On March 5^th, Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph will convene a Food Systems Dialogue to bring together a diverse set of stakeholders to discuss concrete actions to transform food systems and help inform the Canadian perspective.

Participants will share their voice, experience and perspective on how to make the transition toward robust, equitable and sustainable food systems. The theme of this Dialogue is Green Growth, where participants will explore how to position the agri-food sector as a driver of environmentally sustainable economic growth.  Some of the ideas to be discussed will include investing in innovation, incentivizing sustainable management practices, and considering how Canada is organizing to respond to a changing food world. Notably we will explore how advancing Canada’s first agri-food sustainability index can become a key tool to express Canada’s safe, responsible and sustainable food credentials in the marketplace, achieve a more globally competitive food system, and be a lens to consider policy, research and innovation priorities.

Event Format

This dialogue will be held online, with participants “seated” at a virtual table. Following brief opening remarks in a plenary session, participants will break out into smaller discussion groups to deliberate how to achieve long-term visions of active dialogue and productive collaboration within the food system. A facilitator will be on hand to guide the discussion topics, and the event will end in a plenary session where groups will report back on the ideas generated.

Outcome

A report of the proposed recommendations will be circulated to participants, as well as the Food Systems Summit Dialogues team. The outcomes of the Summit Dialogues will be a valuable contribution to the different workstreams preparing for the United Nations Food Systems Summit.

To inquire about an invitation to this dialogue, please click on the “contact convenor” button below.