UNews - Danny LeRoy

uLethbridge Agri-Food Summer Series bringing research and industry together

trevor.kenney — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 19:52:15 +0000

Big ideas are growing in southern Alberta, and it’s one of the reasons the area is one of the world’s most important agricultural zones. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and area producers are looking to ensure ideas continue to germinate with the launch of the uLethbridge Agri-Food Summer Series conversations.

Each month, the uLethbridge Agri-Food Summer Series will bring producers and researchers together to discuss topics related to southern Alberta’s agriculture industry. It’s an opportunity to hear from the people who know this industry inside and out as they generate ideas and push the boundaries of agricultural potential in southern Alberta.

“We’re really excited to launch this series of conversations and showcase some of the active partnerships that are driving innovation in the agriculture industry and helping to solve some of the most pressing issues facing our producers,” says Dr. Danny LeRoy, associate professor of economics in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Arts & Science. “It’s also an opportunity to spur new conversations and relationships between the U of L and the agriculture industry.”

The five-part series will kick off virtually on the Zoom platform on Tuesday, June 29 at 5:30 p.m. with Can we save the planet by directing cattle feed to people? The conversation features U of L researcher Dr. Kim Stanford, who grew up on a family farm in the Spring Coulee area before embarking on a career in the research industry that led her to work with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and eventually the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. She will be joined by Leighton Kolk, who, along with his wife and three adult children, own and operate Kolk Farms Ltd., which is focused on finishing cattle, raising irrigated crops, selling cereal seeds and striving for efficiencies and sustainability in these areas of agriculture.

Climate experts are calling for less meat in our diet to ensure the future viability of the planet, claiming cattle are taking valuable resources away from people and increasing greenhouse gas emissions in the process. But is that the full story? The conversation will focus on how southern Alberta producers are balancing the health of the planet with the important role animal agriculture plays in feeding the growing population.

Le Roy will moderate the discussion and, following the talk, the panel will take questions from listeners, highlighting industry developments, advances in research, and how we as a community can come together to tackle issues faced by southern Alberta cattle producers.

Bev Thornton, executive director for Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance, which is supporting the series in partnership with SouthGrow, says the talks will highlight the value of industry and research collaborations.

“This Summer Speaker Series enhances the Alberta SouthWest Energizing Agricultural Transformation (EAT) project and the work of SouthGrow, Canada’s Premier Food Corridor (CPFC), and all the partners in the Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA). Exciting innovations can be sparked by connecting outstanding research programs with the real-world agricultural industry in our regions.”

LeRoy adds the goal of organizers is to eventually bring people together to further solidify working relationships.

“While this first talk will be virtual, we are hoping as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease, we will be able to present some in-person events as well,” says LeRoy. “We just want to make these conversations available to as many people as possible and hopefully it will spur further collaborations.”

To learn more about the uLethbridge Agri-Food Summer Series, visit the website and attend the first event.

Further scheduled events are as follows:

July — Crops & Irrigation
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Dr. Tom Jensen
Autumn Barnes (BSc ’09) | Canola Council

August — Pollinators
Tuesday, Aiugust 31, 2021
Dr. Shelley Hoover
Alberta Beekeeper Commission Board representative

September — GIS/Smart Farming
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Dr. Craig Coburn
Remi Schmaltz (BMgt ’06) | Decisive Farming

October — Agriculture Economics
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Dr. Mehdi Jourabchi
Producer Panelist TBD

Business of agriculture to be the focus of Cor Van Raay Agribusiness Case Competition

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 16:23:56 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College are collaborating on a new venture that will present a challenge to students and begin to lay the foundation for the future of agribusiness in southern Alberta. The Cor Van Raay Agribusiness Case Competition, scheduled for Nov. 6-8, 2015, is the first of its kind in western Canada.

A student-directed initiative, the competition is designed for students to expand their knowledge in the areas of agriculture and business on a global scale, all the while introducing students to key players in the agribusiness sector.

Bringing students from both of the area’s post-secondary institutions together for the competition is a natural fit and speaks to the manner in which the schools’ programs complement each other.

“Southern Alberta is an ideal location for this competition,” says Dr. Danny LeRoy, agricultural economist and coordinator of the agricultural studies program at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. “Agribusiness is of local and global importance, encompassing a wide range of activities that are ultimately aimed at meeting the needs for food, feed, fibre and fuel. From farm gate to consumer, entrepreneurs are continuously responding to an ever-changing, consumer-driven marketplace.”

Bringing students from both of the area’s post-secondary institutions together for the competition is a natural fit and speaks to the manner in which the schools’ programs complement each other.

“Lethbridge College is delighted to partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in this first annual competition, made possible through the generous support of Cor Van Raay,” says Chair, School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Lethbridge College, Dr. Edith Olson. “This competition will allow students to apply theory to find practical solutions to real-world business problems, and will provide students with the skills employers are looking for. The competition is an example of the strong interrelationship between programs at Lethbridge College and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.”

Business case competitions have been commonplace for years but only recently has an agricultural component been incorporated.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for students to gain practical experience in finding ways to improve agriculture practices by implementing modern business theories in an agricultural setting,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge management student Monica Gorham, one of the event organizers. “It’s also a huge networking event, a chance for students to get to know future employers and for event sponsors to meet potential employees.”

Gorham, who is in her fourth year of studies and set to graduate in December, is a veteran of case competitions. She was part of a four-person team that included fellow organizer Phyllis MacCallum that claimed first place at the 3rd Annual International Agribusiness Case Competition at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph in 2014. That led to a trip to South Africa for a world competition and thoughts of bringing an agribusiness case competition out west.

“When we were in South Africa, the Cor Van Raay gift to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and Lethbridge College was announced and we thought that maybe we now had a way to try and start something here,” says Gorham.

The inaugural event is scheduled for Nov. 6-8, 2015 and will primarily include undergraduate students from the U of L and Lethbridge College. Teams of four to five persons will be presented with a written business problem and given four hours to analyze and solve. Teams then present their findings to a panel of judges, often made up of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, industry sponsors and the community at large.

“It really gives students the opportunity to apply theoretical material they learn in class to practical uses in areas of agriculture, natural resources and general business,” says Gorham.

The competition is open to all students and they can register as a group or individually. At least one agriculture student per team is required and Gorham advises a business student be included as well. Registration details will be announced in the fall.

“It’s amazing that through my experience in the competitions, how many doors have opened for me,” she adds. “Not being from an agriculture background, I’d always thought of agriculture as the family farm and it’s definitely opened my eyes.”

The cases for the competition will be mined from an online bank of business cases and tailored to include an agriculture element. Examples could include a scenario where a middle-sized corporation is looking to expand its operation, or the father of a family farm is retiring and has to design a succession plan for his business.

Industry sponsors for the event include Cor Van Raay, MNP, Scotiabank, MacLachlan McNab Hembroff, Viterra, Cargill and UFA.

UNews - Danny LeRoy

uLethbridge Agri-Food Summer Series bringing research and industry together

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Business of agriculture to be the focus of Cor Van Raay Agribusiness Case Competition

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