The Agricultural Institute of Canada (AIC) has convened an influential 10-m
ember Advisory Council to help establish a unifying voice for science and agriculture in Canada.
“Agriculture and the related sciences and industries can provide solutions to many of the most pressing challenges of the 21st Century, but few Canadians understand this,” said Myles Frosst, AIC CEO. “And with more effective collaboration between agri-resource businesses and scientists, there could be a profound impact on the environment, the economy and our well-being.”
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Lack of understanding of the substantial societal benefits that can be derived from agri-resources, combined with sometimes ineffectual government financial and policy support for innovative science in the agro-economy, is preventing the sector from contributing to its full potential.
The Advisory Council is comprised of representatives from the corporate sector, industry associations and the science community of universities, research councils and scientific societies. It will provide advice to help AIC build a strong and unifying voice for all sectors and disciplines involved in the agro-economy.
Members of the AIC Unifying Voice Advisory Council:
Ted Bilyea – former executive vice-president, Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (retired 2005), and now an agri-food consultant specializing in innovation with clients in both private and public sector.
David Chanasyk, PhD – Professor, Renewable Resources, University of Alberta. His research interests include hydrology, runoff and erosion, land reclamation and water quality, who is also past president of the Agricultural Institute of Canada.
Chantal Farmer, PhD – Research scientist, swine lactation biology, with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lennoxville and also associate professor, Animal Science Department, Laval University.
Ralph W.F. Hardy, PhD – President and co-founder of the National Agricultural Biotechnology Council (NABC), a consortium of over 35 not-for-profit agricultural research and educational institutions in Canada and the United States that provides an open forum for discussion on the safe, efficacious, and equitable development of agricultural biotechnology.
Bryan Harvey, PhD – Emeritus professor, University of Saskatchewan Crop Development Centre. He is a former chair of the university’s horticulture department, and served as acting vice-president research and special advisor to the vice-president research. Dr. Harvey is the breeder or co-breeder of more than 40 barley varieties.
Douglas Hedley, PhD – Private consultant and executive director, Canadian Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, representing the five veterinary medicine and eight agricultural faculties in Canadian universities. Dr. Hedley retired in 2004 as deputy minister, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Rory McAlpine – Vice-president, government and industry relations, Maple Leaf Foods Inc. He has overall responsibility for building strong and effective relationships with government and industry stakeholders to develop a coordinated and proactive government and industry relations program across Maple Leaf Foods. He was also deputy minister of the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries from 2002-2005.
Al Mussell, PhD – Senior research associate, George Morris Centre, Guelph. His areas of research expertise are farm management, agricultural marketing, and farm income policies.
Don Smith, PhD – Chair, Plant Science Department and head, Green Crop Network and McGill Network for Innovation in Biofuels and Bioproducts. Recent work in his laboratory has led to the discovery of two sets of compounds, produced by bacteria, that cause plants to grow faster and produce more biomass and seeds, material useful for food, feed or biofuel production.
Lyle Vanclief – Agriculture and agri-food consultant based in Ameliasburg, Ontario. Member of Parliament for 15 years (1988-2004) and former Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
