The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) and the Future Skills Centre (FSC) are partnering with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Food and Beverage Canada in developing a National Workforce Strategy for the Agriculture and Food & Beverage Manufacturing sector.
The project will address the persistent and growing labour and skills shortages affecting Canada’s agriculture and food processing industries.
“This is an important and timely opportunity to map out the future of the agriculture and agri-food workforce in Canada,” said Paul Glenn, chairman of the CAHRC.
“The agriculture and food and beverage manufacturing sector could help the Canadian economy emerge from COVID-19 if labour and skills shortages can be addressed.
“Unfortunately, the pandemic has revealed that persistent workforce challenges affect the competitiveness and sustainability of this sector,” Glenn said.
“By working together, stakeholders across the value chain can develop practical business solutions, then implement programs and services targeted at attracting and engaging more workers into the sector.“
Debra Hauer, Manager AgriLMI, CAHRC, Ontario, said “this project will outline a vision for the future along with priorities and stakeholder commitments.
“We will not recreate the wheel, but rather will make sure all the wheels are turning in the same direction. Then we will track progress so that we know how well we are doing in finding, training and keeping workers in the agriculture and food and beverage manufacturing sector.”
