Damian Mason - Keynote Speaker • Media Guest • Podcaster • Author
Agriculture has always evolved in response to changing markets, economics, technology and world events—but how much can the past tell us about what comes next?
Opening keynote Damian Mason brings together current events, agricultural economics and the realities facing today’s producers to explore where agriculture is headed and what history can teach us about navigating change. With a mix of big-picture thinking, practical insight and humour, Damian will examine the forces shaping the industry, where the future of agriculture may resemble the past—and where it may look very different.
This thought-provoking session will challenge attendees to look beyond today’s headlines, consider the bigger picture and think strategically about how they position themselves for what comes next in agriculture.
Dr. Mark Redmond - Chief Executive Officer, RDAR | Results Driven Agriculture Research
Dr Mark Redmond - Chief Executive Officer, RDAR | Results Driven Agriculture Research Mark Redmond is Chief Executive Officer of RDAR, Alberta's producer-led agricultural research and innovation organization. With extensive leadership experience in agriculture, research, and public policy, Mark works closely with producers, researchers, industry partners, and governments to ensure research investments address real-world challenges and opportunities facing Alberta agriculture. Under his leadership, RDAR has focused on connecting research with practical outcomes, helping accelerate innovation, adoption, and impact on farms across the province.
D'Arcy Hilgartner - Producer Leader and Chair, RDAR | Results Driven Agriculture Research
D'Arcy Hilgartner is a fourth-generation Alberta farmer and Chair of RDAR. Farming near Camrose, Alberta, D'Arcy brings a producer's perspective to agricultural innovation, research adoption, and industry leadership. A long-time advocate for producer-driven decision-making, D'Arcy is passionate about ensuring research investments deliver practical value on the farm. Through his work with RDAR and Alberta's agricultural community, he helps bridge the gap between research, innovation, and the realities of modern farming.
Agricultural innovation doesn’t end with a research breakthrough—it succeeds when producers can put it to work on their farms. In this keynote conversation, Mark Redmond, CEO of RDAR, and producer leader D’Arcy Hilgartner explore the “final mile” between research investment and on-farm impact. Together, they will discuss how producer priorities shape RDAR’s research agenda, how promising discoveries are translated into practical solutions, and what it takes to move innovation from the lab and trial plot to real-world adoption. Through the lens of Alberta agriculture, they will examine the opportunities and challenges of research, extension, knowledge transfer, and technology adoption, and what producers, researchers, and industry partners can do to ensure innovation delivers meaningful results where it matters most—on the farm.
Gitane De Silva - Expert on International Trade, Canada–US Relations, Energy Issues, and Geopolitics
With the staggering pace of change in geopolitics, trade policy and the world as we know it, it can be hard to keep up. Join former diplomat and public policy expert, Gitane De Silva, as she explains what is driving theses changes, what this means for the Canada-U.S. relationship, how these changes impact the agriculture sector, and what we as Canadians can do about it.
Ebony Verbonac | KPMG Canada
Alberta producers are navigating volatile commodity markets, rising operating and capital costs, changing trade conditions, expensive land, technology investments and increasingly complex decisions around growth and succession. What should producers be thinking about now to position their farm businesses for the next five to ten years?
Roger Chevraux - Alberta Canola Producers Commission
Roger Chevraux is a fourth-generation farmer near Killam, Alberta, serving his third term on the Alberta Canola board. He represents Alberta Canola’s Region 11, chairs the Government & Industry Affairs Committee, and serves on the Grower Engagement & Extension Committee. Roger also serves as a director on the boards of the Canadian Grains Council, the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA), and the Grain Growers of Canada, where he chairs the Research Committee. Outside of agriculture, Roger enjoys spending time at the lake, skiing, golfing, travelling, flying, and spending time with his two granddaughters.
Devin Hartzler - Alberta Grains Commission
BIO COMING SOON
Robert Semeniuk - Alberta Pulse Growers Commission
BIO COMING SOON
Success in agriculture depends on strong partnerships. Hear from Team Alberta Crops as they discuss how Alberta’s crop commissions collaborate to represent farmer interests, shape policy, support research and innovation, and create opportunities for long-term growth. This session will highlight recent successes, emerging priorities, and the value of a coordinated approach to serving producers across the province.