The Canadian Agri-Food policy institute announces distinguished fellowship

The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) named four renowned agri-food experts as Distinguished Fellows. Dr. Susan Wood-Bohm, Dr. Ellen Goddard, Ted Bilyea, and Nicolas Mesly will contribute to a thriving and sustainable agri-food system through policy research in the critical areas of environmental sustainability, innovation and animal health, trade, and water

“CAPI is pleased to bring together such a rich and diverse group of leaders,” said Tyler McCann, Managing Director. “As part of CAPI’s mandate to develop policy solutions, collaborate more and enhance dialogue, these Distinguished Fellows will use their expertise to develop solutions that turn the challenges the agri-food system faces today and tomorrow into opportunities.”

CAPI’s Distinguished Fellows will use their extensive experience to lead projects over the next year. They will build on CAPI’s interdisciplinary approach, leveraging data and insights from across the agri-food system, and translate it into actionable next steps. The Fellows will also act as ambassadors encouraging deeper, bolder policy thinking about critical issues affecting Canada’s agri-food system.

“CAPI’s Distinguished Fellows will build on the outcomes of the BSF, which concluded that the Canadian agri-food system has great potential, but the sector needs aspirational leadership“

“Policy research is essential to a better agri-food system, but it will drive our agri-food system forward if it sits on a shelf,” says McCann. “Our Distinguished Fellows will play a pivotal role in sharing their results across the agri-food system and beyond. It is only when we share our knowledge of the challenges of today and tomorrow, and our research-based solutions, that can we hope to achieve our shared vision of a thriving and sustainable agri-food system.”

[The Distinguished Fellows will participate in their first live webinar together – “After E-Day: The challenges and opportunities of Canada’s next government” – on September 29 at 11:30am ET. CAPI’s new Distinguished Fellows will share their views on the critical actions and decisions needed in the first 100 days by the next federal government if Canada is to have a thriving and sustainable agri-food system. Register for the webinar here.]

In May 2021, CAPI convened leaders from across the country in government, industry, academia and NGOs for its Big Solutions Forum (BSF). Experts focused on how to Create Prosperity from Chaos in light of the pandemic, climate change, trade disruptions, food security concerns and the future sustainability and prosperity of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food system.

CAPI’s Distinguished Fellows will build on the outcomes of the BSF, which concluded that the Canadian agri-food system has great potential, but the sector needs aspirational leadership, strategic thinking, a systems approach, and greater public-private partnerships if it is to advance sustainable intensification, adopt a One Health approach, promote rules-based trade, and increase value-added agriculture.

Meet them

Dr. Susan Wood-Bohm, PhD

 

Susan Wood-Bohm is President and CEO of Wood-Bohm and Associates, offering strategic consulting services to industry and government in the areas of science-based innovation, research and development investment and integrated solutions deployment.

 

Dr. Ellen Goddard, PhD, MSc, BSc

Dr. Ellen Goddard has been Professor and Cooperative Chair in Agricultural Marketing and Business at the University of Alberta since December 2000. She was previously National Australia Bank Professor of Agribusiness and Associate Dean, Coursework, at the Institute of Land and Food Resources, the University of Melbourne. Before that, Dr. Goddard worked in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Guelph.

 

Ted Bilyea

Ted Bilyea is an agri-food consultant specializing in innovation with clients in both private and public sector. He most recently served as Chair and Chief Strategy Officer of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI). He is currently acts as a Special Advisor to CAPI.

 

Nicolas Mesly

Nicolas Mesly is an agronomist (agricultural economist), reporter, and photographer specializing in agri-food and ecological issues. He started his career at Le Bulletin des agriculteurs magazine where he is now a freelance reporter and economic columnist. Earlier in his career, Mr. Mesly was Press Secretary to Canada’s former Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan, Senior International Marketing Officer at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (China and Latin America offices), and Commercial Secretary at the Canadian Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela.