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Our speakers
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois – “Fruitful Insights: Navigating the Vine of Food Inflation in Fruits and Vegetables” – in person
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.
Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.
Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.
Dr. Tyler Wist
Dr. Tyler Wist AAFC Saskatoon – Insects Pests like spotted wing drosophila, Japanese beetles, aster leafhopper projects and aster yellows infection
Dr. Tyler Wist is a field crop entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Saskatoon. Although he specializes in wheat insect pests like wheat midge and cereal aphids, he also work on new pests in smaller acreage crops, the worst insect pest in canola, flea beetles, the insect vectored pathogen aster yellows and pea aphids in pulse crops. Ask him about beneficial insects destroying crop pests!
Dr. Tyler Wist is a field crop entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Saskatoon. Although he specializes in wheat insect pests like wheat midge and cereal aphids, he also work on new pests in smaller acreage crops, the worst insect pest in canola, flea beetles, the insect vectored pathogen aster yellows and pea aphids in pulse crops. Ask him about beneficial insects destroying crop pests!
Tammy Shields PAg
Tammy Shields PAg – Cleanfarms.ca – Agricultural plastic and packaging recycling on the farm
Tammy has been the Saskatchewan Program Advisor with Cleanfarms for the last 7 years. She is a Professional Agrologist (PAg), based out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and has been involved with recycling agricultural plastics since she led the first grain bag recycling pilot in 2010. Cleanfarms is a non-profit organization that works with the entire supply chain, from farmers through to the recycling facilities to ensure agricultural plastics and packaging can be responsibly managed and kept out of the environment.
Tammy has been the Saskatchewan Program Advisor with Cleanfarms for the last 7 years. She is a Professional Agrologist (PAg), based out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and has been involved with recycling agricultural plastics since she led the first grain bag recycling pilot in 2010. Cleanfarms is a non-profit organization that works with the entire supply chain, from farmers through to the recycling facilities to ensure agricultural plastics and packaging can be responsibly managed and kept out of the environment.
Connie Achtymichuk PAg
Connie Achtymichuk PAg (provincial Vegetable Specialist) – Saskatchewan Research Update
Connie was raised in Kamsack, Saskatchewan.
She obtained her BSA in Horticulture from the U of S and began her career as a research technician at the U of S vegetable program working mainly on potato and onion agronomy trials.
She moved to Manitoba for a few years to manage an early generation seed potato farm before moving back to Saskatchewan to be part of a more dynamic, developing potato industry.
During the summer of 2005, Connie joined Saskatchewan Agriculture as the Provincial Vegetable Specialist where she works with the province’s seed potato and vegetable producers to develop a thriving industry.
Connie lives in Outlook with her husband Ken.
Connie was raised in Kamsack, Saskatchewan.
She obtained her BSA in Horticulture from the U of S and began her career as a research technician at the U of S vegetable program working mainly on potato and onion agronomy trials.
She moved to Manitoba for a few years to manage an early generation seed potato farm before moving back to Saskatchewan to be part of a more dynamic, developing potato industry.
During the summer of 2005, Connie joined Saskatchewan Agriculture as the Provincial Vegetable Specialist where she works with the province’s seed potato and vegetable producers to develop a thriving industry.
Connie lives in Outlook with her husband Ken.
Forest Scharf PAg
Forest Scharf PAg (provincial Fruit Specialist) – Saskatchewan Research Update
Forrest Scharf PAg is the Provincial Specialist for Fruit Crops within the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Crops and Irrigation Branch. In his role, Forrest is active in conducting research, helping growers in crop management, providing input for policy development, technical evaluation, surveillance, participation on national working groups, et cetera. He is a Professional Agrologist and serves on the Professionalism and Ethics Committee within the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists.
He also serves as Secretary for the International Association for Plant Biotechnology (IAPB).
He abides on an acreage Northwest of Regina along the Qu’Appelle Valley overlooking the Valeport Bird Sanctuary and Last Mountain Lake.
Forrest Scharf PAg is the Provincial Specialist for Fruit Crops within the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Crops and Irrigation Branch. In his role, Forrest is active in conducting research, helping growers in crop management, providing input for policy development, technical evaluation, surveillance, participation on national working groups, et cetera. He is a Professional Agrologist and serves on the Professionalism and Ethics Committee within the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists.
He also serves as Secretary for the International Association for Plant Biotechnology (IAPB).
He abides on an acreage Northwest of Regina along the Qu’Appelle Valley overlooking the Valeport Bird Sanctuary and Last Mountain Lake.
Karen Dow PAg
Karen Dow PAg - Enhancing Quality and Yield of Fruits and Vegetables with Biostimulants
Karen grew up in Humboldt as well as on a grain farm at Birch Hills, Saskatchewan. Her keen interest in agriculture led her to the University of Saskatchewan for a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Agronomy. After graduation, she worked with Simplot as a territory manager in southern Saskatchewan. Moving to the Peace River area, Karen worked with the Farm Debt Review Board as a Financial Consultant and Mediation Panelist. In 1994, Karen began work with Cyanamid Crop Protection that later merged with BASF. During this time, she completed her Agribusiness Marketing Management at the University of Guelph to build skills in Agri-Marketing. Karen spent a total of 22 years with BASF in various roles and areas. In 2013, Karen joined Blair’s Family of Companies as Sales Director. In November 2020, Karen joined FCL as the Manager of Agronomic Market Development. Karen has been an active member of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists since completing her degree and is also a Forensic Agrologist. Karen has also completed the 4R Certification and is a 4R Designated Agronomist. Karen moved to Hello Nature in December 2022 and is the new Canadian Sales Manager. In her present role, she is educating retailers and producers on the value of Biologicals and BioStimulants. There has been significant work done in how these Biologicals work and the benefits to plant physiology. Biologicals unlock the plants potential for yield and also helps in fruit and vegetable storage when combined with micronutrients. Plants are truly amazing in their adaptation to the environment. Biologicals help plants when they are lacking what they require to continue to grow.
Karen grew up in Humboldt as well as on a grain farm at Birch Hills, Saskatchewan. Her keen interest in agriculture led her to the University of Saskatchewan for a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Agronomy. After graduation, she worked with Simplot as a territory manager in southern Saskatchewan. Moving to the Peace River area, Karen worked with the Farm Debt Review Board as a Financial Consultant and Mediation Panelist. In 1994, Karen began work with Cyanamid Crop Protection that later merged with BASF. During this time, she completed her Agribusiness Marketing Management at the University of Guelph to build skills in Agri-Marketing. Karen spent a total of 22 years with BASF in various roles and areas. In 2013, Karen joined Blair’s Family of Companies as Sales Director. In November 2020, Karen joined FCL as the Manager of Agronomic Market Development. Karen has been an active member of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists since completing her degree and is also a Forensic Agrologist. Karen has also completed the 4R Certification and is a 4R Designated Agronomist. Karen moved to Hello Nature in December 2022 and is the new Canadian Sales Manager. In her present role, she is educating retailers and producers on the value of Biologicals and BioStimulants. There has been significant work done in how these Biologicals work and the benefits to plant physiology. Biologicals unlock the plants potential for yield and also helps in fruit and vegetable storage when combined with micronutrients. Plants are truly amazing in their adaptation to the environment. Biologicals help plants when they are lacking what they require to continue to grow.
Bruce McTavish with Heliae - PhycoTerra that is a microalgae product that is food for the microbiome in the soil
Bruce McTavish, Canadian Sales Manager of Heliae Development is from Winnipeg, Manitoba with over 35 years of sales and marketing experience in diverse agricultural crop inputs and food processing companies, ranging from start up to global ag companies. Bruce graduated from Agriculture at University of Manitoba and Business Administration from Red River College.
Bruce McTavish, Canadian Sales Manager of Heliae Development is from Winnipeg, Manitoba with over 35 years of sales and marketing experience in diverse agricultural crop inputs and food processing companies, ranging from start up to global ag companies. Bruce graduated from Agriculture at University of Manitoba and Business Administration from Red River College.
Dr. Karen Tanino U. of S. - Research Update
Dr. Karen Tanino is a full professor at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) in the Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Bioresources. Her area of research has focussed on plant abiotic stress physiology (frost, drought, heat, salt). She has an active research program in both basic and applied areas with projects ranging from seed treatments for early germination and root growth, to Northern Vigour® projects in strawberry crowns and medicinal plants, to the role of barriers in plant stress avoidance, publishing over 130 refereed journal articles. She is also involved in projects addressing northern food security, initiated and founded the Prairie Horticulture Certificate Program, a home study based with an enrolment of thousands of students since its inception. She held the W.J. White Professorship, was the second person to have been designated Global Fellow of Iwate University (Japan), is Adjunct Professor in the Dept. Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences (GKVK), Bangalore India, was President of the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science 2016 – 2018 during which time membership almost doubled, and in 2022 she was awarded one of the 7 most influential women in Canadian agriculture.
®Registered Trade Mark of the Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association
Dr. Karen Tanino is a full professor at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) in the Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Bioresources. Her area of research has focussed on plant abiotic stress physiology (frost, drought, heat, salt). She has an active research program in both basic and applied areas with projects ranging from seed treatments for early germination and root growth, to Northern Vigour® projects in strawberry crowns and medicinal plants, to the role of barriers in plant stress avoidance, publishing over 130 refereed journal articles. She is also involved in projects addressing northern food security, initiated and founded the Prairie Horticulture Certificate Program, a home study based with an enrolment of thousands of students since its inception. She held the W.J. White Professorship, was the second person to have been designated Global Fellow of Iwate University (Japan), is Adjunct Professor in the Dept. Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences (GKVK), Bangalore India, was President of the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science 2016 – 2018 during which time membership almost doubled, and in 2022 she was awarded one of the 7 most influential women in Canadian agriculture.
®Registered Trade Mark of the Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association
Will Short
Will Short (U.of S.) – Protecting Seedlings from Spring Frost by Applying Hydrophobic Sprays and Modifying Cuticular Wax
Will Short is a PhD student in the Plant Sciences department at the University of Saskatchewan. His work is focused on finding both short and long term strategies to help tender crops avoid damage from late spring frost events. Before studying in Saskatoon, Will completed his Master's degree at the University of Guelph researching cold acclimation and drought stress in Asparagus. When he isn't working on his studies, Will spends his time tending to his carnivorous plant collection.
Will Short is a PhD student in the Plant Sciences department at the University of Saskatchewan. His work is focused on finding both short and long term strategies to help tender crops avoid damage from late spring frost events. Before studying in Saskatoon, Will completed his Master's degree at the University of Guelph researching cold acclimation and drought stress in Asparagus. When he isn't working on his studies, Will spends his time tending to his carnivorous plant collection.
