The First Sixteen

Farm transitions aren’t simply business deals — they’re deeply human and often emotionally complex. In this episode, we speak with two innovators reimagining how farms change hands and how new farmers find their place. Heather Watson, Executive Director of Farm Management Canada, brings a national view on business planning, succession, and the changing realities of farm ownership. Sara Dent, co-founder of Young Agrarians, is creating new pathways into farming — helping aspiring producers find land, mentors, and community.Learn more about the toolkits from Farm Management Canada, Young Agrarians, and Farm Credit Canada.

From phones and computers to automated systems in barns and data collection in harvesters, each piece of technology on a farm is a fantastic tool – and a potential weak point. And hackers look for – weak points. Just as producers protect livestock and crops from predators, they need to do the same to protect their technology. In this episode, Dr. Ali Dehghantanha, Canada Research Chair in cyber security at the University of Guelph, explains how producers can stay a few simple and innovative steps ahead of the criminals.  And Charles-Félix Ross, Director General of Quebec’s UPA, shares what happened when his organization was hit by ransomware and the key lessons learned.  Learn more about the Toolkit.

How do we open new markets in diverse and dynamic countries? What challenges do we face, and what solutions are being used? Chris White, President and CEO of the Canadian Meat Council, and Diedrah Kelly, Executive Director of the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office in Manila, share their insights. From building strong trade relationships to promoting Canada’s trusted brand, this episode explores the work needed to grow Canada’s presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.

Innovators take risks. And they need investors who are willing and informed to help them take the risks.  Alison Sunstrum is a pioneering entrepreneur turned investor, now on a mission to fix the gaps she once faced—mentorship and access to capital—by investing in exceptional talent and bold ideas in agriculture. Graeme is part of the team at FCC Capital, which is a new effort from Farm Credit Canada to provide what he calls 'patient, and reliable capital' to agri-food and ag-tech companies across the country. Hear how these two and their teams are filling an important funding gap in Canada to help innovation in the ag sector.   

Farmers are taking action to protect the environment and strengthen the competitiveness of our agricultural sector. We speak with three producers who are leaders in reducing greenhouse gases, sequestering carbon, and building resilience against climate change. With support from the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF), they’ve adopted beneficial management practices (BMPs) that make good business sense. Tune in to hear their insights and advice for fellow producers.