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The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance’s 20th Annual National Conference will again bring together producers, processors, retailers, academia, consumers, and government to share the advancements made and challenges faced by the Canadian hemp industry while driving Sustainable Futures.
Increasingly, Sustainability is a concern affecting many consumer decisions.  Hemp is unique among other crops in that every part of the plant has utility and potential market value.  With its resilience and variety, hemp can be a better long-term investment for the producer, the processor, the consumer, and the environment.  For 25 years, Canadian hemp production has positively impacted social, economic, and environmental sustainability.  Support of industry partners has been key to this success.

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Tuesday, November 14, 2023 - Pre-Conference Tour- limited space
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 - Pre-Conference Tour- limited space

7:30am: Bus departs Holiday Inn and Suites, Nisku  

Edmonton International Airport – they will discuss how they can partner with industry to build in that area.  


Bio Processing Innovation Centre (BPIC) –  The Bio Processing Innovation Centre (BPIC) , run by Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, is a 10,000 ft2 pilot facility providing essential product development and scale-up support to the growing bioeconomy. BPIC offers a suite of facilities, equipment and expertise to help companies succeed. The assets are uniquely positioned between lab- and pilot-scale production, giving companies the ability to test and improve their proof-of-concept ideas and processes before committing to full production. BPIC works with Alberta researchers and companies to advance innovative ideas and processes that convert agriculture and forestry biomass into value-added products. These biomass inputs include oilseeds, cereal grains, specialty crops, botanicals, biomass secondary process streams. With a natural and non-prescription health products (NNHP) licence from Health Canada, the facility can also provide interim manufacturing services for cosmetic and personal care products and NNHPs. BPIC also has an industrial hemp licence that allows clients to develop hemp-based products.


Bio Industrial Facilities – InnoTech Alberta’s Bio-Industrial Services division focuses on industrial scale-up production, characterization, and processing of bio-materials/products. The tour of facilities in the Edmonton Research and Development Park will include fibre processing, engineered composite pilot production lines, and biomaterial and bioproduct extrusion. The visitors will be introduced to the panel laboratory with North America’s only automated R&D Oriented Strand Board line coupled with a 4x8-foot press and larger scale pulping pilot plants. The tour will also feature a presentation of a biosensor for plant disease detection and prediction that can be used for hemp diseases.



Natural Fibre Tech – NFT is the result of a strategic partnership with over 35 cumulative years of experience in research, product development, producer and customer relationships. We are a leading developer of local, sustainable bio-composites for a plethora of industries and consumer markets. Our history, background, and strategic partnerships make us well-suited to continue playing a leadership role in the ever-growing sustainable biocomposites market. On the tour we will display our suite of decorticator technologies including the latest, 3rd generation unit - The H3

 

Old Station Honey and Mead - tour and tasting focusing on innovative agriculture and sustainability 

Return to Holiday Inn by 3pm

Boxed lunch provided

 


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Tuesday, November 14, 2023 CHTA AGM - requires a separate registration
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 CHTA AGM - requires a separate registration

16:00 - 18:00 CHTA Annual General Meeting - click here to register


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Wednesday, November 15, 2023 - click to see session schedule
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 - click to see session schedule

08:00am Pick up your name badges and visit the exhibitors

09:00am Conference opening - Introductory Remarks, moderated by Conference Chair

Hemp Strategy Workshop:

CHTA and Committee Updates: Clarence Shwaluk CHTA Board Chair, joined by directors Larisa Harrison, Jan Slaski, Kendra Meier and

an Alberta Hemp Alliance update from Cory Peebles

Global Market Outlook: Frederic Vallier, FIHO

Health Canada Regulatory Updates: David Pellman

10:30 - 11:15am Exhibition Hall Open

11:15am Breakout Discussions

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm Hemp Sustainability Workshop Part 1

Sustainability Branding and Product Development - Consumer Insights: Sam Garfinkel SVP, Commercial Operations & Strategy;

Fresh Hemp Foods Ltd

Fast & Furious: Advancements in Hemp Fiber Product Development Panel: Lelia Lawson Davey Textiles Solutions, Terry Radford Just

BioFiber, Jason Puracal Zila BioWorks (livestream appearance), Douglas Casetta Tangho Green, Brittany McKell HEMPALTA

2:15pm Exhibition Hall Open

3:15pm Hemp Sustainability Workshop cont'd

Hybrid Genetics and breeding for sustainable growth: Jeff Kostuik Verve Seeds

3:45pm Breakout Discussions

4:30pm Exhibition Hall Happy Hour


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Thursday, November 16, 2023 - click to see session schedule
Thursday, November 16, 2023 - click to see session schedule

08:00 - 09:00am Exhibition Hall Open

9:00am Hemp Resiliency Workshop - Building Strong Industry Supports

Science Not Sensationalism + Policy Advocacy for Industry Resilience: Hunter Buffington live virtual appearance

9:30am Hemp Resiliency Workshop - Building Resilient Hemp Businesses, sponsored by the Town of Vegreville

Building Resilient Hemp Businesses Panel: Reuben Stone, UniSeeds, John Strofus, Darren Bondar HEMPALTA, Kendra Meier, HPS Food and Ingredients, Richard de Andrade Solare Holding LLC

10:30am Exhibition Hall Open

11:15am Breakout Discussion

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm Harvesting Potential

Indigenous Agriculture & Industry Development: sustainable alternatives: Darrell McElroy, Manitoba Harvest, and Xsan Homes

1:45pm Cultivating Sustainable Futures

Farming Smarter - Nuffield Scholarship: Ken Coles

2:15pm Exhibition Hall Open

3:00pm Wrap Up Session and Closing Remarks




Pre-conference Tour (14Nov2023, 07:30 – 15:00)

The pre-conference tour is a great way to learn about the latest developments in our industry and to network with conference participants.

CHTA Annual General Meeting (14Nov2023, 16:00-18:00)
The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance will hold its annual meeting this afternoon.  CHTA Directors will provide updates on its Government Relations, Research, Standards, and Sustainability activities, achievements, and challenges.  Voting members will also accept our financial statements, appoint the auditor, and elect six Directors.  All interested individuals are encouraged to register and attend the meeting.

CHTA’s 20th Birthday Bash (14Nov2023, 19:00 – 22:00)
Join the fun, celebrating the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance’s 20th Birthday Bash!  We have come a long way since that first meeting in Regina, Saskatchewan.  CHTA has benefited from strong leadership from our Board Chairs over the past 2 decades and this is will be a night to celebrate the good people and good work of CHTA.

Plenary and State of the Industry (15Nov2023)
We will begin the conference with presentations on the state of industry.  These messages will be delivered by the CHTA Board Chair and President, political leaders, and senior policy officials.  It is important to establish a common understanding of where we are, where the obstacles are, how we can open paths to prosperity, and where we need to be.

Hemp Strategy Workshop
This interactive workshop will explore opportunities and challenges facing the Canadian hemp industry.  CHTA’s current strategies to address these opportunities and challenges will also be presented.  Conference participants will be invited to comment on the state of our industry and provide direction to CHTA on how to capitalize on opportunities and address challenges.

Hemp Resilience Workshop
Sustainability goes far beyond carbon storage and climate change mitigation.  This workshop will explore how the Canadian hemp industry can position itself for success in the face of unpredictable commodity markets, changing agronomic environments, and consumer demand for healthy soils, clean air and water, and biodiversity.  We will explore how the hemp industry can build resilience and to communicate its advantages to global buyers and consumers.

Hemp Sustainability Workshop 
Carbon sequestration, carbon removal, carbon credits, and climate change mitigation are all important issues facing the Canadian hemp industry.  This workshop will explore how the industry can move from “knowing” that hemp is a solution to “proving and communicating” these solutions to global buyers and consumers.  The workshop will also explore how the Canadian hemp industry can position itself to monetize its carbon solutions in national and global markets that are being developed.

Registration is $500 for members and $750 for non-members.  The pre-conference tour is an additional ticketed item for $75, that covers transportation, industry insight, and snacks. Looking to join virtually? There is an option for participating virtually.  

Consider becoming a CHTA Member to take advantage of the member registration rate.



Please email eventmanager@hemptradeevent.com for more information