Industry Day & AGM
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8:00 AM - 4:30 PM - Tuesday, May 12, 2026
The GrandWay Events Centre, Elora, ON |
The 2026 Meat & Poultry Ontario Industry Day & AGM on May 12, 2026 at The GrandWay Events Centre in Elora, ON brought industry professionals together for a full day of learning and strategic discussion. Designed for processors, producers and supply-chain partners, the event focuses on practical education, regulatory updates and emerging trends shaping Ontario’s meat sector. Attendees participated in sessions that support operational improvement, strengthen workforce knowledge and encourage informed decision-making. This annual gathering reinforces MPO’s commitment to helping businesses stay competitive, connected and prepared for what’s ahead.
Contact Laura Shantz at [email protected] for more details.
Meat 2026 Speakers
Keynote Speaker From Farm Credit Canada (FCC)
Craig Johnston
Vice-President, Chief Economist
Vice-President, Chief Economist
Craig leads economic analysis that informs strategy and risk management across the corporation. He is also a key FCC spokesperson, providing insights on the agriculture and food industry and the macroeconomy.
Prior to joining FCC, Craig led the commodities division at the Bank of Canada. He was also an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and lectured in economics at the University of Victoria. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Victoria, with a bachelor’s degree from Queen’s University.
Prior to joining FCC, Craig led the commodities division at the Bank of Canada. He was also an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and lectured in economics at the University of Victoria. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Victoria, with a bachelor’s degree from Queen’s University.
Keynote Speaker Sponsorship FCC
Workplace Safety and Prevention Services
This session delivers mental health and wellness strategies tailored to the meat processing industry. Attendees will participate in meaningful discussions and gain practical tools to support workplace well-being. By prioritizing mental health, businesses can strengthen employee morale, engagement, and productivity while building more resilient teams.
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Kristy Cork
Specialized Consultant – Healthy Workplaces In her role, Kristy understands that to thrive, workers need to be supported by an integrated approach that considers both physical and psychological safety.
Kristy is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP), and a Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor (CMHA). She continues to advance her education, pursuing a Degree in Psychology through Athabasca University. Seeing the positive impact of her work, reducing the risk of mental harm for workers, is what keeps her motivated and inspired. |
Second Harvest
Second Harvest will focus on their mission to rescue surplus food, combat food waste (a $58 billion problem in Canada), and fight hunger through national food redistribution, advocacy, and research, highlighting key findings from studies like "The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste.”
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Maureen Kirkpatrick Director of National Foodraising Maureen Kirkpatrick - Director of National Foodraising at Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organization. In her role, Maureen works with food businesses across the supply chain to help recover surplus food and connect it with front-line charities and community partners. Her work focuses on building awareness and donor support to keep good food where it belongs: on plates and out of landfills.
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Cyber Science Lab
The Cyber Science Lab (CSL), based at the University of Guelph, is dedicated to enhancing the security of Canada’s agricultural systems. As technological advancements drive efficiency and innovation in agriculture, the sector also becomes increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats such as data breaches, ransomware, and operational disruptions. The presentation will cover work the CSL lab has done to protect agricultural systems and seek input from attendees on how they support farmers and agribusinesses in better preparing for cyber threats and protecting critical infrastructure that supports the nation’s food supply.
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Dr. Vidushi Agarwal
Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Vidushi Agarwal is a postdoctoral researcher associated with the Cyber Science Lab at the University of Guelph, where she contributes to research in cybersecurity. She works alongside experts in cybersecurity science to support initiatives aimed at understanding and addressing cyber threats.
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MNP
AI is moving fast, and this panel breaks down what it means for meat processing - from operational efficiency and inventory management to costing, supply chain coordination, pricing and more. Panelists will explore where AI is already being applied in livestock and beyond the plant, along with additional opportunities for processors. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of tools, costs, practical use cases, and the direction AI is taking within the industry.
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Hussam Malek
P.Eng, M.Eng, MBA, MPN Partner Hussam is a Partner with MNP’s Consulting Services team in Mississauga and the firm’s National Value Creation Leader for Consulting. He provides customized, practical solutions to his clients, helping them implement management systems that position their businesses for transformation, growth, and profitability. Hussam helps organizations improve their top and bottom lines by establishing management systems that enable operations to run more efficiently, effectively, and independently.
Panelists:
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2026 Event Overview
Meat Industry Leaders Gathered for MPO Industry Day & AGM 2026
On May 12, 2026, Meat & Poultry Ontario (MPO) welcomed members, industry partners, and sector leaders from across the province to The GrandWay Events Centre in Elora for Industry Day & AGM 2026.
The event delivered a full day of education, networking, and member engagement. The day began with opening remarks from the Executive Director, Franco Naccarato and MPO Chair, Gerhard Metzger, followed by educational sessions featuring expert presentations on key topics, including economic trends, workplace wellness, food rescue, cybersecurity, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in meat processing.
This year’s keynote speaker, Craig Johnston, Vice-President and Chief Economist at Farm Credit Canada (FCC), delivered an engaging presentation, sharing valuable economic insights, analysis of inflation, US trade disruptions, wage pressures and perspectives on the opportunities and challenges shaping Canada’s agriculture and food sector.
The day also included MPO’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), during which members received an overview of MPO activities and events from 2025, advocacy updates, and approved the slate of candidates for MPO’s Board of Directors for a three-year term. Congratulations to the newly elected candidates:
MPO extends sincere thanks to our speakers from MNP, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, Second Harvest, SF Creative and University of Guelph, as well as our keynote sponsor – FCC. We appreciate our attendees for making this year’s event a tremendous success.
The event delivered a full day of education, networking, and member engagement. The day began with opening remarks from the Executive Director, Franco Naccarato and MPO Chair, Gerhard Metzger, followed by educational sessions featuring expert presentations on key topics, including economic trends, workplace wellness, food rescue, cybersecurity, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in meat processing.
This year’s keynote speaker, Craig Johnston, Vice-President and Chief Economist at Farm Credit Canada (FCC), delivered an engaging presentation, sharing valuable economic insights, analysis of inflation, US trade disruptions, wage pressures and perspectives on the opportunities and challenges shaping Canada’s agriculture and food sector.
The day also included MPO’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), during which members received an overview of MPO activities and events from 2025, advocacy updates, and approved the slate of candidates for MPO’s Board of Directors for a three-year term. Congratulations to the newly elected candidates:
- Adam Amer, ENS Poultry
- David Hobson, Halenda’s Fine Foods
- Brad Gilcrist, The BeefWay
MPO extends sincere thanks to our speakers from MNP, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, Second Harvest, SF Creative and University of Guelph, as well as our keynote sponsor – FCC. We appreciate our attendees for making this year’s event a tremendous success.
Thank you to our sponsor!
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