CALGARY — The Canadian dollar at par with the U.S. greenback provided speakers with good fodder for opening remarks at the Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference Sept. 24.
But it was biotechnology’s potential for social, environmental and generational change that dominated the first speaker’s remarks.
John Oliver, president of Maple Leaf Bio-Concepts, described the “perfect storm” facing today’s generation and suggested agriculture, like no other industry, can forge solutions to world problems.
Oliver cited global warming and climate change, obesity and starvation, energy security and access to fresh water as the four things that will converge in the next eight to 10 years to affect world development.
“We have to adopt the mindset that we (agriculture) can be solution providers,” Oliver told the gathering of about 500 delegates. “Agriculture is the only industry that can mitigate the elements of the perfect storm.”
The conference, which began Sept. 23 in Calgary, continues through to Wednesday with national and international speakers.
