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Beefbooster and McDonald’s Canada invite you to attend a full-day event dedicated to sustainable Canadian beef production. For two years, McDonald’s has invested in the first ever Verified Sustainable Beef Pilot Project to fulfill its commitment, “…to purchase a portion of its beef from verified sustainable sources beginning in 2016.“
- 86 Canadian beef operations have already been through the verification process paid for by McDonald’s and carried out by qualified Canadian professionals at Where Food Comes From
- 39 more producers are in the process of scheduling their free verifications
- There are 99 more free verifications available on a first-come-first-served basis between now and April 1st
This is your opportunity to have all your questions answered, learn about the Pilot and how to become a verified sustainable beef producer.
February 24, 2016
Airdrie Town and Country Centre, Airdrie, AB
(view map)
10:00 AM
John Buckley, Chairman Beefbooster Inc.
Introduction to the McDonald’s verified Sustainable Beef Pilot Project.
10:45 AM
John Arnold, P. Ag. Vice President, Agriculture and Commercial Financial Services – Alberta South
Royal Banks perspective on sustainable agriculture and why they support incentives like the Canadian Round Table for Sustainable Beef Production and the McDonald's Pilot.
11:00 AM
Dr. John Basarab, Alberta Agriculture
Dr. Basarab will explain how information derived from the Beef Information Exchange System (BIXS) can apply to the industry as a whole, including seedstock and cow-calf producers such as Beefbooster Inc., and to retailers such as McDonald’s Canada and their Sustainable Beef Pilot Project.
Noon
Lunch
1:00 PM
Matt Sutton Vermuelen, Senior Partner, Prasino Group
Panel Discussion exploring various aspects of McDonald's Verified Sustainable Beef Pilot Program including:
- McDonald's - Matt Sutton-Vermulen - Senior Partner, Parsino Group
- Feedlot Sector - To be announced
- Cow/Calf Sector - To be announced
- Pilot Verifier - Peggy Strankman - Where Food Comes From
2:30 PM
Workshop Wrap-up, depart for Thorlakson Feed Yards
Activities include:
- Visit Bull Test Station
- Update on ALMA funded research project on Feed Efficiency
- Tour of Compost Facility
Sign Up Now
This event is free of charge and open to the public, but space is limited to 200 attendees.
Register today!
John Buckley
Information to come
John Arnold, P. Ag.
John has been with RBC for 35 years and has lived in Lethbridge for the past 13 years. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta with a BSC in Agriculture. John completed post graduate studies in agricultural economics at Oregon State University and the George Morris Centre at the University of Guelph.
John has been active in a number of volunteer organizations over the years and currently is involved with the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, Calgary Stampede and the Auctioneers Association of Alberta.
During his career with RBC John has served in a variety of roles, primarily in rural Alberta. In his current role, John manages a team of commercial banking professionals bringing financial solutions and advice to agriculture, commercial and public sector clients throughout Southern Alberta.
John Basarab, Ph.D., P.Ag.
John received his Ph.D. degree in Animal Genetics and Biochemistry in 1981 from the University of Alberta. As Senior Research Scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, John has over 30 years experience in beef cattle production and management. His current areas of work include improving feed efficiency, delivering genomic and production technologies to the beef industry, and greenhouse gas mitigation in beef cattle. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Universities of Alberta and Manitoba, member of the senior management team for Livestock Gentec, and past Associate Editor for the Canadian Journal of Animal Science. He is also the author or co-author of more than 300 scientific and extension articles and is the winner of the 2010 Canadian Animal Industries Award in Extension and Public Service.
Matt Sutton Vermuelen
After earning a certificate from the Institute of Agricultural Technology at Michigan State University in Livestock Production, Matt has worked in various aspects of agriculture for the last 33 years. First as a ranch hand, then herd manager during and after obtaining a BSA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He then began his career as Commercial District Manager for Purina Mills and then went onto Triple F Nutrition as Swine Product Manager and Corporate Marketing Manager before taking on Business Development responsibilities at American Meat Protein Corporation. For over 20 years Matt has provided consulting services to domestic and international clients in all aspects of the food chain, including animal health, genetics, nutrition, production, nutrient management, processing, food service, retail, restaurant, associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). As a senior partner of the Prasino Group, Matt works with stakeholders in meat, milk and eggs to help them make sustainability