New Workforce Initiative Will Support British Columbia’s Agriculture And Food Industry

The province is spending money on a new workforce initiative to support the agriculture and food industry in recruiting and retaining the workers who will help provide a stable food supply for a growing population in B.C. and around the world.

“The demand for B.C. food and beverage products continues to grow, and we need to address labour challenges now, so we can continue to rely on B.C.’s agriculture and food sector in the future,” said Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food.

“Our government is working hard to increase the number of B.C. agriculture workers so we will have a safe and resilient local food supply for generations to come.”

The Agriculture and Food Workforce Development Initiative will provide as much as $15 million to improve recruitment and retention of domestic workers and supporting targeted training to develop a skilled workforce.

AgSafe is the first organization supported under the new program and will receive $755,000 to expand mental-health services to the B.C. agriculture sector.

This funding will support the expansion of its  mental wellness in agriculture initiative that encourages producers to reach out for help and offers mental wellness resources for the agricultural community.

To see the full release, visit Government of British Columbia.