Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council’s (MRAC) 14th Annual General Meeting, “Pathfinding Ag Solutions,” will be held on March 18, 2010 at the Canad Inns in Portage la Prairie, Man. The AGM will feature keynote speaker John Oliver, president of Maple Leaf Bio-Concepts and Lojon Associates International, as well as presentations by Dr. Greg Penner with NeoVentures Biotechnology and Willy Hoffmann with Prairie Orchard Farms. There will also be several displays from agricultural groups who have projects supported by MRAC funding.

“The AGM for any organization is one time of the year when the board and staff can meet with the general membership and get a report card on the organization’s impact and future direction as well as celebrate the successes of the organization. It’s always a learning and energizing event,” said Ted Eastley, MRAC executive director.  

 MRAC AGM 2010 Keynote Speaker: John Oliver

John Oliver, president of Maple Leaf Bio-Concepts and Lojon Associates International in Oshawa, Ont., will discuss Peak Oil, Peak Food and Peak Water, and how efficient management will help negotiate these three P's.

MRAC AGM 2010 Presentations by:

• The removal of kernel visual distinguishability (KVD) opened the door for Dr. Greg Penner, who is developing a wheat variety identification technology that can replace KVD for the Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) class of wheat. The co-founder of NeoVentures Biotechnology will discuss his MRAC-funded project titled Optimization of a Bar Code Detection System for CWRS Wheat Varieties.
• The functional food sector is one the fastest growing food sectors in North America, with omega 3 products in high demand. With MRAC funding, Willy Hoffmann is evaluating beef products created through an omega 3 program designed for finisher beef cattle under commercial production. The owner of Prairie Orchard Farms will discuss his project titled Omega 3 Beef: Testing and Validation Trial.  

MRAC AGM 2010 includes displays from:

• Canadian Wheat Board
• Food Development Centre
• Manitoba Cattle Producers Association
• Manitoba Farm and Rural Stress Line
• Manitoba Forage Council
• Manitoba Organic Alliance
• Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council
• Manitoba Zero Tillage Research Association
• Prairie Fruit Growers Association
• Sun Prime Extracts Ltd.
• Value Chain Manitoba Initiative
• Western Nursery Growers Group

More program and registration information is available here.   

Media are invited to attend free of charge. Please note your attendance by emailing tfalk [at] mrac [dot] ca (tfalk [at] mrac [dot] ca).

For more information or interviews, contact: