The 2010 Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition takes place November 6 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario. The topics, which are always highly awaited, have now been announced by the competition’s board of directors:
- The profile and impact of a Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame member
- Who will feed the world in 50 years?
- What is the biggest challenge in agriculture today?
- Exploring First Nations agriculture in Canada
- What are the biggest events in Canadian agricultural history?
My University of Guelph agricultural communications class takes part in the competition. I’ll look forward to seeing how the students respond to these stimulating topics in the fall. Top marks to CYSA board member Pam Emmott for her efforts in compiling the list of topics.
One of the biggest events in Canadian agricultural history was surely the discovery of BSE in Canada. Former federal agriculture and agri-food minister Lyle Vanclief, pictured below, and others worked overtime — and then some — to put the matter in context for Canadians (fact: it was a lone cow, and it didn’t enter the food chain). As a result, beef consumption in post-BSE Canada actually rose, as Canadians showed their support for the sector.
