• rcr icon

    Accelerated Cybersecurity Training Program

    Catalyst Cyber Accelerator

    Corporate Training

    Cyber Talent Acquisition

    Mastercard Emerging Leaders Cyber Initiative

    Catalyst Fellowship Program​

COHORT

FALL 2025

LOCATION

VIRTUAL

COST

FREE

Agri-Food

Developed in collaboration with leading industry experts, this program will equip businesses working in the Agri-Food sector with the cybersecurity knowledge, tools, and best practices they need to safeguard the future of agri-food against emerging cyber threats.

Eligibility Criteria:

Staff must be employed in Ontario

Organization must be operating in the Agri-Food sector

In partnership with

Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange logo

Funding provided in part by

Logo for the Province of Ontario

1

Webinar

For decision-makers and leaders

This session will explore the evolving landscape of agri-food and the cybersecurity challenges that come with it. The expert panel will cover topics such as cybersecurity threats, strategies, and best practices for resilient building design and operations.

Dates and Location

Date: Monday, September 29th, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Virtual

Topics Covered

  • Cybersecurity trends and strategy 
  • Key cyber threats and risks to Agri-Food
  • Cybersecurity technology adoption, and more

Panelists

Gord Howells

VP, Information Technology

Sofina Foods

Chuck Baresich

President

Haggerty AgRobotics Company

General Manager

Haggerty Creek

Sem Ponnambalam

Founder and President

Xahive

Moderator

Dr Janos Botschner

President

HumInSight

2

Bootcamp

For technical and non-technical staff

This specialized bootcamp is designed for staff working in the Agri-Food sector – ideally, those with responsibility for technology planning, procurement, integration, and operations. Programming will include experiential learning, interactive discussions, and access to insights from cybersecurity experts.

Learners will be provided job aids such as checklists and templates for use within their organizations, and qualifying companies will also gain access to a one-year associate membership within CCTX.

Overview

   Topics Include:

  • Foundational cybersecurity risks
  • Introduction to Cybersecurity in Agri-Food
  • Regulatory Framework and Standards
  • Cybersecurity Risk Management
  • Security-by-design Principles and IoT Security
  • Emerging Technologies and future trends
  • Incident Response and Cyber Resilience

Dates & Locations

Duration: Six weeks (two hours of virtual programming per week)

Date: Every Thursday from October 2, 2025 – November 6, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: Virtual 

Cost: Thanks to funding provided by the Government of Ontario, the program is free

Co-Lead

Ritesh Kotak

Consulting

Ritesh Kotak

Self-Assessment & 1-on-1 Consultation

Self-Assessments

Take this online self-assessment to better understand your cybersecurity posture. This tool is available to all, and will provide you with a report that identifies critical shortcomings and provides insights for improving your organization’s cybersecurity.

1-on-1 Consultations

Once you have completed the assessment, qualifying participants will be invited to apply for a free consultation with a Catalyst cybersecurity advisor. Receive support in identifying critical shortcomings, prioritizing activities for safe and secure tech adoption and scaling, and developing an action plan for cybersecurity posture improvements.

Ritesh Kotak

Ritesh Kotak is a technologist, legal advisor, and media contributor whose career bridges public safety, emerging technology, and innovation. Raised in an entrepreneurial family and grounded in the food manufacturing industry, he developed a deep appreciation for business and tech-integration from an early age. After starting his professional career in policing, he spent over seven years specializing in cybercrime and public safety innovation—he then transitioned to working in Big Tech, driving initiatives in IoT, cybersecurity, and intelligence. Ritesh holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Toronto, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Edinburgh and a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa. He now practices law, advising on complex matters from cyber breaches to corporate litigation. He’s appeared twice before Canadian Parliamentary Committees as a subject matter expert on digital competitiveness, with his insights featured in national and global media.

Dr. Janos Botschner

Dr. Janos Botschner is the principal of HumInsight and a Senior Associate with the Community Safety Knowledge Alliance. Janos is a social scientist by training. He previously held senior positions in the broader public sector, including: as the founding director of a community-based research institute; as a civil servant; and as an academic administrator and adjunct graduate faculty member. He is a published author and applied researcher working at the intersection of issues impacting the safety and well-being of our communities and Canadian society. Janos recently led the multi-year Cyber Security in Canadian Agriculture initiative which was funded, in part, by Public Safety Canada. He currently co-chairs Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Agriculture Cyber Security Working Group, comprised of stakeholders and experts from federal, provincial and territorial governments, academia and industry.

Sem Ponnambalam

Sem is a former senior advisor to two Canadian Prime Ministers, represented Canada at the World Economic Forum and the G20 Youth Summit on cybersecurity. Developer of 30+ AI, cyber, privacy, and anti-human trafficking courses delivered through institutions across North America and Europe. Senior advisor and consultant to the UN Capital Development Fund, EU, various government departments federally, provincially, municipally, not-for-profits, and diverse public/private sector clients throughout North America, South America, and Europe. Published author of three best-practice manuals on cybersecurity and privacy governance, with a fourth book underway. Frequent keynote speaker and trusted expert on building secure, privacy-first strategies in an AI-driven world.

Chuck Baresich

Gord Howells

Gord Howells leads the technology function for Sofina Foods Canada, a global company headquartered in Markham, Ontario and one of the country’s leading manufacturers of primary and further processed protein products. Over his twenty-year career, he has extensive experience developing and executing technology strategies in a diverse range of business environments. Gord has been an advisor to Toronto-area startups, sits as a board member on multiple technology advisories and has been a regular speaker on cyber security for asset-intensive industries.

Fill out the form below to subscribe to The Catalyst Connect newsletter and stay in the know:

Register your interest in the training programs available in this sector and we will contact you once the enrollment for the program becomes available.

Contact Us

*By clicking submit, you consent to receive emails from Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst.

Fill out the form below to subscribe to The Catalyst Connect newsletter and stay in the know:

*By clicking submit, you consent to receive emails from Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Agri-Food Webinar