Grounded Innovation Summit at UFV explores future of sustainable agriculture

The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) welcomed researchers, elected officials, policy-makers, agriculture industry leaders, farmers, students, and community partners to its Chilliwack campus May 13 for the Grounded Innovation 3.0 Sustainable Food and Agriculture Summit.

Hosted by Dr. Lenore Newman, director of UFV’s Food and Agriculture Institute and co-chair of the Sustainable Food Systems for Canada (SF4C) national project, the gathering featured presentations and panels exploring how agriculture connects to community well-being, climate action, and economic resilience.

UFV President James Mandigo delivered opening remarks, recognizing the importance of SF4C, a national project launched one year ago that is co-led by UFV’s Dr. Lenore Newman and Dr. Evan Fraser, Director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph.

“SF4C is bringing together leading experts to find sustainable solutions that enhance food security across Canada,” James said. “Grounded Innovation 3.0 is another example of UFV and the University of Guelph’s leadership and the transformative power of evidence-based research to forge strong collaborations and partnerships.”

Dr. Tammara Soma, research director for Simon Fraser University’s Food Systems Lab, was the keynote speaker at the Grounded Innovation 3.0 summit at the UFV Chilliwack campus.

Dr. Tammara Soma, research director for Simon Fraser University’s Food Systems Lab, was the keynote speaker. She outlined the many factors affecting food insecurity, from climate change and population growth to global conflict.

She emphasized the dangers of war with an African proverb: ‘In a battle between elephants, the ants get squashed.’

“When bigwigs take us to wars, it’s the public, the everyday people, the 99 per cent, who suffer,” Tammara explained. “People in India can’t cook, people in Sri Lanka can’t go to work, and farmers can’t grow or harvest food, leading to global famine and a rise in malnutrition.”

She then shifted to a more hopeful tone with another African proverb.

“When ants unite their mouths, they can carry an elephant,” she said. “While everyday people may feel powerless when facing this behemoth of problems, when we unite, speak up, and work together, we can secure our national security and sovereignty.”

Tammara concluded by emphasizing the importance of education and the vital role UFV can play in addressing food security issues.

“We should invest in all of the people and institutions, like this one, that invest in food systems education, community food hubs, mutual aid programs — those who can pass on the knowledge and train our future,” she said.

Bruce Banman, MLA for Abbotsford South, and Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna-Mission, attended the summit. Gavin emphasized how UFV continues to establish itself as a leader in practical agriculture innovation.

“What I see in the work that UFV is doing, that Lenore is doing, and that UFV is uniquely positioned to continue doing is that it is building close connections between agriculture research, industry, and government,” he said. “There is always a temptation for academia to be distant from what is happening in the marketplace and distant from what is happening to practitioners. But I’ve always believed in the tremendous potential for UFV to punch above its weight, rooted right here in this amazing agriculture heartland.”

The summit also included a student pitch competition. Students from UFV, Simon Fraser University, and the University of British Columbia were challenged to develop food policy solutions during a hackathon held the day before and presented their concepts to four judges.

“We are really proud of the opportunities we create for students working with industry,” Lenore said. “They are applying hands-on research and learning — and in agriculture, I really mean hands-on.

“UFV students are on the ground, and they have their hands in the ground.”

For those who watched the pitch competition, the enthusiasm of the students was obvious and inspiring. Lenore believes this generation of learners will have vital roles to play in the important work SF4C is doing.

“Let’s be clear that we face challenges,” she said. “Trade patterns we took for granted are crumbling in ways we did not expect. We are suffering from climate change while also grappling with opportunities that may not align with what we’ve traditionally done. We’re having to be nimble, especially in this region, but together, we can ensure the Fraser Valley remains one of Canada’s — and the world’s — food powerhouses.”

The summit concluded with the formal launch of SF4C’s Wine Innovation Challenge – a six-month design sprint, where early-stage companies come together to create solutions to climate-related issues experienced by grape growers and wineries across Canada. To kick-off the challenge, Dr. Daniel Bender, Canada Research Char (Tier II) in Food and Culture and professor of food studies at the University of Toronto, provided a second keynote. He reflected on the role of climate change as it affects where specific types of grapes can grow and also what flavours we experience as consumers.

Get involved by joining the SF4C network today .