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Applications open for Canadian Agricultural Youth Council’s second cohort

Building on the success of the first cohort of the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (CAYC), Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food, has launched the application period for the second cohort.

By providing a forum for the next generation to bring forward innovative and fresh ideas for the future of agriculture and the agri-food sector, Canadian youth will be able to play an active role in the decisions that will shape their future.

“I would like to build on the success of the first cohort of the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council and renew some of its membership while maintaining the same vibrancy and spirit that I enjoyed so much,” Bibeau said. “I am impressed and inspired by the commitment and deep thinking of these young leaders who aspire to create an increasingly innovative and sustainable agricultural industry.”

The second CAYC cohort’s 18-month term will officially start in the summer of 2022 and will be made up of new and returning members – youth who are creative and who have a passion for food and farming. It will remain diverse, with members from across the country, including regional and Indigenous representation.

“As co-chair of the council as well as a farmer, I saw the meaningful progress we made during the first term of the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council,” said Jerry Bos, CAYC co-chair. “The future of the sector depends on a strong flow of ideas – both ways – between young people and those who develop government policy and programming.”

CAYC meets regularly with Bibeau, as well as departmental officials, to discuss the issues that matter most to young people working in the agriculture and agri-food sectors and to advise on agriculture-related policies and programs.

The Canadian Agricultural Youth Council has already provided valuable feedback on important issues impacting the sector, including sustainable agriculture, understanding the challenges around the urban-rural divide, and how best to attract young people to the sector, which is of particular importance in a time of labour shortages. In addition, the Council’s recommendations have also helped develop the Government of Canada’s new AgriCommunication initiative, which is aimed at helping people better understand how their food is produced, while enabling the sector to better understand consumer expectations.

Young people aged 18 to 30 who work in or study the agriculture and agri-food value chain, and who are interested in shaping the future of the sector, are encouraged to apply here. The application deadline is March 22.