The Town of Kapuskasing will host an agricultural symposium next week, which is expected to draw 200 or more local agri-food producers.
Cultivating the Great Claybelt will take place March 30 and 31. Attendees will include producers, consumers, investors and entrepreneurs, agri-businesses, government representatives, and more. The event is an initiative of the Northeast Community Network (NeCN).
The goal is to “increase awareness of both existing and potential agricultural developments in the area and to encourage agriculture as a viable economic engine.”
Speakers, panel discussions, and breakout sessions will focus on building awareness, sharing research, and providing best practices for the thriving and promising future of farming in the North.
The schedule includes key themes such as technological advancements; land evaluation and inventory; research and development; beef production and expansion; programs, financing and support; and, the challenges and successes of agriculture producers in the region.
Additionally, delegates will be treated to catering with an emphasis on local food products which will be used to highlight the agricultural abundance in the area.
The symposium is being held in response to the increased business development and interest in agricultural activities in northeastern Ontario, and is building off success of the 2013 NeCN symposium, Growing the North, which attracted close to 200 participants.
“Since the last agricultural symposium in 2013, significant investments and successes have been realized in agriculture in northeastern Ontario, but the strong growth in the sector is far from over,” said Antoine Vézina, chair of the NeCN Agriculture Committee, in a release.
“It is expected that the sector will see increased activity and demand for agri-food products will continue to grow.”
