Allan Murray, RASC Honorary Treasurer:
“In November, I had the pleasure of spending three weeks in Canada, attending several events and revisiting some of the farms where I worked back in the early 1970s.
A key highlight of my trip was attending the Innovation Canada24 Conference in Edmonton. The conference brought together delegates from the United States, India, Australia, several European countries, and Scotland. As part of the program, we visited leading research institutes exploring plant-based proteins derived from both hemp and cannabis.
We also toured a state-of-the-art food processing facility that emphasised the critical role primary producers play in delivering healthy, high-quality food to consumers. Another memorable visit was to the Righand Distillery, which I had first seen during the 2018 Conference tour. The family-owned business has since relocated to a much-improved site, operating a modern facility that produces a wide range of beverages.
The business sessions at the conference provided valuable opportunities for one-on-one meetings with representatives from across Canada, including cities like Quebec City, Calgary, Saskatoon, and Kelowna near Vancouver. These conversations offered great insights into how Canadian cities collaborate with agricultural societies to attract visitors and promote business opportunities for their events and fairs.
Outside of the conference, I enjoyed exceptional Canadian hospitality, attending several dinners where I sampled some of the finest Canadian beef and, of course, a few refreshments. I also had the chance to experience the Canadian Champions Bull Riding event—although I declined the offer to try it for myself!
Overall, the visit was a tremendous experience, combining professional opportunities with the chance to reconnect with Canada’s agricultural landscape and its people.”
