The Return of Trump & What It Means for the Canadian Agri-Food Sector and guest Michael Chadwick, Fidelio

In the latest episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois discuss the implications of Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency on the agri-food sector. We explore how his administration may impact trade, environmental policies, and Canadian food security. Trump's presidency, with a Republican-controlled Congress, signals potential changes in tariffs, which could affect Canada's agricultural industry. Sylvain highlights the likelihood of a U.S. push for a more merger-friendly economy, possibly accelerating industry consolidation, including the grocery sector.

Our guest recorded live in Montreal at the SIAL Food Innovation show is Michael Chadwick with Quebec's Fidelio ERP system, talking about digital transformation and productivity for Canada's food manufacturers.

The conversation also delves into Canada's unique challenges, including Trudeau's environmental policies, particularly carbon taxes, which Sylvain argues have driven Canadian wholesale food prices higher than in the U.S. Trump's potential to reduce regulatory costs and energy prices in the U.S. may create competitive challenges for Canadian agriculture, especially with differing environmental stances.

Lastly, we touch on the international stage, noting Trump's relationships with global leaders like Vladimir Putin and his possible influence on the Ukraine-Russia conflict, which could have significant implications for global food security. They conclude by speculating how Canada's upcoming federal policies must adapt to this shifting U.S. landscape.

About Us

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.

Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world’s most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. 

He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. 

Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.

With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues.

 Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast.  He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.