Colorado has a tradition of bringing all parts of agriculture together as part of a dialogue on the production of food. That tradition is the Governor's Forum on Colorado Agriculture, and the 2017 event has been slated for Feb. 22 at the Renaissance Hotel in Denver. The meeting will include former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden as a speaker.

Harden, who is now vice president of public policy and chief sustainability officer for DuPont, will talk about an agricultural "future built by collaboration." She will share her perspective on the need for alliances with food, nutrition and conservation groups, as well as other nontraditional partners.

The forum will also feature addresses from Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper; Tony Frank, Colorado State University president; and Don Brown, Colorado commissioner of agriculture.

The theme this year is "Label It: Agriculture." It will include what organizers are calling an innovative and informative program that brings together producers, consumers, experts and other ag stakeholders to "peel back the polarizing rhetoric often found in today's society," according to a media announcement.

Organizers noted that "stories can create divisive boundaries in agriculture between organic and conventional, urban and rural, large-scale and small-scale." The forum will focus on the "powerful history of collaboration and cooperation that has made agriculture in Colorado the state's second-largest driver of our economy," according to the release.

Along with Harden, another keynote presentation will be delivered by Gregory Graff, an associate professor at Colorado State University, whose research looks at the economics and public policy of technological innovation and technology-based entrepreneurship, and how they drive economic development and industry change. His presentation will focus on "The Value of Colorado Agriculture."

The day will also include breakout sessions covering CSU consumer surveys, pollinator health, conservation, National Western Stock Show developments, cooperatives, comparisons between global food production and local food, food safety, food labeling, food waste and succession planning.

Look for future announcements as more details regarding the forum agenda are finalized.

To learn more and to register, visit governorsagforum.com

Source: Colorado Department of Agriculture