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TORONTO, CANADA • APRIL 16–18, 2024

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About The Event.

Plant Forward is the first-ever international event showcasing Canada’s plant-based ingredient and food supply and innovation.

We're inviting CEOs, CFOs, R&D leaders and investors at the forefront of the global food industry to:

  • Gain diverse perspectives from leaders on the future of plant-forward
  • Learn more about Canada’s integrated plant-based ecosystem
  • Meet key players and find opportunities for unique collaborations
  • Understand the natural production, sustainability and geographical advantages Canada has to offer

Together, we'll have conversations about how the industry is evolving, what challenges lie ahead and what investors are paying attention to.

The future of food is plant-based. The future of food is Canada.

The future of food is here.

Leading the Conversation.

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

Here are the last conference's leading speakers.

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2022 Agenda.

The two-day event is a mixture of speakers and panellists highlighting innovations and solutions in the plant-based sector both in Canada and across the globe.

Day 1 Nov 01, 2022
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7:30 AM

Breakfast

8:30 AM

Opening Ceremony

Speakers:
Plant Forward Emcee
8:55 AM

Keynote: The Future of Food

Speakers:
Founder
VBites
9:30 AM

Panel: A Plant-Based Future from a Multi-National Perspective

Moderated by:
Executive Director
Plant-Based Foods of Canada
Speakers:
President
Greenleaf Foods
President
Danone Canada
President & Chief Executive Officer
AGT Food and Ingredients

10:15 AM

Networking Break

10:35 AM

Presentation and Panel: Achieving Sustainability Goals – A Deeper Understanding of Challenges and Opportunities

Moderated by:
Manager, Food & Agriculture
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Speakers:
Global Vice President, Sustainability
Griffith Foods
General Manager, Nutrition
Unilever Canada

11:20 AM

Panel: Value Chain Perspectives on Achieving Sustainability Goals

Moderated by:
Professor, Geography, Environment & Geomatics
University of Guelph
Speakers:
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Avena Foods
Co-Founder, President & Chief Innovation Officer
Above Foods
Chief Innovation Officer
TrustBIX Inc.
12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Panel: Perspectives on Sustainable Sourcing - Location and Processing Impacts

Moderated by:
Director, Sustainability
Pulse Canada
Speakers:
Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer
Phyto Organix Foods
Founder
Endori
Executive Vice President
Roquette
PhD Candidate, IGS Biology
The University of British Columbia

1:45 PM

Presentation: Tech Convergence - Opportunities to Leverage Adjacent Sectors to Advance Plant-Based

Speakers:
Chief Investment Officer
Digital Technology Supercluster
2:15 PM

Networking Break

2:35 PM

Presentation: AI Spotlight

Speakers:
Head of Machine Learning & Engineering
NotCo

3:15 PM

Presentation: The Future for Plant-Based Technology

Speakers:
Director of Innovation
Buhler Group

3:45 PM

Panel: Technology Solutions for Future Plant-Based Challenges

Moderated by:
President
Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre
Speakers:
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Liven Proteins
Plant-based thought leader
Appropriately Rogue Consulting
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Merit Functional Foods

4:30 PM

Setting the Stage for Day 2

Speakers:
Chief Operating Officer
Botaneco
Plant Forward Emcee
5:00 PM

Networking Reception

Day 2 Nov 02, 2022
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7:30 AM

Breakfast

8:30 AM

Opening Presentation: Consumer Perceptions in the Plant-Based Market

Speakers:
Lead Plant Protein Scientist
The Good Food Institute

9:00 AM

Panel: Plant-Based Perspectives of North American Retailers

Moderated by:
President & Chief Executive Officer
SimplyProtein
Speakers:
Senior Category Manager
Metro Ontario
Natural and Organic Strategy and Innovation Manager
The Kroger Co.

9:45 AM

Panel: Whitespace Opportunities for the Plant-Based Sector's Future

Moderated by:
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Food Innovation Network
Speakers:
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
New School Foods
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Shiru
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Lumi Foods
10:30 AM

Networking Break

10:50 AM

Presentation: Trends in Plant-Based Financing

Speakers:
General Partner
Joyful Ventures

11:20 AM

Panel: Aligning Consumer Drivers with Investment Opportunities

Moderated by:
Vice President, Consumer Foods
Rabobank
Speakers:
General Managing Partner
Big Idea Ventures
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Alwyn Capital
Chief Executive Officer
Eat & Beyond Global Holdings Inc.
12:05 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Presentation: Unlocking ESG Capital for Plant-Based Protein

Speakers:
Senior Advisor
ESG Global Advisors

1:30 PM

Panel: Novel to Staple Goods: Moving Plant-Based Along the Adoption Curve

Moderated by:
General Manager, Americas
Jordans Dorset Ryvita
Speakers:
Advisor, Climate Change & Sustainability
BMO Financial Group
Director, Ventures & Growth Equity Investments
Blue Horizon

2:15 PM

Networking Break

2:35 PM

Presentation and Panel: Game Changers - Canadian Opportunities in Alternative Proteins

Moderated by:
Chief Executive Officer
Natural Products Canada
Speakers:
Chief Executive Officer
Canada Protein Ingredients Ltd.
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Terra Bio

3:05 PM

Panel: Ecosystem Support for the Plant-Forward Sector

Moderated by:
President & Chief Executive Officer
AGT Food and Ingredients
Speakers:
Founder & President
Sol Cuisine
Director General
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Assistant Deputy Minister
Industry Advancement Division of Manitoba Agriculture

3:50 PM

Keynote: Curated Reflections of the Future of Plant-Based Foods

Speakers:
Founder
OMD
Chief Financial Officer
T Base 4 Investments/O.M.D. Food Products
Plant Protein Leader
Ingredion
4:35 PM

Closing Remarks

More Speakers.

Venue.


The Westin Harbour Castle

Plant Forward will be hosted at The Westin Harbour Castle—a harbourfront hotel brimming with sophisticated style and premium amenities. Located in the revived waterfront district, The Westin offers direct access to some of Toronto's most noteworthy sites, high-end shopping and delicious restaurants.

Hotel block closed.

Don’t Miss Out.

Over the course of two days, Plant Forward will demonstrate the strength and integrity of Canada’s integrated supply chain, highlight sustainability initiatives and the latest innovations happening in Canadian crops and ingredients, and provide insights from trailblazing companies who have chosen Canada as their preferred place to invest in plant-based innovation.

Registration is now closed.

Rates:

Access to all Plant Forward in-person sessions including networking opportunities.

Regular: $1050

SOLD OUT.

Virtual access to event sessions, includes virtual access to all Plant Forward speaker sessions. Q&A and networking opportunities are unavailable for virtual pass.

Online only: $850

Important Registration Information:

  • Registration closes October 28, 2022
  • Early bird registration rates are available April 1 – July 31, 2022
  • Plant Forward will follow the government-mandated COVID-19 regulations in place at the time of the event
  • 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’s attending Plant Forward!