Schedule - Dig In!

Thurs, Nov. 17

Download a two-page version of the Schedule here.
The Summit organizers and the Debert Hospitality Centre are pleased to present a Locally-sourced Menu

All plenary events occur in the Hurricane Room

1:00 pm	HUDSON ENTRANCE Dig In: The Atlantic Canada Food Systems Summit Registration opens NOTE: Pre-Summit Mi’kmawey Debert Interpretive Trail tour has been cancelled due to damage from Hurricane Fiona.
4:00 – 5:15 pm	Hurricane Room Pre-Summit Special Presentations 4:15: Dwayne Boudreau, Food & Beverage Atlantic: Food & Beverage Atlantic – Building a Better Tomorrow through Food Hear how the evolution of FBA is benefiting all food and beverage companies with support programs to fit your needs. Anyone thinking of starting a new venture or having an established business (regardless of the size) will learn about tools and programs to help their business thrive. 4:30: Melissa MacMaster, Food for Thought Software Solutions: School Food and Local Procurement Do we have enough local food supplier capacity for a school lunch program? Food For Thought Software Solutions is conducting a study in Antigonish to determine local food procurement needs for roughly 370,000 lunches to 1,915 students enrolled in Antigonish. The objectives of the study, outcomes to date and how this model can be scaled in more communities across Nova Scotia will be discussed. 4:45: Treasa Pauley, Plant Protein Atlantic: Optimizing Opportunities in Atlantic Plant Proteins Plant-proteins are a growing area of interest for sustainability and health. Atlantic Canada does not produce as much as it could nor consume as much as is recommended. There are great opportunities to be tapped into for both regional production and consumption of plant-proteins. 5:00: Andy Horsnell, Flourish Community Development Co-op: *Exploring the Potential for a HRM-based Food Hub Facility* Flourish is assisting a coalition of community organizations to explore the development of a Halifax-based food hub facility. The intent of this food hub would be to provide greater connection between producers in mainland Nova Scotia and commercial and institutional buyers in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The presentation will introduce the project and provide an invitation to participate in stakeholder focus groups.
5:00 – 6:15 pm	Open dinner table – dinner is available anytime as delegates arrive
6:15 – 7:45 pm	Summit Welcome: Robert Cervelli, Center for Local Prosperity Opening Ceremony: Elder Dr. Joe Michael, Smudge and Prayer Opening Keynote Plenary Address 1: Philip Ackerman-Leist – *Regenerative Foodsheds: Scaling Our Local Expectations* Call it the Goldilocks Paradox for food systems: How do we ensure “just the right size” is, in fact, “just” and “right”? As local food movements mature, organic trends continue to rise, and calls for food justice and food sovereignty amplify, citizens around the world are creating innovative ways to build regional and regenerative food systems that link and support local economies while enhancing efficiencies and impact. The catalysts for creating regional regenerative foodsheds are as varied as the cast of characters who take on the complex work of knitting together values, communities, food resources, and market opportunities. Philip Ackerman-Leist will share stories and strategies of citizens and communities around the world who are actively working to cultivate systemic change at a regional level. These narratives-in- the-making offer lessons and inspiration for anyone aspiring for regional change and looking for local levers within reach.
7:45 – 8:30 pm	Amy Melmock, Acting Executive Director of Industry and Marketing Development, NS Department of Agriculture: Update on Market Development Initiatives Regional Dialogue: The Potential for an Atlantic Canada Food Network The potential for an ongoing Atlantic regional working network will be discussed, composed of food systems stakeholders and modeled after other networks in the world. Summit Keynote speakers will explore this potential with representatives from the four Atlantic provinces, and audience Q&A.
8:30 – 9:30 pm	Mixer, Cash Bar and Open Mic – MC: Justin Cantafio, Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia

Fri, Nov. 18

7:00 – 8:00 am	Breakfast
8:00 – 9:10 am	Morning Welcome and Opening Keynote Plenary Address 2: Abra Brynne – *Weaving Land, Marine and Indigenous Food Systems* The threads already exist: leveraging local knowledge for impactful synergies. Many in rural and particularly remote communities retain the practices of our ancestors for securing our life essentials from the landscapes and waters around them. Nevertheless, our food systems are dominated by globalized supply chains and monopolies that pose significant challenges to rebuilding more abundant and resilient place-based food systems. Reweaving the fabric of food sovereignty requires persistence and collaboration. Abra will explore some of the policy and structural challenges facing local food systems and draw on stories of communities across Canada to demonstrate possibilities on the path to Atlantic Canada’s food sovereignty.
9:10 – 9:50 am	Food Systems Dialogue: Rebuilding the Atlantic Canada Food Shed Rebuilding a robust, networked regional food system requires re-skilling, investment of time and funding, key infrastructure and facilitating policy. Summit Keynote speakers will explore this potential with representatives from sectors of our food system, and audience Q&A.
9:50 – 10:00 am	Break
10:00 – 11:00 am	Hudson Room Workshop Breakout #1A: Local and Regional Food in Public Sector Institutions MODERATOR: Robert Cervelli, Centre for Local Prosperity PANELISTS: Chaiti Seth, Acadia University: *Growing Change: Lessons from Localizing Food Procurement at Acadia University* Brenda MacDonald, NS Health Authority and Andrea Penney, IWK: *Improving Nutrition through Local Sourcing* Dawn Hare, Farm to Cafeteria Canada: The Farm to School Approach – Increasing Opportunities for Local Food in Schools Morgan Palmer, PEI: Supply & Demand – Two Perspectives in Institutional Procurement Public sector food procurement (health, schools, colleges and universities) can be one of the largest drivers supporting regional food systems, either through direct purchasing or demands placed on institutional caterers to hit defined targets for ‘local.’ The session will feature some of the leading examples of public sector food procurement and how these can quickly drive an increase in regional capacity. Hurricane Room Workshop Breakout #1B: Distribution: Farmer’s Markets, CSA’s, Farm Stores and Hubs MODERATOR: Genevieve Drisdelle, Food for All NB PANELISTS: Justin Cantafio, Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia: Direct Sales, Renewed Connections, and Creating “Human Billboards” through Farmers’ Markets Rebeka Fraser-Chiasson, La coopérative Ferme Terre Partagée: Getting food to bellies: Diverse marketing channels at La Ferme Terre Partagée Gaetan Noel, Really Local Harvest: *Really Local Harvest – Cooperatively Getting to Retail* David Greenberg, The Warehouse Market: The Warehouse Market: And Now for Something Completely Different Finding efficient ways to get volumes of product directly to the consumer maximizes critical revenues to the farmer or fisher. The session will compare and contrast several existing models, and explore how these can be further optimized for volume throughout, value-add, seasonality, revenue and other critical variables. In addition, discussion will explore scaling these systems and what would be required to do so.
11:00 – 11:30 am	Topic Tables Break Networking opportunity with gatherings around specific topics. Ten tables will be located and mapped around the Summit venue with a topic assigned to each table. Topics represent each of the Workshops or Plenary Panel topics. These breaks offer an opportunity to quickly find and network with others of similar interest.
11:30 am – 12:30 pm	Hurricane Room Workshop Breakout #2A: Education in Schools and to the Public about our Food Systems MODERATOR: Lisa Roberts, Nourish NS PANELISTS: Rachel Schofield Martin, NB Francophone South School District: *Apprentice in Action – Educational Food Lab Inc.* Lindsay Corbin, NS Advisory to the Coalition on Healthy School Food: Nourish Kids Now Rebecca Sooksom, Manager of Regional. Programming, NS Dept of Agriculture: Agriculture in the Classroom – transforming the way students view agriculture Public and student awareness of how food becomes available in our region is at a historic low. Given the increased fragilities in global food systems, it is essential that greater awareness is brought to the public and to our educational systems. This session will showcase some of the best programs in our region and explore effective ways of increasing general awareness of the importance of resilient and robust regional and local food systems. Hudson Room Workshop Breakout #2B: Navigating and Adapting Food Regulations MODERATOR: Abra Brynne, Policy Advisor with FarmFolk CityFolk PANELISTS: Karen Foster, Dalhousie University: *Regulating for Resilience: How to make the local food system work for everyone* Michael Isenor, Northumberland Lamb Cooperative: Working Together to Produce Food for the Maritimes Hana Nelson, Afishianado: The Ocean as a farming space the challenges and opportunities in Aquaculture Food regulations are an essential aspects of food safety. Yet, a heavy overburden of regulations for small producers can limit entry and growth for many players – effectively tipping the balance towards large non-regional corporations. The session will explore what the main obstacles are for many local producers and how these can be effectively overcome. In addition, advocacy for ‘appropriate-scale’ regulations may also be discussed.
12:30 – 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 – 2:45 pm	Amy Melmock, Acting Executive Dir of Industry & Market Dev, NS Dept of Agriculture and Lauren Peters, NS Youth Council for Agriculture: Overview of the NS Minister’s Conference for Agriculture Plenary Panel: Building Local Food Systems Policy & Governance MODERATOR: Phil Ferraro, Institute for Bioregional Studies PANELISTS: Leticia Smillie & Anna Giddy, Halifax Food Policy Alliance: JustFOOD Halifax: Towards Food Action and Governance in Halifax Katrina Cristall, City of Charlottetown: Knowing What We Don’t Know: Undertaking a Food Assessment for Charlottetown Sarah Crocker, St John’s Food Policy Council: Community-led Food Assessment and Municipal Political Action Krista Tobin, Institutional Procurement Coordinator, NS Department of Agriculture: Supporting and Encouraging Institutional Food Procurement Food policy that recognizes the vulnerabilities in our systems is critical for our times. Municipal and provincial governments are stepping up their policies and programs to address these needs, and seeking greater community engagement. This session will explore and highlight these cutting edge trends in our region.
2:45 – 3:15 pm	Topic Tables Break Networking opportunity with gatherings around specific topics
3:15 – 4:15 pm	Hudson Room Workshop Breakout #3A: Food Systems Investment and Economies of Scale MODERATOR: Joe Piotti, Sweet Earth Farm PANELISTS: Linda Best, Farmworks: *Assisting Local Food Businesses through a Community Economic Development Investment Fund* Robert Cervelli, CLP & Justin Cantafio, FMNS: *Local Alternative Currencies & Nutrition Coupons* Myles Baldwin, Narrows Public House: *Financing for small businesses: challenges and alternative avenues* Greg Gerrits, Elmridge Farm: Socioeconomic challenges, profitability and economy of scale Scaling regional food systems requires capital. It also needs to address economies of scale, especially for processing and distribution infrastructure. This session will highlight a range of innovative financing options for food systems organizations, and explore cases where producer cooperation may be needed to achieve effective scale. Hurricane Room Workshop Breakout #3B: Affordability, Equitability, Accessibility MODERATOR: Dawn Matheson, Ulnooweg Education Centre PANELISTS: Josh Smee, Food First NL: *Shifting our food systems: lessons from Newfoundland and Labrador* Öykü Su Gürler, Loaded Ladle, Dalhousie University: *There is such a thing as free lunch: free food as a tool for activism and building community* Patty Williams, FoodArc, Mount St Vincent University: *The Nova Scotia Picture: Where are we now and what do we want?* Lesley Frank, Health, Food & Social Justice, Acadia University: *Feeding in the Early Years: Current Threats and Policy Solutions* Is ‘local food’ affordable and accessible to all? What are the limitations to equitable access, especially for culturally appropriate foods? The session will address these issues head on, and will feature examples in our region where innovative programming begins to overcome these imbalances in our food systems.
4:15 – 5:30 pm	Topic Tables Break Networking opportunity with gatherings around specific topics
5:30 – 6:00 pm	Social Networking, cash bar
6:00 – 7:00 pm	Indigenous Feast
7:00 – 8:15 pm	Our Relationship to Food: Indigenous Perspective Storytelling with Gerald Gloade, Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre.
8:15 – 9:30 pm	Open Mic, Spontaneous Food Haiku – MC: Josh Smee, Food First NL

Sat, Nov. 19

7:00 – 8:00 am	Breakfast
8:00 – 9:15 am	Plenary Panel: Building Local Food Systems Infrastructure MODERATOR: Linda Best, Farmworks PANELISTS: Maire Neville, Cape Breton Food Hub Cooperative: *A multi-stakeholder co-operative creating a more vibrant local food economy* Heather Lunan and Rebecca Tran, The Station Food Hub: *Value creation from diverted food waste, food by-products, and surplus food* Dan Rubin, Food Producers Forum: *Healthy food for all.* Dayan Gonzales, Growers Station: Growers Station: Building an efficient and dependable local food system. What infrastructure is needed to quickly and efficiently scale regional food systems? This session will highlight current successful models in our region which optimize getting regional food from farm and fisher to the local consumer’s table. Panelists will explore how these models could be improved, replicated and scaled.
9:15 – 10:00 am	Topic Tables Break Networking opportunity with gatherings around specific topics
10:00 – 11:00 am	Hudson Room Workshop Breakout #4A: Climate Solutions, Supply Chains and Overharvesting: Adaptations Needed by Farmers & Fishers MODERATOR: Justin Cantafio, Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia PANELISTS: Colleen Freake, Farmers for Climate Solutions: Agricultural Climate Solutions in Atlantic Canada Simon Ryder-Burbridge, Ecology Action Centre: Navigating changing oceans: Building resilient and sustainable seafood systems Kimberly Orren, Fishing for Success: *Getting Everyone in the Boat* Ken Paul, Tobique First Nation: *First Nations Food Security in Fisheries* There are a multiplicity of pressures on food production, including our fisheries. Fish is also food. In addition to climate change, supply chain disruptions, over-harvesting and over-development reduce the ability to produce and deliver local food within our region. Panelists will document successful and ongoing adaptations critical to our times. Hurricane Room Workshop Breakout #4B: Public Engagement: Community Gardens, Food Centres and Co-ops MODERATOR: Gillan Kerr, Centre for Local Prosperity PANELISTS: Phil Ferraro, Institute for Bioregional Studies: *Farm Centre’s Legacy Gardens in Charlottetown – produce to local charities* Dawn Matheson, Ulnooweg Education Centre: *Ulnooweg Community Garden & Food Security Project* Katherine Carey, North Grove: *Building community and food security at the North Grove* Wendy Keats, Dorchester Moving Forward: The Little Community That Could Food supply can be most secure when dedicated community residents come together and work together – such as in the production of food, food education and skills building, or cooperating in food purchasing and distribution. Some of the best inspirational stories in our region will be featured. Discussion will include how other communities can replicate these examples.
11:00 – 11:15 am	Break
11:15 am – 12:45 pm	Closing Plenary Circle: Planning Next Steps Discussion will include key steps to build regional capacity, and the potential to form an ongoing regional alliance of food systems players to work towards more robust production and access to regional food. There will be opportunities for all attendees to connect in and assist with this effort. Facilitator: Josh Smee, Food First NL Closing Prayer: Elder Dr. Joe Michael
12:45 – 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm	Summit adjourned