Consumers Want What Agriculture Can Provide

Jun 29, 2012

Food Trends Discussed at Annual C and M Seeds Wheat Industry Day

Customer’s changing lifestyles are creating new demands for agriculture to meet. The 21st Annual C and M Seeds Wheat Industry Day shed light on some of the new consumer food trends that are being noticed on the consumer demand side of agriculture and food. One of the featured speakers at the event Gary Fread enlightened the audience about three key trends:

· Asian vegetables

· Consumers seeking healthier food

· Food produced in a more “environmentally” fashion

Asian vegetables are on a demand to meet a growing marking for immigrants who prefer food from their homeland. Consumers are also seeking out healthier lifestyles to help lose weight and prevent diseases so fresh fruit and vegetables are on the rise, while other consumers are interested in purchasing local food that appears to be grown in an “environmentally” way.

There is tremendous opportunity for Canadian farmers to fill this void and become significant player on the export market. Agriculture will always be evolving to adapt and meet the local consumer and global demands. With the projected population increases from seven billion to eight billion in the next two decades food will continue to be in high demand with much of that necessity coming from developing countries.

Video: Season 6, Episode 10: Defining Resiliency and the Research Driving Swine Health Forward

Genetic research and new technologies continue to influence the future of swine health and production efficiency. In this episode, we explore how research and technology are being used to support stronger, more resilient pigs, while also improving overall production outcomes. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger, geneticist with Topigs Norsvin, to discuss both routine and emerging strategies for improving piglet, pig, and sow livability. She outlines two primary approaches to enhancing resiliency: gene editing and traditional selective breeding. Continuing the resiliency conversation, we also hear from Dr. Lucina Galina, director of technical research projects at the Pig Improvement Company. She shares insights into ongoing gene-editing work focused on PRRS, detailing the pathway to success, regulatory and practical considerations, and the questions that still remain as the technology evolves. Together, these conversations provide a closer look at how research, genetics and innovation are shaping the future of swine health and livability.