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APRIL 16-18, 2024.

TORONTO, CANADA

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About the Event.

Plant Forward is the premier plant-based food and ingredient conference for decision-makers in the global plant protein sector.

Join industry leaders as we accelerate the innovation and adoption of plant-based foods to support the global food system shift.

  • Hear from leading experts on agri-food innovation and sustainability
  • Learn more about Canada’s integrated value chain
  • Gain valuable perspectives on what’s needed to meet the needs of an increasingly discerning and growing population
  • Connect with key industry stakeholders with added networking opportunities

Plant Forward will once again be one of the premier events to make meaningful connections and gain tangible insights as we move forward toward a plant-centred future.

Enhance your networking experience with the Plant Forward app. View the agenda, engage in Q&A during sessions, and schedule meetings with attendees.
Click here to download or search "Plant Forward" in your device's app store.

Curious about last year’s Plant Forward?

VIEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2022

Speakers.

Perspectives on the future of food from global leaders and Canadian innovators.

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Agenda.

Innovation, sustainability and consumer trends through a plant-forward lens

9:00 AM

One-on-One Meetings: Engage with Canadian & international delegates via the event app. Connect with brands, start-ups, researchers and many more in the global plant-based sector.

1:00 PM

Opening Ceremony & Land Acknowledgement

Speakers:
Amber Mac
Master of Ceremonies
Leslie Ewing
Executive Director
Plant-Based Foods of Canada
1:30 PM

Opening Keynote: Why Canada? Your Global Plant-Based Food Partner

Speakers:
Murad Al-Katib
President & Chief Executive Officer
AGT Food and Ingredients
2:15 PM

Fireside Chat: Cultivating Change - Strategies for Nudging Consumers to Embrace Plant-Based Foods

Moderated by:
Leslie Ewing
Executive Director
Plant-Based Foods of Canada
Speakers:
Rob Mikulec
National Merchandising Director for Meat
Sobeys
3:00 PM

Networking Break

3:20 PM

Presentation: Navigating the Plant Forward Landscape - Insights for the Future of Plant-Based Foods

Speakers:
Sophie Côté
Client Success Manager
Innova Market Insights
3:50 PM

Presentation: Consumer Expectations for Plant-Based - Motivating Demand

Speakers:
Michael von Massow
OAC Chair in Food System Leadership & Professor, Food Agriculture and Resource Economics
University of Guelph
4:20 PM

Panel: Showcasing Canadian Innovation Across the Value Chain

Moderated by:
Bill Greuel
Chief Executive Officer
Protein Industries Canada
Speakers:
Aamir Malkani
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Plant Up
Manoj Kumar
Chief Technology Officer & Vice President, Plant Proteins
Louis Dreyfus Company
Natasha Vandenhurk
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Three Farmers Foods
5:05 PM

Day One Wrap

Speakers:
Amber Mac
Master of Ceremonies
Leslie Ewing
Executive Director
Plant-Based Foods of Canada
6:00 PM

Networking Reception: Hockey Hall of Fame

7:30 AM

Breakfast

8:30 AM

Opening Remarks

Speakers:
Amber Mac
Master of Ceremonies
Bill Greuel
Chief Executive Officer
Protein Industries Canada
8:40 AM

Keynote: Re-imagining the Approach to Sustainability

Speakers:
Erica Orange
Chief Operating Officer
The Future Hunters
9:25 AM

Fireside Chat: Collaborating to Leverage Canadian Crops for Sustainable Innovation

Moderated by:
Leslie Ewing
Executive Director
Plant-Based Foods of Canada
Speakers:
Anke Golde
Head of CTS Food & Proteins, Americas
Roquette
Pierre Morin
Vice President, Research & Innovation
Danone Canada
10:10 AM

Networking Break

10:30 AM

Panel: Ecosystem Development - Aligning Innovation with Industry Needs

Moderated by:
Christopher Marinangeli
Director, Centre for Regulatory Research and Innovation
Protein Industries Canada
Speakers:
Filiz Koksel
Associate Professor of Food Processing, Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
University of Manitoba
John Sievenpiper
Professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto
Maria Corradini
Associate Professor, Food Science & Arrell Food Institute Chair in Food Quality
University of Guelph
Michael Nickerson
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Research Chair & Professor, Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences
University of Saskatchewan
11:15 AM

Panel: Leveraging International Collaboration

Moderated by:
Stanford Blade
Senior Dean, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
University of Alberta
Speakers:
Mehmet Tulbek
President
Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre
Susan van Boxtel
East Netherlands Development Agency (Invest in Holland)
Team Manager, Health & Food International
Tom Jenkins
Deputy Challenge Director, Transforming Food Production programme
Innovate UK
12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Panel: Beyond ChatGPT - How AI is Shaping the Future of Food

Moderated by:
Amber Mac
Master of Ceremonies
Speakers:
Caroline Morissette
Vice President, Category Leadership, North America Sales
McCain Foods
Linda Fox
Regional Innovation Director – Ontario
Canadian Food Innovation Network
Marissa Bronfman
Founder & Executive Director
Future Ocean Foods
1:45 PM

Panel: Outgrowing Silicon Valley - Cultivating a Fresh Finance Model for Food & Agriculture

Moderated by:
Alison Sunstrum
CEO
CNSRV-X Inc.
Speakers:
Ben Gibbons
Founder & Managing Partner
Waterpoint Lane
Fred Di Blasio
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner
Longhouse Capital Partners
Rhiannon Davies
Founding & Managing Partner
Sandpiper Ventures
2:30 PM

Networking Break

2:50 PM

Presentation: Navigating the Future - An Economic Outlook of the Plant-Based Protein Market

Speakers:
Huzaifa Akhtar
Vice President, Economic Advisory
Ernst and Young
Mauricio Zelaya
Partner & National Economics Leader
Ernst and Young
3:25 PM

Presentation: UK: Boom to Pivot and Grow - Pioneering Insights for Global Markets

Speakers:
Indy Kaur
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Plant Futures
4:10 PM

Day Two Wrap

Speakers:
Stefanie Beck
Deputy Minister
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
Tyler Groeneveld
Director, Grains and Oils
Corteva Agriscience, North America
5:00 PM

Networking Reception: The Westin Harbour Castle

7:30 AM

Breakfast

8:30 AM

Opening Remarks

Speakers:
Amber Mac
Master of Ceremonies
Greg Cherewyk
President
Pulse Canada
8:40 AM

Presentation: Advancing Processing for Sustainable Plant-Based Innovations

Speakers:
Ola Funkquist
Line Solution Manager
Tetra Pak
9:25 AM

Presentation: Complexity on Measuring Sustainability

Speakers:
Nathan Pelletier
Associate Professor
University of British Columbia
10:05 AM

Networking Break

10:25 AM

Panel: Leveraging Sustainability Along the Value Chain

Moderated by:
Denis Tremorin, MSc, PAg
Director, Sustainability
Pulse Canada
Speakers:
Kevin Auch
Chair
Pulse Canada
Margaret Hughes
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Avena Foods
Terry Youzwa
Vice Chair
Pulse Canada
11:10 AM

Closing Keynote: How We Eat Has Changed - Understanding Post-Pandemic Consumers

Speakers:
Paco Underhill
Founder
Envirosell Inc.
12:00 PM

Closing Ceremony & Conference Wrap

Speakers:
Amber Mac
Master of Ceremonies
David Dzisiak
Chief Operating Officer
Botaneco
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Venue.


The Westin Harbour Castle

Join us for Plant Forward at The Westin Harbour Castle—a harbourfront hotel in Toronto's revived waterfront district. The Westin offers direct access to some of Toronto's most noteworthy sites, high-end shopping and delicious restaurants.

The hotel block closed on April 1, 2024 at 5 PM Eastern.

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Don’t Miss Out.

Plant Forward has gathered one of the most concentrated groups of leading decision-makers in one room. With increased networking opportunities, Plant Forward will again be one of the best places to build relationships with key industry stakeholders.

Rates:

General Admission

Access to all Plant Forward sessions in-person, including networking opportunities and breakout rooms. Seats are limited.

Important Registration Information:

  • Members of Protein Industries Canada, Pulse Canada, Plant-Based Foods of Canada and Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association receive an exclusive rate. Host member rate is applied at checkout.
  • Students and delegations can contact us to request applicable rates. Exclusive rates cannot be guaranteed.
  • Admission purchases are subject to applicable HST.
  • There will be no on-site registrations for Plant Forward. Attendees must be registered prior to coming on-site.
  • View the cancellation policy here
  • See who attended Plant Forward in 2022
April 16-18, 2024
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