Running February 9-10, the 2022 CAAR Conference—virtual—features a plethora of educational keynote speakers and valuable opportunities to connect and engage with retailers and industry representatives from the agriculture industry.
By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com
CAAR (Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers) invites all ag retailers from across Canada to attend its 2022 CAAR Conference, a virtual event being held February 9-10, 2022.
There is a lot going on in the ag retail industry right now, and the conference will provide attendees with the opportunity to stay up-to-date on the latest issues and those that will impact the future of the agriculture industry.
Virtual though it will be, CAAR promises that it will still feature valuable opportunities to connect and engage with retailers and industry representatives from the agriculture industry.
Along with its four-day silent auction running February 8-11, 2022, the CAAR Pro-Ag Investments Online Auction, CAAR will also provide a series of speakers discussing the key topics facing our industry.
Scheduled speakers are:
- Michael Kerwin, Senior Vice President of Business Development for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) – Keynote Speaker: State of Canadian Retail Businesses;
- Ted McKinney, NASDA (US National Association of State Departments of Agriculture): UN Food Systems;
- Derek Rolstone, Stone Strategies: COVID & the Workplace: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly;
- Josh Linville, Stone X: Fertilizer Outlook;
- Chuck Penner, LeftField Commodity Research: 2021: Short-term Impact & Lasting Results;
- Dan McTeague, Canadians For Affordable Energy: Emerging Energy Crisis;
- Karen Haugen-Kozyra, Viresco Solutions: Carbon Market Opportunities;
- Gord Kurbis, Canadian Grains Council | Terri Stewart, CropLife Canada | Manon Bombardier PMRA: MRL Challenges, Changes and Canadian Government;
- Hon. Mike Lake, MP, and Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Addictions, and Suicide Prevention: A Conversation About Mental Health;
- Donnelly McEwen, Retail Connect Sales Manager for BASF: Supporting our Retail Partners & the Industry;
- Eric Snodgrass, Principal Atmospheric Scientist, Nutrien Ag Solutions: Weather & Agriculture—What Can We Predict?;
- Al Driver, Country Division Head, Bayer CropScience Inc.: will discuss some of the exciting science innovations that will have a positive impact in the agriculture industry.
Without a doubt, the MRL Challenges, Changes and Canadian Government discussion panel is not to be missed.
CAAR strongly believes Canada needs to continue to advocate internationally for MRL harmonization based on modern science, and not move away from the standards set internationally. "Our sector depends on international trade and harmonized MRLs are key to facilitate export of Canadian agricultural commodities," said CAAR.
Ensure you listen to the MRL panel discussion featuring: Gord Kurbis, Vice President of Trade Policy and Crop Protection at the Canadian Grains Council; Terri Stewart, Executive Director, Chemistry at CropLife Canada; and Manon Bombardier, Assistant Deputy Minister, PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency) Transformation for Health Canada.
Keynote speaker for the event is Michael Kerwin, Senior Vice President of Business Development with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). The CFIB is the largest independent business association in Canada with over 95,000 member businesses, and Kerwin has held many positions within it over the past 30 years.
In his keynote address, Kerwin will present his views on how Covid-19’s economic fallout has impacted Canadian small and medium enterprise (SME), and just what the future holds for SMEs.
Another speaker to pay attention to, is Ted McKinney, the Chief Executive Officer of NASDA (National Association of State Departments of Agriculture in the US.) In this role since September of 2021, previously he was the first U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs between 2017-2021. It was here that he led the development and implementation of the Department’s trade policy, oversaw and facilitated foreign market access, and promoted opportunities for U.S. agriculture through various trade programs and high-level government negotiations. He also oversaw the U.S. Codex Alimentarius staff and functions.
It's why you want to listen to his discussion the United Nations Food Systems.
Another speaker we are randomly highlighting here, is Dan McTeague, the event’s closing keynote speaker discussing the Emerging Energy Crisis. McTeague is with Canadians For Affordable Energy, and is an 18-year veteran of the House of Commons. His Parliamentary initiatives, aimed at helping Canadians cope with affordable energy costs, led to providing Canadians heating fuel rebates on at least two occasions.
McTeague will provide an overview on the current global green energy and net zero emissions ideologies that many western countries, including Canada, have become involved in. Is it feasible, justified, and sustainable? What are the impacts to Canadian industry and consumers? How is energy security impacted? Answers to these questions and more.
If you haven’t signed up for the virtual 2022 CAAR Conference yet—what are you waiting for? An invitation? Here it is: Please REGISTER here: https://pheedloop.com/CAARcon2022/site/register/.