New AgScape initiatives aim to fill industry gaps

AgScape, a non-profit agriculture education organization, recently announced investments of up to $3 million from the governments of Canada and Ontario.

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The funds will be split between two partnerships, each with the goal of engaging students and creating educational programming about Canada’s agriculture sector.

Why it matters: Government investment in education could encourage youth engagement with the Canadian food system.

AgScape executive director Mira Lyonblum said the partnership and funds have been in the works since Sept. 1, 2023, “and it’s three years of funding, and this is for most of the core projects that we do.”

According to a May 1 press release, AgScape’s partnership with the federal government will bring “awareness of the importance and diversity of career opportunities in the agriculture and agri-food sector across Ontario.”

Lyonblum said a driving factor is the career gap in Canadian agriculture. She cited research by the Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council.

“They had their large, multi-year research project that came out … talking about the gaps that exist in the careers that are available, or the jobs that are open that don’t have anyone to fill them at the moment.

“We’re talking about jobs at every level,” Lyonblum said. “We’re talking about jobs that require very specialized advanced degrees (and) we’re also talking about other jobs that require, of course, very important skills and experience, but not even specific degrees. So, we really are looking at the entire system.

“We’re already feeling that gap. There already are interruptions in our food supply chain. There’s already a clear negative effect on our agriculture and agri-food industry.”

The CAHRC research showed most people across the country couldn’t name any agri-food-related careers other than farmer and chef.

“People don’t think of agriculture and food when they’re looking into careers,” she said. “We need people from literally every background, every area of study, every discipline in order to contribute to making sure that we have a sustainable food system.”

A project previously included in the partnership is the Teacher Ambassador Program, which has Ontario educators placed in classrooms from grades four to 12.

“The lesson topics range from eating well with Canada’s food guide, food processing, (to the) past, present and future of agriculture,” said AgScape marketing and communications manager Joy Qui.

“It has various different lesson topics that showcases to students that within the agriculture and agri-food sector, there’s really a vast number of topics, vast number of career opportunities.

“We want to be there for them, to make them aware of the agriculture and food industry, because this is often not talked about in the current Ontario curriculum.”

Education programs extend beyond the classroom.

“Our ThinkAg career competitions are a little more direct, in that students are able to do hands-on work, hands-on activities, with people who are already in the field,” Lyonblum explained.

Other programming will involve working with Ontario agricultural societies to promote careers in agriculture at every fair.

“It’s going to be asking people what skills they already have, what areas they’re interested in going into, and then showing them some different career options, people who are really in those careers already, and the pathways that they can take.”

AgScape also offers a resource library for educators, including activity booklets, infographics and guides to various agri-food-related topics.