Grow Canada took place in Calgary, AB, December 2-4. It captured the best ideas from a sharp lineup of speakers and panellists, and built the kind of connections that turn good ideas into action. Connecting farmers, dietitians, industry and content creators, it connects everyone to talk about our agriculture industry and discuss the challenges it faces. The main themes were advocacy, artificial intelligence (AI) and inflation.
Canadian agriculture is an economic engine that drives jobs, exports and innovation. Our story lands when we tell it consistently. That means increasing our lobbying efforts, showing up with data and farm-level examples, and making the economic case for stable rules, competitive infrastructure, and market access. Advocacy isn’t a side project; it’s risk management for our next decade.
AI is like a wrench in the toolbox; useful when pointed at the right bolts. For best results, we need to be repetitive, rules-based, have documents prepared, regulatory submissions and have logistics planning. Start small, track the hours saved, protect data, and reinvest the time in agronomy, relationships, and customers. Embrace the value of saving time.
In farm and food, like many sectors, layered approvals and slow, inconsistent processes are adding costs that show up at the checkout. When regulatory roadblocks become the largest slice of food inflation, it’s fair to ask: to what end? Sensible, science-based, time-bound rules should protect the public and the environment without punishing efficiency or innovation.
As a first-time attendee of the Grow Canada conference, Darren Nykoliation left with a clear to-do list: “I need to help organize a stronger advocacy push, pilot AI where it reliably saves time, and press for regulatory timelines that protect both safety and affordability,” he explains. The opportunity is practical and within reach to speak with one voice, use the right tools, and trim the drag that keeps value from reaching farms and families.
