This week I have invited the University's agriculture communications director, Owen Roberts on to the show. Mr. Roberts had written an article in the local paper (Guelph Mercury) about our ever growing dependence on oil for the distribution of food and my interest was peaked. It is rare to find journalists talking about this very real issue in the mainstream press, so I hope that we can get into that particular discussion and also talk about issues to do with genetic engineering, the patenting that gives corporations sole ownership over seeds and, let's not beat around the bush, life itself. Where are we going as first world food consumers and where are our brightest farmers headed in the future?
Some info on Owen Roberts: Currently, he is working with the Ontario Agricultural College and the Office of Open Learning to develop Canada’s first distance education certificate program in agricultural communication. Owen Roberts is also the director of research communications for the University, and teaches agricultural communications in the Ontario Agricultural College. Noted for his teaching and mentoring track record at Guelph, Owen also maintains an active journalistic career as a columnist for the Guelph Daily Mercury and for various other regional and national agri-food publications, of which he has also contributed as reporter and editor at Alberta Report, and a contributor/freelancer to the Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun and CBC Radio Edmonton.
A real journalist on my show! Should be good, hope you can tune in.
Also, if you have any questions for Mr. Roberts, please don't hesitate to shoot them my way before Friday.
