Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology and Food in Canada , Canada's food and beverage processing magazine, have partnered to deliver a webinar to CIFST members and stakeholders every Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST.
Topic: Impact of COVID-19 on the Agri-Food System
COVID-19 has exposed weaknesses in the agri-food system, which can survive by facing its challenges head-on. Some of these challenges include surpluses of commodities (e.g., milk, potatoes), lack of processing capacity, zoonosis, food safety, worker shortages, and local food security. However, along with challenges, come opportunities, and COVID-19 may be the catalyst to invest in research and development in areas such as robotics, mechanization, high-intensity growing, and finding innovative technology to preserve food. COVID-19 presents Canada with the possibility of redefining agriculture.
Event Details:
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. EST
Our Speaker:
Dr. Rickey Yada - Professor, Dean, The University of British Columbia
Biography:
In 2014, Professor Rickey Yada was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C. Prior to UBC, Dr. Yada was at the University of Guelph where he held numerous leadership roles, including Assistant Vice President Research, Canada Research Chair in Food Protein Structure, Scientific Director of the Advanced Foods and Materials Network (Networks of Centres of Excellence), and Founding Member of the Food Institute. He is, currently, the North American Editor of Trends in Food Science and Technology as well as serving on the editorial board of several journals.
His areas of research include: the structure – function relationships of enzymes and carbohydrate biochemistry as related to nutrition and food quality.
Dr. Yada serves in a leadership capacity to several research and industry organizations, some of which include Chair of the Board of Trustees, International Life Science Institute – North America; Board of Bioenterprise Inc.; Advisory Committee Member – Arrell Food Institute and Seeding Food Innovation Grant Program (George Weston Loblaws); Member of the Scientific Advisory Panel – Riddet Institute (New Zealand); and a Member of the Advisory Panel – AgResearch (New Zealand). He is also a Past President and Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology and the International Academy of the International Union of Food Science and Technology and is also a fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists. Dr. Yada has an honorary DSc from the University of Guelph and was the 2019 Harraways 1867 Visiting Professor, University of Otago, New Zealand.
Moderator:
Jenny Tian
Jenny Tian is currently a Product Developer for Loblaw Company Limited and has product development experience in both dairy and the commercial bakery. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Food Science from McGill University and a Master of Science degree with specialization in Food Science from the University of British Columbia.
Jenny currently serves on the CIFST National Board as a director at large, on the CIFST Ontario Section Board as the Co-Chair of the Table Top Committee and the Chair of the New Professional’s Committee, and as well as a board member for Women in Food Industry Management (WFIM) as the secretary and Co-chair of WFIM Mentorship Committee.
