CAHRC and University of Guelph Partner to Expand HR Training for Canada’s Agriculture Sector

Ottawa, ON – In a move to strengthen workforce development in agriculture, the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) has partnered with the University of Guelph’s School of Continuing Studies (SCS) to deliver practical, industry-informed HR training tailored specifically to farm and rural business operations.

Through this collaboration, the University’s new Certificate in People Management will include a tailored elective stream, HR for Agriculture and Rural Enterprises, co-developed with CAHRC to reflect the unique HR realities of farm operations and rural businesses.

This comprehensive program is designed for farm owners, managers, rural business operators, and team leaders who often manage teams without the support of dedicated HR professionals. Learners will gain essential HR knowledge for their business through a flexible, online asynchronous format via the University of Guelph’s Brightspace platform.

“CAHRC brings a strong understanding of the agriculture industry and decades of experience in human resource management and labour market research to this partnership,” said Jennifer Wright, Executive Director of CAHRC. “By combining our close connection to primary producers and agri-businesses with the University of Guelph’s academic excellence and robust delivery infrastructure, we’re building a meaningful collaboration to deliver practical, high-quality HR training tailored to the needs of Canada’s agriculture sector.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) to develop innovative agricultural HR courses tailored specifically for agribusiness professionals,” says Dianne Tyers, AVP, School of Continuing Studies. “This collaboration allows us to combine academic expertise with real-world insights, equipping professionals with practical, industry-relevant HR knowledge to attract, manage, and retain the talent they need to thrive in this dynamic industry. It’s exciting to build something that directly benefits rural communities and we can’t wait to see the positive impact of this program.”

This certificate program complements CAHRC’s Ag HR Micro-credential Program, helping scale training delivery and increasing national reach. Agriculture-specific micro-credentials within the certificate will cover essential topics such as:

• Managing seasonal and temporary workers
• Navigating domestic and international labour laws
• Promoting safe, healthy farm workplaces
• Embracing cultural and language diversity in rural teams

Upon completion, learners will receive University of Guelph–branded digital badges, affirming their commitment to workforce excellence and continuous development.

CAHRC, with its unique position in the industry, brings its agricultural expertise to the program by:

• Supporting course development and content accuracy
• Ensuring alignment with real-world industry need
• Promoting the program nationally through its extensive agri-sector network
• Participating in the program advisory committee

This partnership directly supports CAHRC’s mission to deliver workforce development solutions grounded in research and industry collaboration. It also aligns with the goals of the National Workforce Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Agri-Food, by improving HR knowledge, strengthening leadership in rural enterprises, and making training more accessible across regions and roles.

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