Join Michael Mikulak, Dana McCauley, Chris Bunio, Maurice Beauvier, and Rick Reid for the final wrap-up discussion of the Cultivate Sustainability Conference, exploring what the future holds for the agri-food and agri-food processing industry. This thought-provoking session will delve into the most pressing challenges facing the sector, including the impact of climate change, the critical shifts in consumer demands, the urgency of addressing food waste, and the need for innovative water and resource management strategies. Discover the potential solutions, bright spots, and collaborative strategies needed to navigate supply chain complexities, packaging sustainability, and biodiversity protection while maintaining economic viability. A perfect end to an illuminating day.
Panelists
Chris Bunio is the CEO and co-founder of TheoryMesh, a company providing leading edge solutions for food system traceability and transparency. Prior to founding TheoryMesh, Chris was at Microsoft for 18 years leading global industry sales and technology strategy for public sector and education while based in Jordan, UK, Turkey and the US. Chris has a personal passion for applying advanced technology to the food system to help drive sustainable transformation and outcomes.
Dana McCauley, CEO, Canadian Food Innovation Network
Dana is a value proposition driven innovator who has successfully launched many food products and programs in collaboration with domestic and international food companies and entrepreneurs. Throughout her career, Dana has long had her finger on the pulse of food innovation as a successful food writer and editor, a television food trends commentator, and a senior executive in the food manufacturing sector.
Dana was the founding Executive Director for Food Starter, a Toronto based food business incubator and accelerator that was recognized with an Ontario Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. As Director of New Venture Creation at the University of Guelph, Dana enabled agri-food innovators to transform their inventions into innovations that grow the economy and enhances Canada’s international reputation.
In 2017, Dana was recognized by WXN as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women in the Trailblazers and Trendsetters category.
Maurice Bouvier, Assistant Deputy Minister, Manitoba Agriculture
Responsible for the Industry Advancement Division, which enables and supports sustainable growth, market access and resilient agriculture, food and resource industries in the Province of Manitoba. The division is responsible for investment attraction (including client concierge services), industry development, value-added processing and assurance systems related to agriculture, food and resource development.
Rick Reid, executive director, Supply Chain Manitoba
Supply Chain Manitoba is a dedicated organization committed to optimizing supply chains for individuals and organizations. They represent all aspects of the end-to-end supply chain, including sourcing, procurement, transportation, and warehousing. With a strong focus on workforce development and promotion within the transportation and distribution sector, they strive to cultivate a skilled and diverse workforce that meets the evolving demands of the industry. Additionally, they advocate for the adoption of circular economy principles in the supply chain industry, promoting sustainable practices and minimizing waste throughout the supply chain.