Show Notes
Over 300 ideas were submitted to the Food Waste Reduction Challenge. Twenty-four of the best ideas were selected for funding. Now it’s time to test their concepts and compete for the $1.5M grand prizes. In this episode, jury member and celebrity chef, Bob Blumer, tells us about the selection process. He also shares tips on reducing food waste at home. Mohamed Yassin from Impact Canada joins the conversation to tell us what’s next.
More from The First Sixteen
"In my mind, those frameworks are both an art and a science." That's how Dori Gingera-Beauchemin describes the work of building Canada's national agricultural frameworks. And right now, the next one is taking shape. The Next Policy Framework will run 2028 to 2033 and succeeds the Sustainable CAP. We speak with two people who have shaped these frameworks from every angle. Dori Gingera-Beauchemin spent forty-four years with the Manitoba Department of Agriculture, including a decade as Deputy Minister. She has sat at the table for every framework negotiation since the year 2000. Tyler McCann, managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, has worked every side of the policy process from inside government, in industry, and on his own farm. Hear how policy moves the needle, where the next framework needs to focus, and why, as Tyler puts it, "we need to speak with one voice where we agree, and have respectful disagreement when we don't."
Turning high-tech concepts into field-ready tools requires more than just a good idea—it requires real-world validation and farmer-to-farmer trust. In this episode, we speak with Herman Simons, who leads Smart Agriculture Applied Research at Olds College in Alberta. He oversees dozens of projects each year that test emerging technologies.. We’re also joined by agronomist, Steve Larocque, an independent crop advisor who works with producers and with Olds College to turn new ideas into practical, field-ready systems. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office’s new tool, IP Central, brings you all the IP support you need in one place, with clear guidance, how-to resources, and links to funding and events from trusted partners.
2026 is the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Women are changing the face of farming in Canada. They are highly educated. They’re working hard. And, while they are having success, they also encounter unique barriers to entry and advancement in the sector. This episode speaks with two women from the Prairies – Dr. Lauren Younker, Feedlot Production Consultant and member of the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council and farmer and entrepreneur Lesley Kelly – who are at the vanguard of this movement. Learn how they are breaking down barriers. Hear their vision for the future of agriculture in Canada. Learn more about the programs and resources discussed in the episode through AGPAL and from Farm Credit Canada.
Farm transitions aren’t simply business deals — they’re deeply human and often emotionally complex. In this episode, we speak with two innovators reimagining how farms change hands and how new farmers find their place. Heather Watson, Executive Director of Farm Management Canada, brings a national view on business planning, succession, and the changing realities of farm ownership. Sara Dent, co-founder of Young Agrarians, is creating new pathways into farming — helping aspiring producers find land, mentors, and community. Learn more about the toolkits from Farm Management Canada, Young Agrarians, and Farm Credit Canada.
From phones and computers to automated systems in barns and data collection in harvesters, each piece of technology on a farm is a fantastic tool – and a potential weak point. And hackers look for – weak points. Just as producers protect livestock and crops from predators, they need to do the same to protect their technology. In this episode, Dr. Ali Dehghantanha, Canada Research Chair in cyber security at the University of Guelph, explains how producers can stay a few simple and innovative steps ahead of the criminals. And Charles-Félix Ross, Director General of Quebec’s UPA, shares what happened when his organization was hit by ransomware and the key lessons learned. Learn more about the Toolkit.