Why The 'Food Professor' Says Agriculture Should Be A Bigger Economic Driver

In this episode, Don Mills and David Campbell take a closer look at the importance of the agricultural sector to the economy both across Canada and in Atlantic Canada with a wide-ranging conversation with Sylvain Charlebois - one of Canada's top food experts widely known as the "Food Professor."

Show Notes

On this episode of the "Insights" podcast, Don Mills and David Campbell take a closer look at the importance of the agricultural sector to the economy both across Canada and in Atlantic Canada with a wide-ranging conversation with Sylvain Charlebois - one of Canada's top food experts widely known as the "Food Professor."

Charlebois, the Senior Director of the Agri-Foods Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, chats with Mills about the opportunities for growth in an Atlantic region that already employs from 25,000 to 27,000 people and generates up to $7-billion in exports.

"There's so much potential, not only in Atlantic Canada but across the country, to grow the economy by fostering this mentality of growing processing," he says. "That's where the innovation will happen. The biggest challenge we have in the Atlantic is processing. Increasing processing captivity should be the number one priority."

Charlebois also talks about issues like food inflation and the potential for growing the organic sector.

This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca.

What is Insights with Don Mills and David Campbell- An Acadia Broadcasting Podcast?

This podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, to promote data-driven decision making among policymakers and to encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region. Expect to hear interviews with the top influencers, business leaders and decision-makers across Atlantic Canada to inform, educate and expand the conversations on the key issues facing the region.