In this episode of The Truth About Ag, Evan and Kristjan are joined by two key leaders in Canadian agriculture - Justine Hendricks, CEO of FCC, and Darren Baccus, EVP of Agri-Food, Agribusiness Alliances and FCC Capital.

The conversation is anchored in one of the most ambitious investment announcements in Canadian ag history: FCC Capital’s $2 billion commitment to accelerate innovation in agriculture and food. It’s about what this funding makes possible and how it’s already being deployed. In just 18 months, the team has already moved nearly $200 million into the sector.

They discuss the strategy behind the announcement, how stakeholder voices helped shape the direction, and why it’s so important to bring new types of investors into ag. 

The conversation digs into the challenges of educating investors, the work it takes to de-risk innovation, and the unique complexity of building and running a modern farm business.

Because while everyone agrees on the need to increase productivity, the root causes holding us back are more layered than they appear. And if we’re going to solve the big problems, we need bold investments, honest conversations and a shared understanding of what’s really at stake.