agricultural Conference provided a forum to share information and work together on solutions to some of the issues facing the sector. This is the kind of collaboration that will help us achieve our common goal of feeding the world sustainably, while building strong, productive and resilient food systems. Thank you to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture for hosting this important event in Prince Edward Island,” said the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
The collaboration forged here aims to lead towards sustainable and resilient food systems globally.
The conference became a hotspot for bilateral meetings addressing critical topics like animal emergency preparedness and plant breeding innovations.
Moreover, attendees were treated to a sneak peek into PEI’s innovative farming practices during an agriculture tour and a Leadership Summit.
The event portrayed a promising future where shared knowledge could pave the path for a globally sustainable agriculture system, underscoring the necessity for unified efforts in this dynamic landscape.
By working hand in hand, the international farming community is steering towards a future rich in innovation and sustainability. Stay tuned to witness how the dialogues from this conference shape the future of agriculture worldwide.