A forum organized by the University of Guelph and the University of Saskatchewan will place food security in the spotlight for policy-makers, academics and students.

The National Food Security Forum 2013 will take place in two parts. Faculty from the University of Guelph will visit Saskatoon May 15 to17 to discuss agricultural production, biotechnology, food safety, environmental stewardship, changes in agribusiness and challenges faced by farmers. The second forum will occur in Guelph in December.

Prof. Sylvain Charlebois, forum co-chair, will be joined in Saskatoon by Profs. John Cranfield, Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics; Rene Van Acker, associate dean (external relations), Ontario Agricultural College; Art Hill, Food Science; and Evan Fraser, Geography.

“The sustainability of agricultural production is by no means assured; in particular, precious soil and water resources remain threatened worldwide,” says Charlebois, associate dean of the College of Management and Economics at Guelph.

“Obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease have become a global epidemic. Food authenticity and provenance have been eroded by globalization demands, threatening developing and ancient food cultures as well as choice for consumers worldwide. There is a need for action in Canada to connect agriculture and food communities together.”

Both events will help attendees learn about and address the world’s food issues, added Charlebois. “With this forum, we can explore, learn, innovate, commercialize and make positive change to improve food quality, security, sustainability, appreciation and healthfulness around the world.”

Dates for the Guelph forum will be announced later this year. Organizers plan to release a public report and conceptual framework on Canada’s role in global food security after the Guelph symposium.