Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

Sylvain Charlebois is a visiting professor at McGill University in Montreal and a full professor in agri-food distribution and policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax (Canada). He is also the Scientific Director of the Laboratory of Analytical Sciences in Agri-Food at the same university. He is also the former Dean of the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University. Prior to joining Dalhousie, he co-founded the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph.

His area of research and expertise encompasses food distribution, safety and security. He is one of the most cited experts on the supply chain, agri-food value chain and traceability. Since 2020, he has been co-host of The Food Professor podcast discussing current topics in the food, restaurant, grocery and restaurant industries.

For nearly 20 years, he has been a regular contributor to the editorial pages of La Presse, the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail as an expert in the agri-food field. His research and commentaries are published by the most important newspapers and magazines in Quebec, Canada and the world, including the Journal de Montréal, the National Post, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. His comments are also regularly heard on regional, national and international television and radio: LCN (where he has a weekly column), TVA, Radio-Canada, RDI, TVA, LCN, CTV, CBC, Global, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, etc.

Since 2012, it has published the now highly anticipated Food Price Report annually, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. He has published 8 books dealing with global agri-food systems, including one entitled Poutine Nation, which explores the journey of this iconic Quebec dish, from its humble beginnings to its success on the international stage. He is also the author of more than 750 articles published in international scientific and professional journals in the field of food science and management. He is the editor of the academic journal Trends in Food Science Technology.

In the spring of 2025, he was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal by the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, in recognition of his significant contribution to the agri-food industry. In addition, in 2024, he was recognized as one of the 100 influential personalities in Quebec by L'Actualité magazine.

He has testified on several occasions as an expert witness before parliamentary committees on issues related to agri-food policy. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries. He is also a speaker at numerous international conferences and an expert in various research bodies in Canada and abroad. In addition, since 2011, he has been a member of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Scientific and Expert Advisory Committees and is also a member of the board of the Washington-based Global Food Traceability Center.

With extensive experience working with businesses, governments and NPOs, Mr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with real-world expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work contributes to advancing the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in an ever-changing industry.