On behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our scenic province and the exciting City of St. John’s.

This is the first time we have had the pleasure of hosting this conference since 2006.  It is an honour to do so again.

Agriculture development has reached a pivotal point for our province and we are committed to increasing food self-sufficiency to at least 20 per cent by 2022.  The national framework that will be discussed over the next few days will help us meet our commitment to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.

During your stay in our beautiful province, I hope you have the opportunity to experience our renowned hospitality and learn more about our agriculture and agrifoods sector.

Enjoy your stay.

Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador