Canada’s agri-food system is at a crossroads. Intensifying climate impacts — from shifting growing seasons to increasing weather extremes — are putting pressure on productivity, food security, and sustainability.
The Cultivating Resilience Summit aims to turn this challenge into opportunity. By connecting knowledge with action, the event will create space for cross-sector dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and innovative solutions that strengthen resilience at every stage of the value chain.
What to Expect: Knowledge Meets Action
The summit is structured around two key pillars — Knowledge and Action — with a dynamic agenda of keynotes, workshops, panels, and interactive sessions.
Day 1: Knowledge
- Keynote – Dr. Tammara Soma: Exploring equity in food systems and bold pathways toward resilience.
- Interactive Dialogue: “What Does ‘Climate-Smart’ Really Mean?” – Moderated by David McInnes, this discussion invites perspectives from across Canada.
- Workshop – Land, Seeds, and Sovereignty: Dr. Tabitha Robin examines Indigenous-led approaches to food sovereignty and climate-smart agriculture.
- Graduate Student Lightning Talks: Rapid-fire presentations on cutting-edge agri-food research, facilitated by Dr. Laine Young (AG-ACt).
- Reimagining Agricultural Futures: Insights into how vertical farming, cellular agriculture, and other technologies are reshaping sustainability.
- Networking Reception + Poster Session: A chance to connect and exchange ideas, featuring visual presentations from students and early-career researchers.
Day 2: Action
- Reverse Pitch: Producers, processors, retailers, and community leaders pitch real-world challenges to researchers and startups — flipping the innovation model.
- Knowledge Synthesis Workshop: Practical strategies for translating evidence into action.
- Policy, Social, and Economic Dimensions: Examining the barriers and opportunities shaping climate-smart agriculture adoption.
- Portfolio Session: Presentations from Genome Canada’s Interdisciplinary Challenge Teams in the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems initiative.
Spotlight on Emerging Talent
A central focus of the summit is creating opportunities for Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) — the students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career professionals driving innovation in Canada’s agri-food sector.
- Graduate Lightning Talks will showcase groundbreaking research and innovative solutions.
- Poster and Infographic Presentations during the networking reception will highlight creative approaches to storytelling and knowledge mobilization.
These sessions not only support professional development but also connect today’s leaders with the next generation shaping the future of resilient food systems.
AG-ACt’s Role in Building a Climate-Smart Future
At AG-ACt, our mission is to advance genomics-based research and mobilize knowledge that supports Canada’s transition toward climate-smart agriculture. Through our involvement in the summit, we aim to:
- Highlight cutting-edge student research that’s shaping agri-food innovation.
- Share outcomes from Genome Canada’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems initiative.
- Foster cross-disciplinary and cross-regional collaboration to accelerate real-world impact.
Join the Conversation
The Cultivating Resilience Summit is more than a conference — it’s a collaborative platform to co-create the future of Canada’s food systems. Whether you are a producer, policymaker, researcher, or student, your voice is essential in shaping pathways to resilience.
October 27–28, 2025
Vancouver, BC
Register today and be part of the conversation.
Source : Bioenterprises.ca