The Future Herd

Summary:Mohamad Yaghi from Farm Credit Canada explores how technology can democratize and transform the agricultural sector. He discusses the unique challenges farmers face and how innovative solutions can help address complex operational needs.Mohamad brings a unique perspective on technology in agriculture, rooted in his experiences growing up in Lebanon and understanding technological resilience. His work at Farm Credit Canada's innovation hub focuses on developing solutions that directly address farmer needs, particularly around knowledge transfer and operational complexity. By leveraging extensive agricultural data and user insights, Mohamad and his team are creating tools that help farmers navigate increasingly complex technological landscapes.Topics: Agricultural Technology, AI Innovation, Farm Management, Rural Technology, Technological Democratization, Data-Driven Agriculture

What happens when an emergency response becomes a permanent feature of the system?In this conversation, Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank, offers a clear-eyed view from inside one of Canada’s most critical—yet least understood—institutions. What emerges is not a story about charity, but about infrastructure. Daily Bread operates at scale: forecasting demand, coordinating complex logistics, and increasingly using data to understand how food insecurity moves through the city. The result is a system that works—efficient, adaptive, and deeply embedded.And that’s the tension.Because the more effective food banks become, the easier it is for the broader system to depend on them. Housing costs rise, incomes stagnate, disability supports fall short—and the pressure flows downstream. Food banks absorb it. Quietly. Reliably. Permanently.But beneath the operations is something less visible and more essential: care as culture. Not sentiment, but structure. The deliberate design of dignity, choice, and respect in how people access food and how communities participate in meeting that need. In a landscape defined by scarcity, culture becomes the operating system that keeps everything functioning.This episode treats the food bank not as a solution, but as a signal. A lens into how policy failure is lived, managed, and, in some ways, normalized. It raises a harder question for anyone paying attention: if this is infrastructure now, what does that say about the system that made it necessary—and what would it take to build something different?

Can We Eliminate Food WasteOr are we just managing a system designed to wasteCanada produces more than enough food to feed everyone, yet millions remain food insecure while enormous volumes of perfectly good food are lost. In this conversation, Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest, reframes the issue away from scarcity and toward systems failure—how food is produced, priced, moved, and ultimately left behind.What emerges is a picture of food rescue not as charity, but as infrastructure. Second Harvest operates a parallel supply chain, using data, logistics, and coordination to redirect surplus food to communities across the country. It is precise, efficient, and increasingly scalable. And yet, its very success raises a harder question: if we can move this much food, why does the need persist?Lori draws a clear line between feeding people and solving food insecurity. Redistribution can address immediate need, but it does not resolve the structural conditions—poverty, policy gaps, market incentives—that produce both waste and hunger at the same time. The absence of a national strategy on food waste in Canada only deepens that contradiction.This episode sits in that tension. It explores what becomes possible when waste is made visible and measurable, and what remains unchanged even as systems improve. The result is not a simple answer to the question of elimination, but a clearer understanding of what that question demands.

Jordyn Domio reframes a familiar concern in agriculture—the question of the “next generation”—by shifting attention to something more immediate and less discussed: proximity.Who gets close enough to the industry to understand it? To see themselves in it? To be taken seriously before they’ve earned it on paper?This episode moves away from abstract conversations about labour shortages and recruitment, and instead examines the everyday conditions that shape participation. The informal exposures, early invitations, and small acts of recognition that determine whether someone is brought in—or never considers agriculture at all.What emerges is a quieter but more consequential reality: the future of the sector isn’t waiting to be filled. It’s already being shaped by who is allowed to get close.

Canada feeds the world—so why are thousands of people in our own communities facing food insecurity every day?In this episode of The Future Herd, I sit down with Treska Watson, who leads food security initiatives at The Mustard Seed Street Church in Victoria, BC. Treska operates on the front lines of a broken system, managing a food rescue programme that diverted 3.1 million pounds of food last year alone. But this isn't just a story about logistics—it's about dignity, collaboration, and reimagining what a food system rooted in hope could look like.We unpack the paradox of abundance and hunger, explore why "best-before" dates are more suggestion than law (yes, that yogurt is probably fine), and dive into the innovative "Viewfield" food hub model where multiple organizations co-locate to share resources and ideas. Treska shares why she believes humans are "pack animals" who need each other, and why a choice-based food bank model changes everything for the communities they serve.In this conversation, we cover:The Hope vs. Fear Framework: How to lead with hope even when the data is daunting.Food Rescue at Scale: The logistics of moving 3.1 million pounds of food to 65+ agencies.Dignity Over Charity: Why the "choice model" matters more than pre-packed hampers.Food Literacy: The truth about expiration dates, packaging waste, and consumer education.Collaboration as Leadership: How the Viewfield warehouse became a collision point for innovation.Resources & Links:The Mustard Seed Street Church: mustardseed.caThe Future Herd: thefutureherd.caFlourish School Food Society (mentioned in episode)South Island Farm Hub (mentioned in episode)A Note on Sharing: If this conversation sparked something, don't keep it to yourself. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You don't have to rescue 3.1 million pounds to make a difference—you just have to stay curious and pass it on.

Innovation in agriculture isn’t the problem—implementation is.In this episode of The Future Herd, Jesse Hirsh sits down with Todd Ormann of Olds College to explore why so many promising technologies struggle to reach the farm, and what it actually takes to close that gap.From the role of applied research and Smart Farms to the fragmentation of Canada’s innovation system, this conversation unpacks the infrastructure behind real progress. Todd offers a grounded perspective on validation, trust, workforce development, and the institutions needed to translate ideas into practice.This is a conversation about the work that happens after the breakthrough—and why it matters more than ever.Key ThemesThe gap between innovation and adoption in agricultureThe role of applied research institutions like Olds CollegeSmart Farms, data, and real-world validationWorkforce development and the future of agricultural skillsRethinking Canada’s agri-food innovation systemGuest Todd Ormann Vice-President, External Relations & Research Olds College of Agriculture & TechnologyHost Jesse Hirsh The Future HerdLinksOlds College of Agriculture & Technology: https://www.oldscollege.ca/Learn more about The Future Herd: https://thefutureherd.ca/

Indigenous agriculture in Canada is often discussed through the lens of food security and community food systems. But what happens when the conversation shifts toward scale, capital, and commercial participation in the broader agri-food economy?In this episode of Future Herd, Jesse Hirsh speaks with Camden Lawrence of First Nations Agriculture & Finance Ontario. Camden works at the intersection of agricultural development, financing, and community capacity building, helping First Nations producers and communities explore agriculture not only as a pathway to food sovereignty, but also as a vehicle for economic growth and long-term prosperity.Their conversation explores the structural realities of modern agriculture: the capital required to enter the sector, the importance of scale in supplying large buyers, and the institutional supports needed for communities to build viable agricultural enterprises. Camden also reflects on the momentum emerging across First Nations communities, where interest in agriculture is growing alongside efforts to develop the financing tools, partnerships, and leadership needed to support it.This episode offers a thoughtful look at Indigenous agriculture as an evolving part of Canada’s agri-food landscape — and raises important questions about how the sector might grow in the years ahead.Topics DiscussedThe role of First Nations Agriculture & Finance OntarioIndigenous agriculture and economic developmentFinancing challenges in agricultureThe economics of scale in modern food productionCommunity capacity and agricultural leadershipFood sovereignty and commercial agricultureOpportunities for Indigenous participation in the broader agri-food sectorAbout the GuestCamden Lawrence works with First Nations Agriculture & Finance Ontario, an Indigenous-led organization supporting agricultural and agribusiness development across First Nations communities in Ontario. The organization provides financing support, advisory services, and programs aimed at helping Indigenous producers and communities develop sustainable agricultural enterprises.About Future HerdFuture Herd is a podcast exploring leadership across Canada’s agri-food sector as we think toward 2050. Through conversations with farmers, policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders, the show examines the ideas, institutions, and innovations shaping the future of food and agriculture.LinksFirst Nations Agriculture & Finance Ontario https://www.firstnationsag.caFuture Herd https://thefutureherd.ca

Guest: Tyler McCann, Managing Director, Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI)Global trade is shifting. Geopolitics is intruding into supply chains. Food is no longer just food — it is leverage, resilience, and power.In this episode of Future Herd, Jesse Hirsh sits down with Tyler McCann, Managing Director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), to explore what leadership looks like in a world where stability can no longer be assumed.Together they examine:Why the global context for Canadian agriculture has fundamentally changedThe discipline of focus in a sector overwhelmed by issuesHow policy actually moves — and why convening mattersThe cultural tendency toward incrementalism in Canadian agri-food governanceWhy diversity of participation strengthens policy outcomesThe difference between a commodity sector and a strategic oneThe urgent need to build domestic value-added capacityTyler draws on his experience inside federal government and now at CAPI to explain how coalitions form, how priorities get chosen, and where the real leverage points exist in shaping Canada’s agri-food future.At the heart of the conversation is a simple but consequential question:Does Canada treat agri-food as a strategic sector — or as a commodity engine navigating price cycles?In an era of geopolitical volatility, that distinction matters.About the GuestTyler McCann is the Managing Director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), an independent, non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing policy solutions for Canada’s agri-food system. He previously served in senior advisory roles within the federal government and operates a farm in western Quebec.About Future HerdFuture Herd is a podcast exploring leadership, strategy, and structural change across Canada’s agri-food sector. We focus on systems, policy, innovation, and the people shaping the future of food.If this conversation resonates, share it within your network and continue the discussion inside your organization. The future of Canadian agri-food will not arrive on its own — it will be organized.

In this episode of The Future Herd, Jesse Hirsh sits down with Rene Van Acker, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Guelph, to explore the evolving role of universities in shaping the future of agriculture and food.At a time when climate volatility, technological disruption, and political short-termism are redefining the operating environment for farmers and institutions alike, what responsibilities do academic leaders carry? And how can universities foster the collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and entrepreneurial energy required to build a more resilient food system?Van Acker reflects on the University of Guelph’s agricultural heritage and its culture of practical engagement—where research is designed not just to generate knowledge, but to put that knowledge into action. The conversation explores the importance of extension and public engagement, the power of cross-sector collaboration, and the growing role of students as drivers of innovation.The discussion also confronts climate change directly. While political rhetoric may fluctuate, farmers are experiencing increasing weather volatility firsthand. The challenge for institutions is to embed long-term foresight into planning processes that often default to short-term thinking.This episode is a thoughtful exploration of leadership, institutional responsibility, and generational momentum in the agri-food sector.In this episode, we discuss:Why collaboration is foundational to long-term agricultural resilienceThe evolving role of extension and knowledge mobilizationInterdisciplinary research and entrepreneurialism in agri-foodLeadership as the creation of “open space” for new futuresStudents as engines of innovation and transformationClimate volatility as the defining foresight challengeAbout The Future HerdThe Future Herd is a podcast about collaboration and leadership in a changing food system. Each episode features conversations with leaders, innovators, and thinkers shaping the future of agriculture and food.

What does it really take to prepare the agri-food sector for the future?In this episode of The Future Herd, Jesse Hirsh is joined by Ruth Knight, director with the Agriculture Adaptation Council and chair of the Agri-Food 2050 committee, for a wide-ranging conversation on foresight, leadership, and cultural transformation in agriculture.Rather than treating the future as something to be predicted or controlled, Ruth argues that future readiness is a mindset—one rooted in curiosity, patience, dialogue, and imagination. Together, they explore why resilience emerges from conversation rather than consensus, how play and experimentation can unlock innovation, and why engaging younger generations is essential to the long-term health of the agri-food system.This episode examines the tension between problem-solving and big-picture thinking, the limits of top-down planning, and the need to shift from systems of control toward systems of emergence. At its core, the conversation asks how leaders can create the conditions for adaptation, learning, and collaboration over the next 25 years.Topics CoveredWhy foresight is a practice, not a predictionCuriosity and patience as leadership strengthsDialogue versus debate in sector-wide planningPlay, imagination, and safe experimentationIntergenerational leadership and youth engagementFrom control to emergence in agri-food systemsBuilding cultural capacity for long-term resilienceGuestRuth KnightDirector, Agriculture Adaptation CouncilChair, Agri-Food 2050 CommitteeIndependent Agronomist and Rural Development ConsultantAbout the PodcastThe Future Herd explores leadership, collaboration, and long-term thinking in agriculture and food systems. Through conversations with sector leaders, policymakers, producers, and innovators, the podcast examines how we adapt together in an era of uncertainty.