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Before the Plate: A film screening in celebration of Canada's Ag Day

Posted by Stephanie Rogers on February 5, 2019 in Alumni & Friends, News

In celebration of Canada’s Agriculture Day February 12th, the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture in partnership with the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, will present a special documentary screening of Before the Plate: the questions, the stories and the people behind where our food comes from and how it gets to our plate.

Tuesday, February 12th

Student Learning Commons Program Room,|
Dalhousie Agricultural Campus
135 College Road

Before the Plate attempts to close the gap in perception between the urban consumer and farming in Canada. Modern consumers are increasingly interested in where and how their food gets to them, but accurate information is hard to come by and often feels out of reach. Before the Plate follows young farmers and industry experts in order to show the general population what a modern Canadian farm operation looks like and answer the most pressing questions consumers have about their food.

“Canada’s Agriculture Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate agriculture in Nova Scotia with family, friends and members of the community,” said Victor Oulton, President of Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture. “Our hope in hosting numerous community screenings of Before the Plate across the province is that it will open a dialogue between local farmers and members of their community.  It’s important for Nova Scotians to have opportunities to speak with farmers so we can answer any questions about farming in our province.”

The film will follow food staples of the Canadian diet all the way from the farm to the harvesting and processing operations and showcase the final product at Canoe, one of Toronto's most prestigious restaurants. The project follows various types of agriculture, including both organic and conventional practices to answer some of the biggest questions related to farming in our society.

“Everyone in this country plays a role in agriculture, whether they realize it or not,” said Colette Wyllie, Community Education Manager at Dalhousie’s Faculty of Agriculture.  “An important part of our role as a centre for higher education in agriculture is to help consumers realize this and to empower them to become more involved. Education is vital to keep our food system safe, secure and sustainable. Canadian agriculture is important and it deserves celebration and conversation.”

For more information on this event and the film visit dal.ca/agriculture.  To reserve a seat contact Alisha Johnson at Alisha.johnson@dal.ca

Refreshments, panel discussions and give-ways to follow.