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AAFC invests in increasing diversity in Canadian agriculture

June 8, 2022  By Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada


On May 31, Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food, announced an investment of up to $734,806 to help five organizations increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the Canadian agriculture and agri-food industry.

“Companies and organizations are most successful when they bring together skilled and talented people from different genders, generations, and cultures,” Bibeau said. “The agriculture sector has everything to gain from growing its diversity at a time when career and business opportunities are multiplying, from the farm to the laboratory, and through new technologies.”

With funding under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriDiversity Program, the organizations will identify barriers and address issues to help more people from diverse backgrounds enter the industry and pursue careers as agricultural entrepreneurs.

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The recipients include:

  • The Fédération des Agricultrices du Québec, which will receive up to $315,301;
  • The Native Women’s Association of Canada, which will receive up to $136,954;
  • Indigenous Works, which will receive up to $123,406;
  • The Canadian Federation of Agriculture, which will receive up to $82,389; and
  • The Do More Agriculture Foundation, which will receive up to $76,756.

The projects being undertaken by these organizations will open doors for Canadians of diverse backgrounds, creating new opportunities in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food industry. The organizations will also help raise awareness in the sector of the barriers to starting and growing an agriculture or agri-food business.

The work includes a national project to address systemic barriers facing women trying to succeed in agriculture, local initiatives to empower Indigenous peoples to create business opportunities through traditional food and medicine, and national research to address gaps in mental health support for under-represented groups working in agriculture.

“The Indigenous Agriculture and Agrifood Sector holds so much promise for Indigenous people and communities, both for employment and business development,” said Kelly J. Lendsay, president and CEO of Indigenous Works. “This project, to identify gaps, challenges and opportunities for Indigenous peoples and organizations participating in the agriculture and agri-food industry, comes at a time when issues pertaining to Indigenous food security and food sovereignty are paramount. Innovation will be important for the development of the sector.”


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