Promoting Alberta’s agricultural interests and participating in discussions on cross-border issues will be the Government of Alberta’s focus at the Legislative Agricultural Chairs (LAC) Summit and the State Agricultural Rural Leaders Board meetings in Orlando, Florida Jan. 14 to 17.
The annual event brings together U.S. state legislative agriculture chairs and provincial ministers of agriculture to broaden understanding and cooperation between the U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions. This year’s summit also includes the AgConnect Expo which showcases global agriculture innovation.
Lloyd Snelgrove, President of Alberta Treasury Board and Minister of Corporate Human Resources, will attend both the summit and board meetings and take in AgConnect on behalf of Alberta. The first Canadian elected to the State Agricultural Rural Leaders Board, Minister Snelgrove will be finishing his second two-year term in 2010.
“This year’s summit will cover a variety of agriculture issues affecting both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, including agricultural trade, food safety regulations, water supply, invasive plants and rural development,” said Snelgrove.
“The current economic situation underlines the importance of both countries maintaining a positive and strong trade relationship with each other, and a healthy integrated North American market.”
“These meetings are an important avenue to advocate for our agriculture industry,” said George Groeneveld, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. “They provide an opportunity to offer valuable input to important cross-border issues such as new U.S. food safety regulations which are having a negative impact on our livestock sector.”
In addition to presentations, information sessions and panel discussions, the summit includes addresses by United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Gerry Ritz.