VISIONS 2008

"Agriculture: Toward a Sustainable Future"

Black Knight Inn, Red Deer,
May 1^st and 2^nd, 2008

Visions 2008 Online Registration

Thursday, May 1^st, 2008

8:00	Registration
8:25	Opening Remarks Dr. Sean Cash AAEA President
8:30	Session One: "Biotechnology, Biofuels & Wind - toward a sustainable future?" Session Chair: Dr. Stavroula Malla
8:35	*"Current biotechnology issues: a view from Alberta & Canada"* Dr. Stephen Morgan Jones Director General, Sustainable Production Systems, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
9:20	*"Are Taxpayers Free-Riding on Biotech Innovation?"* Prof. Richard Gray Department of Bioresource Policy, Business & Economics, University of Saskatchewan
10:05	Break
10:35	*"Biofuels and the integrated biorefinery; a technological perspective"* Prof. David Bressler University of Alberta, Fermentation & Bio/Food Engineering
11:20	*"Effects of biofuels on agricultural producers in Canada: Risks and opportunities"* Prof. Kurt Klein Department of Economics, University of Lethbridge
12:05	Lunch (included in registration)
After Lunch to 1:30	*Student Poster Viewing*
1:30	*"Windenergy: challenges and opportunities"* Prof. Cornelis van Kooten Department of Economics, University of Victoria
2:15	Break
2:25	Session Two: "Risks and opportunities facing Alberta producers" Session Chair: Ron Gibson
2:30	*"The new Canadian Agricultural Policy Framework: Producer Risks and Opportunities in the "Growing Forward" Policy Framework"* Prof. Jim Unterschultz, Department of Rural Economy, University of Alberta
3:15	*"Risks and opportunities facing Alberta producers"* Bruce Viney, Risk Management Specialist, Alberta Agriculture & Food	4:00	Break
4:20	AAEA Annual General Meeting
6:00	No-Host Banquet Reception/Poster Viewing
6:30	Visions 2008 Banquet "The Alberta food processing industry - Quo Vadis?" Jerry Bigam, CEO, Kinnickinnick Foods Presentation of Poster Awards

Friday, May 2^nd, 2008

7:30-8:30	Breakfast (included in full or early registration)
8:30	Session Three: "Sustainability: Land and Water Issues" Session Chair: Dr. Bodo Steiner
8:35	*"Issues facing Irrigation in Alberta"* Len Ring Director, Irrigation Secretariat, Alberta Agriculture
9:20	*"Irrigation issues - a view from the US"* Prof. David Zilberman, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, University of California at Berkeley
10:05	Break
10:35	*"Land use, producer support and regional competitiveness: A view from Europe"* Prof. Roland Herrmann, Institute for Agricultural Policy and Market Research, University of Giessen, Germany
11:20	*"Productivity and risk issues facing producers: A US perspective"* Prof. Rachel Goodhue, University of California, Davis
12:05	Closing Remarks AAEA President

VISIONS 2008 RESEARCH POSTERS
UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENT POSTERS WELCOME
Presenting Student - Free Registration
Contact: Dr. Sean Cash
780-492-4562 / sean.cash@ualberta.ca

Visions 2008 Sponsorship Opportunities

The four-tiered Visions 2008 Sponsorship Program offers an affordable opportunity and recognition for Alberta's agri-business leaders. Interested? Do not miss out! To explore participating in Visions 2008 contact Reg Norby, P. Ag., Visions 2008 Sponsorship Chair.

Reg Norby, P. Ag.
P: (780) 436-0590
F: (780) 436-0737
E-mail: norby@shaw.ca
by April 25, 2008

Four Sponsorship Levels:
1. Platinum ($1,000 & over)
2. Gold ($750)
3. Silver ($500)
4. Bronze ($300)

AAEA Visions 2008 Sponsorship Levels

Platinum ($1000 & Over)
Gold ($750)
Silver ($500)
Bronze ($300)

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The following chart outlines the four-tier sponsorship program noting the types of recognition and benefits provided to those corporations and organizations that wish to offer their financial or in-kind support for the upcoming AAEA's 25^th Annual Visions Conference "Visions 2008 Agriculture: Toward a Sustainable Future" Conference, May 1 - 2, at the Black Knight Inn in Red Deer. Opportunities include Named Session, Banquet, Visions Student Poster sponsorship, Visions Student Bursaries sponsorship, session speaker sponsorship, luncheon, session refreshment breaks, and registration kits. For specific information on the required levels of support, please contact the Visions 2008 Sponsorship Chair. If interested in exploring a specific sponsorship interest, please contact us as soon as possible to avoid a missed opportunity.

SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS	BRONZE $ 300	SILVER $500	GOLD $750	PLATINUM $1000+
	SPONSORSHIP CONTRIBUTION LEVELS
References in Media Releases	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Registration Desk Acknowledgement	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Acknowledgement in Program Guide	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Opening/Closing Acknowledgement	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Acknowledgement on AAEA Website	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Complimentary Luncheon Ticket	Yes (1)	Yes (1)	Yes (2)	Yes (2)
Complimentary Banquet Ticket		Yes (1)	Yes (1)	Yes (2)
Registration Kit Promo Item/Brochure¹		Yes	Yes	Yes
Complimentary Banquet Ticket		Yes	Yes	Yes
Visions Student Bursaries Sponsorship		Yes	Yes	Yes
Luncheon Sponsorship			Yes	Yes
Speaker Sponsorship			Yes	Yes
"2 for 1" Conference Registration			Yes (1)	Yes (2)
Named Sponsorship Opportunity				Yes
Co-Chair/Welcome Opportunity				Yes
¹Sponsor is requested to forward 150 copies of your chosen corporate insert to: "AAEA -Visions 2008", Rural Economy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, no later than April 25, 2008.

Sponsorship cheques are to made payable to: "AAEA"; and forwarded to:

AAEA-Visions 2008
Rural Economy, University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1.

In order to ensure that your support is recognized as per the above program, confirmation of your contribution, in cash or in-kind, must be received by April 25, 2008.