Event description

On March 28, GFI President and Founder Bruce Friedrich will open the second annual Canadian Alternative Protein Symposium with a keynote and fireside chat, “A Level Set on the State of Alternative Proteins.”

The one-day gathering convenes Canadian researchers, industry leaders, and advocates focused on advancing plant-based, fermentation-enabled, and cultivated foods. This year’s program reflects Canada’s growing strengths across the sector, from plant-based product innovation to new federal investments in agricultural feedstocks for cultivated meat research.

Additonal speakers include Dr. Alejandro Marangoni, known for his work on improved plant-based cheeses, and Dr. Ben Scott of the Global Institute for Food Security.

The event is organized in collaboration with the University of Toronto, McMaster University, the University of Waterloo, and the University of Manitoba. We’re especially excited to see Alt Protein Project student leaders from the University of Toronto and other campuses playing an active role in shaping the day. Their leadership, energy, and cross-campus collaboration are exactly what’s building Canada’s next generation of protein innovators.

Event location

40 St George St
Toronto, ON Canada
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GFI speaker

Bruce friedrich

Bruce Friedrich

PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER

Bruce Friedrich serves as GFI’s chief thought leader and relationship-builder, working in close partnership with GFI’s global teams and food system stakeholders around the world.

Bruce is a TED Fellow, Y Combinator alum, and popular speaker on food innovation. He has penned op-eds for the Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy, Nature Food, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Wired, CNN, and many other publications. He has represented GFI on the TED Radio Hour, New Yorker Radio Hour, the Ezra Klein Show, Making Sense (Sam Harris), and a variety of other podcasts and TV programs. Bruce’s 2019 TED talk has been viewed more than 2.4 million times and translated into 30 languages.

Publishers Weekly selected Bruce’s book Meat as a top 10 new release in science, writing: “This packed account makes food science feel like an urgent and essential undertaking.” The book has also received praise from Nobel Laureate in economics Michael Kremer, former UNFCCC head Christiana Figueres, and CSIS director of global food and water security Caitlin Welsh, who penned the foreword. Says Welsh: “This book explains the imperative to transform our food systems, and lays out a game plan to get us there…. Meat is as important as it is enjoyable.” Find out more on the book’s website, MeatBook.org.

Bruce graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown Law and also holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University, the London School of Economics, and Grinnell College.

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