INDUSTRY NEWS: Loblaw and University of Guelph Announce Chair in Sustainable Food Production

Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) and the University of Guelph, (U of G) today announced the creation of The Loblaw Companies Limited Chair in Sustainable Food Production. It will help lead change in food production systems through education, research, practice and outreach within the context of the essential elements of sustainability: the environment, communities and the economy. The Loblaw Chair in Sustainable Food Production will pioneer approaches for dealing with the increasing challenges in agriculture and food production. This includes leading a national program in sustainable local food production, developing roundtables on the topic and creating an industry advisory group to guide novel curriculum development.

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Loblaw and University of Guelph Announce Chair in Sustainable Food Production

$3-million gift from Loblaw catalyst in creation of chair


BRAMPTON and GUELPH, ON, April 7 /CNW/ - Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) and the University of Guelph, (U of G) today announced the creation of The Loblaw Companies Limited Chair in Sustainable Food Production. The chair was made possible by a $3-million gift from Loblaw and will be the centre of U of G's research focus on creating robust food production systems. It will help lead change in food production systems through education, research, practice and outreach within the context of the essential elements of sustainability: the environment, communities and the economy.

"Issues related to food production and supply are among the greatest societal challenges of our time," said U of G president Alastair Summerlee. "Accelerating the pace of change requires new ways of thinking, new approaches to teaching and sharing knowledge, and new definitions of innovation. This new chair is a critical first step in helping to develop long-term solutions for a healthy future."

U of G and Loblaw are uniquely positioned to make a significant contribution to sustainable food production. U of G's Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) is the largest and oldest in Canada, having been established in 1874. U of G has excelled in research. Loblaw, Canada's largest food distributor, is committed to corporate social responsibility, respect for the environment, and food quality and value.

"Working together, we can address the very issues that are at the root of today's global pressures around food sustainability," said Galen G. Weston, executive chairman of Loblaw Companies Limited. "Through this initiative, we believe we can help to increase Canada's capacity to produce food sustainably, train tomorrow's industry leaders, contribute to policy development, meet consumers' needs and nurture our environment. It represents the defining strategy for Loblaw over the next two decades."

Among other things, The Loblaw Chair in Sustainable Food Production will pioneer approaches for dealing with the increasing challenges in agriculture and food production. This includes leading a national program in sustainable local food production, developing roundtables on the topic and creating an industry advisory group to guide novel curriculum development.

The chair will also assemble a core of researchers in agriculture and food production, lead collaborations in the public and private sectors, serve as a key resource for government food and agriculture policy development, and work to lead and advance the sustainability of agriculture and food production in Canada.

A search for the inaugural chair holder will begin immediately, and the position will be based at U of G's OAC in the Department of Plant Agriculture.

"We are enormously pleased to partner with Loblaw in this new initiative," said OAC dean Rob Gordon. "It will provide benefits to consumers, to Canada's food industry and to the environment that we all share. We welcome the opportunity to apply our expertise, influence and experience to develop new solutions for existing and emerging challenges."

OAC has more than 150 faculty members engaged in agricultural teaching, research and outreach. In addition, U of G has a long-standing partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, which fuels innovation in agriculture, food and environmental sustainability. "Our agri-food research, teaching and service capacity will only be further enhanced by this new and innovative partnership," Gordon said.

The Loblaw Chair in Sustainable Food Production is part of U of G's ongoing fundraising efforts to cultivate teaching and research in areas that are essential for quality of life: food, water, animals, public health, the environment and communities.

SOURCE: CNW Newswire Press Release