The First Sixteen

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
  • 4.5 (22)
  • GOVERNMENT
The First Sixteen

Welcome to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s podcast series that explores the freshest ideas in agriculture and food. Each episode explores a single topic in depth—digging deep into new practices, innovative ideas, and their impacts on the industry. Learn about Canada’s agricultural sector from the people making the breakthroughs and knocking down the barriers! Farmers and foodies, scientists and leaders, and anyone with an eye on the future of the sector—this podcast is for you!

  1. JUN 18

    Innovative investments: Venture capital funding in agriculture and food

    Innovators take risks. And they need investors who are willing and informed to help them take the risks.  Alison Sunstrum is a pioneering entrepreneur turned investor, now on a mission to fix the gaps she once faced—mentorship and access to capital—by investing in exceptional talent and bold ideas in agriculture. Graeme is part of the team at FCC Capital, which is a new effort from Farm Credit Canada to provide what he calls 'patient, and reliable capital' to agri-food and ag-tech companies across the country. Hear how these two and their teams are filling an important funding gap in Canada to help innovation in the ag sector.

    29 min

  2. JUN 2

    On Farm Climate Action in Action

    Farmers are taking action to protect the environment and strengthen the competitiveness of our agricultural sector. We speak with three producers who are leaders in reducing greenhouse gases, sequestering carbon, and building resilience against climate change. With support from the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF), they’ve adopted beneficial management practices (BMPs) that make good business sense. Tune in to hear their insights and advice for fellow producers.

    28 min

  3. JAN 22

    Calculating crop rotation for potatoes

    Lori Robinson, a 6th generation farmer in PEI, is a data hound.  As a result of her 50+ years of her and her family taking detailed notes and 20 + years of doing a four-year crop rotation system she laid the groundwork for a user-friendly calculator for crop rotations that has both economic benefits for producers and environmental benefits. Developed at the Living Labs initiative in PEI in conjunction with the PEI Potato Board, the calculator helps producers maximize profits while reducing their use of pesticides and improving soil health. And the story of the calculator has some interesting twists.

    19 min

  4. 2024-12-11

    Plant breeding: Long-game innovation in a fast-changing world

    How has plant breeding evolved over the past 20 years? Who are the players in Canada? What is the plant breeding continuum? And what is the proverbial sandbox in which Canadian plant breeders are working? Learn this and why it takes a special breed of innovator to become a plant-breeder.

    26 min

  5. 2024-06-14

    Science vs. food waste

    Can we make biodegradable plastics using food waste? Can we control disease in crops and eliminate food borne pathogens using just hydrogen peroxide, ozone and UV rays? Yes, we can! Meet the two grand prize winners of the Food Waste Reduction Challenge – in the novel technology stream -- who proved we can do this and more.  Learn how Genecis Bioindustries and Clean Works are fighting food waste and food loss with cutting-edge science.

    27 min

  6. 2024-04-29

    Challenge accepted!

    Announcing the two winners of the Food Waste Reduction Challenge (Business Models Stream) Two companies took away $1.5 M! Find out who they are. Learn what it took to become the winners of the challenge, and leaders in this new sub-sector. The funds will help the winning companies further expand their success in fighting food waste and reducing greenhouse gases.  And, we’ll give you a glimpse behind the scenes with Dr Jean-Charles Le Vallée, who will share insights into being a jury member of the challenge.

    33 min

  7. 2024-03-13

    Is that a robot in your field?

    Ag-robotics specialists Chuck Baresich believes you’ll have a robot in your field sooner than you think.  What will they do? How will they add value to your farm? Chuck paints a picture of that future. And what is the government doing to help the agricultural sector be ready for those robots? Marco Valicenti, Director General of Innovation Programs Directorate and Brett Maxwell, Director of Strategic Policy Branch explain how Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s programs are enabling that future.

    33 min

  8. 2024-02-14

    Hiring smart

    Hear from two innovators who are successfully tackling labor shortages in our sector: one at the national level with an all-encompassing, all-stakeholders-engaged strategy; and the other on a regional level with a smart program for hiring and settling new immigrants into a rural community.

    29 min
See All (34)

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Welcome to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s podcast series that explores the freshest ideas in agriculture and food. Each episode explores a single topic in depth—digging deep into new practices, innovative ideas, and their impacts on the industry. Learn about Canada’s agricultural sector from the people making the breakthroughs and knocking down the barriers! Farmers and foodies, scientists and leaders, and anyone with an eye on the future of the sector—this podcast is for you!

Information

  • Creator
    Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Agriculture and Agri-food canada
  • Show Website
    The First Sixteen

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