On Tuesday, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced an investment of up to $734,806 to help five organizations increase the participation of under-represented groups in the Canadian agriculture and agri-food industry.

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.

“Companies and organizations are most successful when they bring together skilled and talented people from different genders, generations, and cultures. 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,” said Bibeau.

The recipients include:

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

Fédération des Agricultrices du Québec

The Fédération des Agricultrices du Québec is a farm women's network dedicated to developing the potential of women in the sector and lobbying on issues that directly affect farm women and their families.

Location :

Longueuil, Quebec

Federal funding :

Up to $315,301

Project:

Through the project, the organization will strengthen the entrepreneurial skills of 270 farm women, integrating linguistic minorities across Canada. It will also promote the Dimension E entrepreneurial training program and develop new business partnerships to help farm women develop their business skills.

 

Native Women's Association of Canada

The Native Women's Association of Canada represents the political voice of Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people in Canada, with a goal to promote and enhance the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of Indigenous women in Canada.

Location:

Ottawa, Ontario

Federal funding:

Up to $136,954

Project:

The funding will allow the association to empower Métis, Inuit, and First Nations women, girls, two-spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people to grow traditional food and medicine, while obtaining a better understanding of agriculture and agri-food through an Indigenous lens.  The association is installing a rooftop greenhouse at its Gatineau location in order to explore urban horticultural possibilities. The produce grown will be used in the building's state-of-the-art kitchen to make Indigenous-based meals for patrons, adding a new kind of cuisine to Gatineau's urban culinary experience. As well, the association will use two satellite rural growing areas to provide smart growth strategies for food security in small Indigenous towns and rural communities.

 

Indigenous Works

Indigenous Works, formerly the Aboriginal Human Resource Council, has for over 20 years worked with companies and organizations to strengthen

their performance and results in Indigenous employment, workplace engagement and inclusion.

Location:

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Federal funding:

Up to $123,406

Project:

The purpose of this project is to identify gaps, challenges and opportunities for Indigenous peoples and organizations participating in the agriculture and agri-food industry. Indigenous Works will engage with sector organizations and Indigenous stakeholders to develop a strategy to increase Indigenous participation and innovation in the industry.

 

Canadian Federation of Agriculture

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture was formed in 1935 as a unified voice to speak on behalf of Canadian farmers and today represents approximately 200,000 farm families across the country.

Location:

Ottawa, Ontario

Federal funding:

Up to $82,389

Project:

The funding will support the organization's Engaging and Advancing Women in Agriculture project, which will help provide farm organizations across Canada with a framework to help systematically address the barriers women face in getting involved in agriculture. It will also celebrate women who have become leaders in the sector.

 

The Do More Agriculture Foundation

The Do More Agriculture Foundation is the national voice and champion for mental health in Canadian agriculture.

Location:

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Federal funding:

Up to $76,756

Project:

The purpose of this project is to engage national stakeholders in the development of a research report to identify gaps in mental health support for women and youth working in the agriculture industry and share recommendations for collective action in the industry to address the gaps.