In this insightful summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Keith Currie , President at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture , live from the floor of SIAL Toronto . Representing more than 190,000 farmers and ranchers across the country and an eighth-generation farmer himself, Currie provides a candid, wide-ranging view on the future of Canadian agriculture—and why it's time for policymakers to pay closer attention. Cu...
Jul 03, 2025•30 min
In this special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast , recorded live at the SIAL Food Innovation Show in Toronto, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois welcome two exceptional guests: Joanne McArthur , President of Nourish Food Marketing and co-chair of the SIAL Innovation jury, and Chantal Van Winden , CEO of Olimega and this year’s SIAL Innovation Gold Medal winner. The episode dives deep into Chantal’s award-winning product—Camelina oil with a buttery flavour—unpac...
Jun 26, 2025•24 min
In this special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast , host Michael LeBlanc brings listeners straight to the SIAL Food Innovation Show floor for a flavorful conversation with Chef Jonathan Maters, co-founder of Smokin Jon’s BBQ & Company. Born in Newfoundland and based in New Brunswick, Jonathan shares how a pandemic-era pivot turned his passion for barbecue into a growing food enterprise capturing the attention of retailers and food lovers alike. Jonathan walks us through his ...
Jun 19, 2025•20 min
The Food Professor Podcast closes out its fifth season (sort of) with a sizzling, two-guest double feature and a feast of food industry insights. Co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois kick things off with a robust news round-up, starting with the Competition Bureau’s lawsuit against DoorDash. The case alleges deceptive pricing practices that could set a major precedent in Canada’s rapidly evolving food delivery sector. Next up is a conversation about GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, and t...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 5Ep. 40
This episode of The Food Professor Podcast , recorded live at the SIAL Food Innovation Show in Toronto, opens with co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois breaking down the week’s top food and retail stories. First, they tackle the evolving Canadian political stance on supply management. Prime Minister Carney’s reversal in support of Bill C-282 suggests renewed government protectionism in agricultural trade, potentially complicating future international deals. Sylvain, who testified ...
Jun 05, 2025•45 min•Season 5Ep. 39
This episode of The Food Professor Podcast is steeped in insights, storytelling, and smoky Texas flavour. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois kick off with a deep dive into the state of Canadian agri-food policy, tariffs, and food inflation before welcoming a very special guest: Tonia Jahshan, Founder and CEO of Sipology. Broadcasting remotely from Texas, Sylvain shares updates from his new role as head of the prestigious Masters in Agribusiness program at Texas A&M University—r...
May 29, 2025•54 min•Season 5Ep. 38
This episode opens with alarming news about Canada's food inflation reaching crisis levels. Charlebois reveals that Canada now has the highest food inflation rate among G7 countries, primarily driven by countervailing tariffs that have backfired on Canadian consumers. The hosts explain how Prime Minister Carney quietly eliminated most food-related tariffs on May 7th, though this decision received little public attention during the election. The discussion highlights how these tariffs made altern...
May 22, 2025•54 min•Season 5Ep. 37
In this insightful episode of The Food Professor podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois explore Canadian food politics and industry developments before sitting down with Adam Grogan, President and COO of Maple Leaf Foods, for a revealing conversation about the company's evolution and future. The episode begins with a discussion of Canada's new Liberal cabinet, focusing on Heath MacDonald from PEI as the new Agriculture Minister replacing Kody Blois. The hosts express mixed feeling...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 36
In Season 5, Episode 35 of The Food Professor podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois deliver an information-packed episode with significant developments in both personal and industry news. Sylvain Charlebois opens with a major announcement about joining Texas A&M University on August 1st to lead their #1-ranked Masters in Agribusiness program while maintaining his position at Dalhousie University. Speaking from Saskatoon, Sylvain shares insights about his keynote on AI in t...
May 08, 2025•58 min•Season 5Ep. 35
n Season 5 of The Food Professor Podcast , Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois take listeners inside the bustling SIAL Food Innovation Show in Toronto, bringing fresh insights on global food trends and the shifting dynamics of agri-food trade. The episode kicks off with their live reflections on the show floor, surrounded by global exhibitors from Brazil, Peru, Jamaica, and Italy. They note a growing demand for diverse flavors and ethnic cuisines, as well as a strategic pivot by companies...
May 01, 2025•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 34
In Season 5, Episode 33 of The Food Professor Podcast , hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois deliver a dynamic episode split between urgent food policy news and an in-depth interview with Jake Karls, Co-Founder and Chief Rainmaker of the powerhouse better-for-you brand Mid-Day Squares. Kicking off with the news segment, Sylvain and Michael break down Canada's approaching election and the glaring lack of meaningful agricultural policy across party platforms. While the NDP pushes for p...
Apr 24, 2025•54 min•Season 5Ep. 33
The episode kicks off with breaking economic news: while Canada’s overall inflation slowed to 2.3% in March, food inflation surged to a staggering 3.2%—a monthly jump not seen since 1983. Sylvain attributes the spike to Ottawa’s counter-tariffs, rising ingredient costs, and shifting sourcing strategies as Canadian grocers de-Americanize their supply chains. This backdrop leads into a discussion on recent Caddle research indicating that 61% of Canadians are willing to pay more for local products—...
Apr 17, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 32
In this power-packed episode of The Food Professor Podcast , hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois bring listeners up to speed on one of the most complex and fast-moving stories in the global food and agriculture sector: the unfolding international tariff war. Appropriately titled “The Global Tariff War Edition,” this episode features a timely and incisive interview with Mark Warner , Managing Director at MAAW Law and one of North America’s leading experts on trade, investment, and co...
Apr 10, 2025•59 min•Season 5Ep. 31
This episode of The Food Professor Podcast brings together global trade drama and local wine opportunity. In the opening news segment, Michael and Sylvain react to the latest trade bombshell from Donald Trump: sweeping new tariffs aimed at dozens of countries, with Canada & Mexico left off—for now. They dig into how this could reshape the Canadian food sector, focusing on dairy and the persistent challenges of supply management. Sylvain calls out the inefficiencies of Canada’s quota system a...
Apr 03, 2025•50 min•Season 5Ep. 30
In the latest episode of The Food Professor Podcast , we dive into a wide range of topics, from international trade tensions to the evolving role of social media in the culinary world. We kick off the episode with the announcement that Canada will be the country of honour at the SIAL Food Innovation Show , reflecting on the importance of celebrating Canadian food and innovation during shifting global dynamics. We then turn our attention to the pork industry in Canada , discussing recent geopolit...
Mar 27, 2025•54 min•Season 5Ep. 29
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast , hosts Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois take on some of the hottest topics, shaking up the Canadian food industry. There's plenty to discuss, from McDonald's latest attempt to crack the plant-based market with a new veggie burger to the disruptive impact of China's tariffs on Canadian seafood and agricultural products. Kicking off the episode, Michael and Sylvain dissect McDonald's surprising re-entry into the plant-based space after previous ...
Mar 20, 2025•52 min•Season 5Ep. 28
In this episode of The Food Professor podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois tackle pressing issues in Canada's food industry before interviewing Mark Cunningham, President and Chief Operating Officer of Smoke's Poutinerie. The episode begins with the hosts discussing Loblaw's decision to place "T" labels on products affected by tariffs. While Charlebois appreciates the transparency effort, he questions whether the approach is too simplistic, explaining that tariffs impact entire ...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 27
The latest episode of The Food Professor Podcast delivers a timely and insightful discussion on the state of Canadian agriculture, the impact of Trump's tariffs, which Canadian politicians had the best response to, and what it means for the food industry. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois break down new trade restrictions' economic and political ripple effects, discussing the challenges of retaliatory tariffs, fluctuating commodity prices, and supply chain disruptions. Our guest, John...
Mar 06, 2025•58 min•Season 5Ep. 26
Prepare for a jam-packed episode of The Food Professor Podcast as hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois break down the latest food and retail industry trends shaping today's market. 🔹 Trump's Tariff Talk – How will potential U.S. tariffs impact Canadian food exports and the broader economy? The hosts discuss the uncertainty surrounding trade policies and the growing concerns of the business community. 🔹 Avian Flu & the Future of Eggs – With egg shortages driving up prices, could...
Feb 27, 2025•42 min•Season 5Ep. 25
The latest The Food Professor Podcast episode dives deep into the regulatory landscape shaping Canada's natural health product sector. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Aaron Skelton, President and CEO of the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA), to discuss pressing industry challenges and opportunities. With 82% of Canadians using natural health products, the CHFA is pivotal in advocating for businesses navigating Health Canada regulations, labelling laws, and cost r...
Feb 20, 2025•59 min•Season 5Ep. 24
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast , we welcome Karen Proud , the inaugural President and Adjudicator of the newly established Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct (OGSCC) . With an extensive background in industry leadership, policy, and regulatory affairs—including past roles as President & CEO of Fertilizer Canada and COO at Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada—Karen brings deep expertise to this critical new role aimed at fostering fair business practices in ...
Feb 13, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 23
Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois break down the most pressing food and trade stories this week on The Food Professor Podcast, which is making waves across Canada and beyond. 🔴 Trump's Tariff Shockwave: The duo unpacks the impact of Donald Trump's latest tariff threats on Canadian farmers, the surprising response from Mexico, and whether food will ultimately be exempt from future trade restrictions. Is Canada too dependent on the U.S., and what role should Mexico and India play in diversif...
Feb 06, 2025•48 min•Season 5Ep. 22
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast , Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois explore diverse food industry topics. The show kicks off with a conversation about Texas barbecue, featuring Chuck Charnichart, also known as BBQ Rat, the young, award-winning pitmaster of Barb’s BQ. Her journey from working at Texas' top barbecue spots to launching her own critically acclaimed restaurant is highlighted. The discussion then shifts to economic and trade challenges, particularly rising beef pric...
Jan 30, 2025•53 min•Season 5Ep. 21
This episode of The Food Professor podcast features Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois in conversation with Nicholas Mulroney, co-founder and CEO of Bond Bakery Brands. The discussion begins with Mulroney's transition from a finance background to the food industry, inspired by his acquisition of Portofino Bakery in 2019. His company invests in family-run bakeries to preserve their legacy and foster innovation. Presented by Caddle. Mulroney shares insights into Bond Bakery Brands' mission of ...
Jan 23, 2025•58 min•Season 5Ep. 20
On this episode we look at the hottest topics in the food business including class action claims over inaccurate grocery scales and the FTC's case against John Deere's repair policies. Both highlight the implications for consumer trust and farmer autonomy. The conversation turns to obesity measurement as the hosts critique the outdated Body Mass Index (BMI) and explore innovative methodologies factoring in lifestyle and cultural elements. We emphasize the role of such measures in shaping public ...
Jan 16, 2025•35 min•Season 5Ep. 19
The latest episode of The Food Professor podcast, hosted by Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois, offers a forward-looking discussion on 2025's potential impacts on the food industry. From groundbreaking AI applications to evolving political landscapes, this episode is packed with insights. Key topics include AI's transformative potential, particularly in optimizing supply chains and reducing food waste. Sylvain highlights how AI-driven solutions can cut waste by over 50% in seniors' homes, un...
Jan 09, 2025•52 min•Season 5Ep. 18
In the final episode of The Food Professor Podcast for 2024, presented by Caddle, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois reflect on a whirlwind year in the agri-food industry. With a mix of sharp insights and humour, we tackle the top ten food stories of the year and set the stage for what's to come in 2025. The episode starts with the week's news, starting with a deep dive into the GST Holiday, a policy providing immediate savings for Canadians, and its potential ripple effects on the...
Dec 19, 2024•46 min•Season 5Ep. 17
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast , Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois discuss various pressing topics in the food and retail sectors. We begin with reflections on the release of Canada’s Food Price Report, which sparked substantial media coverage despite being overshadowed by broader economic and political issues, including the proposed GST holiday. Sylvain shares his unique experience of testifying remotely before the Canadian Senate from Berlin, highlighting the logistical hur...
Dec 12, 2024•50 min•Season 5Ep. 16
This episode of The Food Professor #podcast highlights the release of Canada's Food Price Report, forecasting a 3-5% increase in food costs for 2025, translating to an additional $801 yearly expense for a family of four. Key drivers include escalating meat prices due to small herd sizes, pork inflation, and avian flu impacting poultry. The eastern provinces face heightened food inflation due to logistics and cyclical patterns. The report incorporates machine learning, econometrics, and collabora...
Dec 05, 2024•55 min•Season 5Ep. 15
In this engaging episode of The Food Professor Podcast , hosts Sylvain Charlebois and Michael LeBlanc navigate a packed agenda, blending international trade, environmental policy, and groundbreaking innovation in the coffee industry. The episode kicks off with a live interview with Ed Hoehn, COO of Atomo Coffee , recorded at the Coffee Association of Canada's conference. Ed discusses Atomo's pioneering beanless coffee, positioning it as the most sustainable alternative in the market. The hosts t...
Nov 28, 2024•55 min•Season 5Ep. 14
