Sustainability key to agricultural success

CALGARY , Dec. 1 /CNW/ - Today's savvy consumer is looking at more than just the products they buy, they're also looking at the sustainability of the ways in which those products are produced.

Sustainability is nothing new to Canada's agricultural industry, but Adam Werbach will provide fresh insight into how to leverage this best practice into long-term business success when he speaks to attendees at the GrowCanada(R) conference, Wednesday, December 2 .

Adam Werbach, one of the foremost experts on sustainability and former president of the U.S. Sierra Club, will explain how other industries and organizations are building strategies for sustainability and ensuring long-term profitability, and how he thinks agriculture can do the same.

"Lay-offs, failing companies, collapsing economies and scarce resources - these things are all creating turbulence and businesses need to respond with new ways of doing things. Businesses need strategies that are attuned to the world around us, flexible enough to respond to rapid change and focused on the long view," Werbach says.

"Sustainability is one of the major themes of this year's conference because it is fundamental to the success of agriculture," said David Sippell, conference co-chair and president of the Canadian Seed Trade Association. "Agriculture in Canada has a long history of protecting the environment so that precious land and water resources will continue to produce abundant supplies of safe and nutritious foods. We are continually looking for ways to build on our success in this arena and we are excited to hear what Adam Werbach has to say about our opportunities to do so."

Werbach advises companies with over $1 trillion in combined annual sales on how to build strategy for sustainability, ensuring long-term profitability and is the author of the new Harvard Business book Strategy for Sustainability: A Business Manifesto (www.strategyforsustainability.com).

Media are invited to attend any speaker session throughout the conference, which is being held at the Hyatt Regency Calgary , 700 Centre St. S.E in the Imperial Room. Please register in the Grand Foyer 1 upon arrival.

Mr. Werbach will begin speaking at approximately 1p.m. , Dec. 2 .

The GrowCanada(R) is a partnership formed in 2006 to provide a national, value-chain driven vision to federal, provincial and territorial governments. This year's conference is an extension of the group's successful collaboration and will highlight the importance of the agricultural value chain working together to establish Canada as a world leader in developing new products and new solutions to challenges in the production of food, energy, and industrial products; both here in Canada and around the world.

A full listing of conference speakers can be found at http://www.growcanadaconference.ca/2009/about.php

For further information: Nadine Sisk, Director Media Relations, P: [phone], [email protected]