(Chilliwack) May 21, 2025 — Leaders from across Canada’s agriculture and food sectors gathered at the University of the Fraser Valley’s (UFV) Chilliwack campus for Grounded Innovation 2.0 — a landmark event that placed the Fraser Valley at the centre of national conversations on the future of sustainable food systems. The event marked the official launch of the Sustainable Food Systems for Canada (SF4C) platform, a $16.2 million, five-year federally funded initiative designed to drive innovation and collaboration in agrifood systems nationwide.

The event also celebrated UFV’s role as the Western Hub lead for SF4C, positioning the university and the Fraser Valley at the forefront of sustainable food system development in Canada. With its Chilliwack campus situated in the heart of one of the country’s most agriculturally productive regions, UFV is uniquely positioned to advance food security, agri-tech, and long-term sustainability through research and collaboration.

“Grounded Innovation 2.0 is a great example of bringing together industry, university, and government to solve practical challenges,” said Dr. Lenore Newman, UFV professor, director of the Food and Agriculture Institute (FAI), and lead of SF4C’s Western Hub.

The day opened with a keynote from Dr. Evan Fraser, director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph and co-chair of the SF4C platform, who challenged attendees to “think differently” about how food systems can adapt in a time of accelerating change.

Panel sessions throughout the event explored themes such as research leadership in agriculture, scaling ag-tech businesses, and strategic foresight. The conversations emphasized cross-sector collaboration and highlighted innovative approaches to doing more with less — a vital shift in an era of rising costs and climate-driven uncertainty.

“This is a celebration of our collective agricultural successes. It is also a time to connect and collaborate on a shared vision for the future of food systems, here and across Canada,” said Dr. Stefania Pizzirani, associate professor at UFV and associate director of the Food and Agriculture Institute. “This is a space to ask bold questions, share solutions, and speak transparently about the realities of food security.”

The afternoon concluded with the Emergency National Food Security Summit, featuring opening remarks from Chief Tyrone McNeil, President of the Stó:lō Tribal Council and Chair of the Emergency Planning Secretariat. Drawing on lessons from the 2021 Fraser Valley floods, Chief McNeil emphasized the importance of Indigenous leadership and traditional knowledge in food resilience planning. These events underscored the vulnerability of local food systems and the urgent need for coordinated, community-based responses. Participants then broke into working groups to brainstorm on key food security needs and opportunities, where action will be taken with these insights compiling them into an op-ed for future publication.

Event organizers say the conversations and outcomes of Grounded Innovation 2.0 will help inform national strategies and local action alike — with UFV playing a key role in bridging academic research, entrepreneurship, and community collaboration.

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Photo Descriptions

GroundedInnovation1.jpg – Chief Tyrone McNeil delivers opening remarks at the Emergency National Food Security Summit

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About UFV 

Located in the beautiful Fraser Valley just east of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is a fully accredited, public university that enrolls approximately 15,000 students per year. UFV has campuses and locations in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, and Hope, and a growing presence in Chandigarh, India.

We offer more than 100 programs, including three master’s degrees, 21 bachelor’s degrees with majors, minors, and extended minors in more than 35 subject areas, four graduate certificates, and more than a dozen trades and technology programs.

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For media inquiries:   

Jeboah M. Godron, UFV Director, Communications  
jeboah.godron@ufv.ca