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The future of food is here.

TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 1-2, 2022

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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.


Hosted by Amber Mac.

Leading the Conversation.

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

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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:
Amber Mac
Plant Forward Emcee
8:55 AM

Keynote: The Future of Food

Speakers:
Heather Mills
Founder
VBites
9:30 AM

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

Moderated by:
Leslie Ewing
Executive Director
Plant-Based Foods of Canada
Speakers:
Adam Grogan
President
Greenleaf Foods
Dan Magliocco
President
Danone Canada
Murad Al-Katib
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:
Melanie Levine
Manager, Food & Agriculture
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Speakers:
Kim Frankovich
Global Vice President, Sustainability
Griffith Foods
Naniss Gadel-Rab
General Manager, Nutrition
Unilever Canada
11:20 AM

Panel: Value Chain Perspectives on Achieving Sustainability Goals

Moderated by:
Evan Fraser, PhD
Professor, Geography, Environment & Geomatics
University of Guelph
Speakers:
Margaret Hughes
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Avena Foods
Martin Williams
Co-Founder, President & Chief Innovation Officer
Above Foods
Tom Ogaranko
Chief Innovation Officer
TrustBIX Inc.
12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Panel: Perspectives on Sustainable Sourcing - Location and Processing Impacts

Moderated by:
Denis Tremorin, MSc, PAg
Director, Sustainability
Pulse Canada
Speakers:
Chris Theal
Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer
Phyto Organix Foods
Friedrich Büse
Founder
Endori
Jeremy Burks
Executive Vice President
Roquette
Nicole Bamber
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:
Karen McClure
Chief Investment Officer
Digital Technology Supercluster
2:15 PM

Networking Break

2:35 PM

Presentation: AI Spotlight

Speakers:
Aadit Patel
Head of Machine Learning & Engineering
NotCo
3:15 PM

Presentation: The Future for Plant-Based Technology

Speakers:
Thierry Duvanel
Director of Innovation
Buhler Group
3:45 PM

Panel: Technology Solutions for Future Plant-Based Challenges

Moderated by:
Mehmet Tulbek
President
Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre
Speakers:
Fei Luo
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Liven Proteins
Julie Emsing Mann
Plant-based thought leader
Appropriately Rogue Consulting
Ryan Bracken
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Merit Functional Foods
4:30 PM

Setting the Stage for Day 2

Speakers:
David Dzisiak
Chief Operating Officer
Botaneco
Amber Mac
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:
Priera Panescu
Lead Plant Protein Scientist
The Good Food Institute
9:00 AM

Panel: Plant-Based Perspectives of North American Retailers

Moderated by:
Michael Lines
President & Chief Executive Officer
SimplyProtein
Speakers:
Charles Buhagiar
Senior Category Manager
Metro Ontario
Holly Adrien
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:
Joseph Lake
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Food Innovation Network
Speakers:
Chris Bryson
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
New School Foods
Jasmin Hume, PhD
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Shiru
Karen McAthy
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Lumi Foods
10:30 AM

Networking Break

10:50 AM

Presentation: Trends in Plant-Based Financing

Speakers:
Jennifer Stojkovic
General Partner
Joyful Ventures
11:20 AM

Panel: Aligning Consumer Drivers with Investment Opportunities

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

Lunch

1:00 PM

Presentation: Unlocking ESG Capital for Plant-Based Protein

Speakers:
Dustyn Lanz
Senior Advisor
ESG Global Advisors
1:30 PM

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

Moderated by:
Simon Small
General Manager, Americas
Jordans Dorset Ryvita
Speakers:
George Sutherland
Advisor, Climate Change & Sustainability
BMO Financial Group
Lindsay McCorkle
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:
Shelley King
Chief Executive Officer
Natural Products Canada
Speakers:
Jim Millington
Chief Executive Officer
Canada Protein Ingredients Ltd.
Steve George
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Terra Bio
3:05 PM

Panel: Ecosystem Support for the Plant-Forward Sector

Moderated by:
Murad Al-Katib
President & Chief Executive Officer
AGT Food and Ingredients
Speakers:
Dror Balshine
Founder & President
Sol Cuisine
Joyce Boye
Director General
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Maurice Bouvier
Assistant Deputy Minister
Industry Advancement Division of Manitoba Agriculture
3:50 PM

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

Speakers:
Suzy Amis Cameron
Founder
OMD
J. Blair Knippel, CPA, CA, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
T Base 4 Investments/O.M.D. Food Products
Michael Natale
Plant Protein Leader
Ingredion
4:35 PM

Closing Remarks

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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.

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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
  • Early bird registration rates are available April 1 – July 31
  • 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!