Sylvain Charlebois is a Canadian researcher and professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is a former dean of the university's Faculty of Management.[1]

Sylvain Charlebois
Born
Farnham, Quebec, Canada
Other namesThe Food Professor
Alma materUniversité de Sherbrooke, Université de Montréal, Royal Military College[citation needed]
OccupationProfessor of Management
Employer(s)Dalhousie University, Canada
SpouseJanèle Vézeau

Charlebois, who goes by the moniker "The Food Professor," is the director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. Since December 2010, he has been the lead author of Canada's Food Price Report.

Career

Charlebois was a professor at the University of Guelph from 2010 to 2016.[2] In 2016, he was named dean of the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University.[1] In 2018, Charlebois became the director of Agri-food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie, after resigning as dean following an investigation into complaints involving harassment and bullying. Following Charlebois's resignation, a university spokesman stated that the conclusions of the investigation would remain confidential but that "no further action" would be taken in relation to the investigation.[3][4]

Charlebois writes a blog for Canadian Grocer magazine called "The Food Professor,"[5] and is a co-host of the podcast titled "The Food Professor."[6]

Studies and reports

Since 2010, Charlebois has published Canada's Food Price Report.[7] He has also co-authored reports related to the Canadian Wheat Board’s Daily Price Contract program, Canada's Food Guide,[8] edible cannabis legislation,[9] global food traceability systems,[10][11] and public perception towards GMOs.[12]

In January 2023 Charlebois penned a commentary on the increase in theft from supermarkets, and how it raises costs for grocers and leads to higher grocery prices.[13][14][15] The piece, and a Twitter post, was met with criticism, and debate about the morality of food theft.[16][17] Twitter users drew attention to Charlebois' salary from Dalhousie University, and his receipt of a $60,000 grant in 2018 from the Weston Foundation, which is funded by Weston Family companies that include Loblaws, one of Canada's largest grocery retailers.[18][19] In response, Charlebois said the grant went to Dalhousie University and was used to pay a graduate student; and that people are upset with grocers since, with food inflation over 10 percent, "they're looking for a scapegoat."[13][18]

Bibliography

Books

  • Charlebois, Sylvain (2021). Poutine Nation. FIDES. ISBN 978-2762144116.
  • Charlebois, Sylvain (2017). Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking. Wiley. ISBN 978-1-119-07112-9.

References

  1. ^ a b "Sylvain Charlebois". School of Public Administration Dalhousie Faculty of Management. Dalhousie University. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  2. ^ Bradley, Susan (6 July 2018). "Dalhousie looks into bullying, harassment complaints against school dean". CBC. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  3. ^ d'Entremont, Danielle (23 August 2018). "High-profile Dal business dean stepping down; will lead new agri-food institute". CBC. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  4. ^ ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Société-. "Sylvain Charlebois quitte son poste de doyen à l'Université Dalhousie". Radio-Canada.ca (in Canadian French). Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  5. ^ "The Food Professor". Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Podcast". the-food-professor.simplecast.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Rising Food Prices: U of G Economists Predict Some Relief in 2012". uoguelph.ca. 12 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  8. ^ Hui, Ann (14 March 2019). "Study suggests the new Canada's Food Guide is more affordable only under specific conditions". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  9. ^ Auld, Alison (26 September 2017). "Canadians favour marijuana legalization, curious about weed edibles: Dalhousie survey". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  10. ^ Food Protection Trends, Vol 33, No. 4, p. 232–239
  11. ^ "Canada's Food Tracking Needs Improvement: Study". uoguelph.ca. 26 June 2014. Archived from the original on 30 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  12. ^ Auld, Alison (26 September 2017). "Canadians favour marijuana legalization, curious about weed edibles: Dalhousie survey". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  13. ^ a b Judd, Amy (16 January 2013). "Soaring grocery prices in Canada spark increase in thefts from stores: researcher". Global News. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  14. ^ Charlebois, Sylvain (10 January 2023). "SYLVAIN CHARLEBOIS: We all pay for grocery theft". SaltWire Network. Postmedia News. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  15. ^ Charlebois, Sylvain (9 January 2023). "We all pay for grocery theft: With food inflation at record highs, it is no surprise to learn there are cases of theft occurring, but that trend could mean more cameras, security guards and perhaps even anti-theft devices directly on food products". Canadian Grocer.
  16. ^ Bousquet, Tim (16 January 2023). "Theft from grocery stores and the end of civilization as we know it". Halifax Examiner. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  17. ^ Hearing, Alice (16 January 2023). "Food professor earning $221,000-a-year embroiled in debate over inflation crisis after he slams grocery shoplifters". Fortune. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  18. ^ a b Lev, Elianna (8 February 2024). "'Food Professor' Sylvain Charlebois criticized for 'out of touch' op-ed on groceries: 'Wish I could say I am shocked' - Sylvian Charlebois, known as the "Food Professor," insists his efforts in the industry are having a more positive impact on Canadians than some might realize". Yahoo! News.
  19. ^ Stoodley, Chris (15 January 2023). "'They should shoplift even more': Some Canadians stealing high-priced food from grocery stores". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.