The governments of Canada and Ontario announced today that Guelph will host the annual conference of federal, provincial and territorial agricultural ministers in 2020.

“As a world class hub of agri-food innovation and a winner of the Smart Cities Challenge for their Circular Food Economy proposal, Guelph is a perfect venue for the annual conference of Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) ministers of agriculture.The meeting provides a forum for ministers to discuss opportunities for sector development and growth. We look forward to working together to explore agri-food leadership and innovation in Guelph in 2020.”

- Marie-Claude Bibeau, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“Our government is excited to bring together this important gathering and showcase the hard-working people who make our agri-food and agricultural industries the best in the world. This event will also provide a unique opportunity to reinforce Canada’s appreciation of our province’s vibrant agri-food sector and the incredible contributions made by a variety of Guelph-area organizations, institutions and people.”

- Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

“Guelph’s agricultural roots stretch back to our city’s founding in 1827, and we are proud to be a hub of agri-food and agri-innovation today. We are thrilled to be chosen to host this conference. This will be a chance to shine a spotlight on local innovations and opportunities, such as Guelph and Wellington’s successful bid to become Canada’s first circular food economy,”

- Cam Guthrie, Guelph Mayor

"The University of Guelph stands at the centre of an agri-food research and innovation hub based in the Guelph area. Along with our numerous regional partners, we look outward to address important challenges and seek out opportunities, both nationally and internationally. We welcome the opportunity this event affords to showcase our collective capacity to help the agri-food sector grow and meet emerging challenges."

- Franco Vaccarino, University of Guelph Presiden

• Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other senior federal-provincial territorial leaders gather at the FPT conference to discuss issues of importance for the agriculture and agri-food sector such as Business Risk Management programming for farmers.

• About 90 delegates are expected to attend the conference.

• Ontario last hosted the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Agriculture Ministers Conference in 2009.

• The agri-food sector in Ontario contributes $39.5 billion to the province’s economy and supports more than 822,000 jobs.

• Ontario’s agri-food sector is one of the most diverse in the world, with 49,600 farms that produce more than 200 commodities.

Associated links

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
• University of Guelph
• Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario
• Livestock Research Innovation Centre

Justine Lesage
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
justine.lesage@canada.ca
613-404-1168 (Cell)

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Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Office of the Honourable Ernie Hardeman
Avi Yufest
416-326-3067

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Communications Branch
Bianca Jamieson
519-400-9580