If you’re looking to share your expertise in agronomy with the world, scientific meetings and conferences are the best places to elevate your research, share ideas with other leaders in the field and attract new investment dollars. Meetings are a catalyst where often new synergies collide and opportunities arise to form new connections for growth, especially when hosted in Winnipeg. Manitoba’s capital city is a well-established agricultural powerhouse, serving as the gateway to Western Canada for more than 140 years.
The city’s strong ecosystem of international agribusiness companies, industry associations and world-class research made it an attractive destination for Winnipegger and former CAAR Board Chair Theresa Bolton to host the 2019 Canadian Association Agri-Retailers (CAAR) conference at the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg, attracting 300 delegates.
“Winnipeg is home to head office for a lot of ag companies and ag innovation and it's a city that's easy to get in and out of from a transportation perspective [for attendees]. Winnipeg is a really great representation of Canadian agriculture,” said Bolton. “[Other provinces] don’t seem to have the same ag presence that we have in Winnipeg with all the grain companies here... Pretty much all the major players are here or have an office in the city.”
As a result, the 2019 Canadian Agri-Retailers conference boosted its delegate and exhibitor attendance numbers by hosting the event here. Tourism Winnipeg worked with Bolton and other local ambassadors like her to help ensure ag-focused meetings and conventions are a success by tapping into the city’s wealth of expertise.
“There are great options to reinvigorate your research and host an event here because we can connect you with world-class ag experts in business and academia for speaking opportunities and facility tours,” said Natalie Thiesen, Director of Tourism for Tourism Winnipeg. “Our knowledgeable team can work with you from the initial bid process along every step of the way in our one-stop shop.”
The city’s rich agricultural history provides fertile ground to host a meeting or convention here and has been a draw for agronomists like Laird Lampertz, who is also a Sales Manager with Pitura Seeds.
“The first agronomy practiced in Western Canada, was underneath the Winnipeg Rail yard, which eventually led to the development of the University of Manitoba (U of M) becoming the epicenter for research in the early pioneer days. Agriculture was the first faculty and U of M has since laid the groundwork for agronomy in Winnipeg and Western Canada. It continues today to house, develop and support research being recognized around the world in agriculture communities,” Lampertz said. “Our ag industry community is passionate about what they do, and passionate about future opportunities. Investments and technology in agriculture and agronomy practices are growing from the ground up, from a grassroots level.”
To shine a spotlight on your work and the city’s thriving ag innovation, plant the seeds the knowledge and host an ag meeting or conference in Winnipeg. Contact Grace Hicks at Tourism Winnipeg today to get the conversation started on how we can work together and provide the support, resources and expertise you need.
