Dr. Marc Fortin

Biography:
Dr. Marc Fortin joined Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) as Assistant Deputy Minister, Research Branch, in 2006. Since, he has been leading AAFC’s research activities and the evolution of the Branch toward a role of national leadership in public research while mobilizing and increasing the private research capacity. A federal, provincial and territorial agreement has allowed the acceleration of the pace of innovation in that sector.

Prior to 2006, he was at McGill University where he conducted research and also served as Chair and Associate Dean in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science. He led national and international research groups. He was a member of the Royal Society of Canada's Expert Panel on the Future of Food Biotechnology in Canada, a William Dawson Scholar at McGill University, and was Director of Science Policy for the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists.

Dr. Fortin is a graduate of McGill University (PhD) and of Université Laval (MSc and BSc) and conducted research at The University of Chicago and at The University of California at Davis.

Abstract:
An innovative application of foresight engages and mobilizes government, industry and academic stakeholders in an innovation system to develop coordinated horizontal action plans to achieve benefits beyond what individual actors could accomplish on their own.


Foresight is a systems oriented strategic planning tool, and a multi-stakeholder engagement process that helps decision-makers better understand the future implications of decisions they take today. Foresight explores future possibilities and their implications for science and technology, policies and programs, regulations, marketing, and industry strategies in the context of potential challenges and opportunities facing governments, industry and Canadians. It helps stakeholders to develop a common understanding of possibilities and implications and to build a willingness to act in a coordinated and collaborative manner with others to accomplish common goals.