Funding Announcement: CAHRC and AAFC Join Forces to Empower Women in Canadian Agriculture

Ottawa, ON - The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) will receive up to $178,341 in funding over two years from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to advance the National Women in Agriculture and Agri-Food Network Project. The funding is provided through the AgriDiversity program, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. This exciting project is poised to drive significant progress in supporting and promoting women's leadership in the Canadian agricultural sector.

The project, titled "National Women in Agriculture and Agri-Food Network," aims to foster the advancement of women in Canadian agriculture through research, collaboration, and knowledge mobilization. The overarching goal is to ensure that women hold at least 30% of industry leadership positions by 2030.

The project includes four key initiatives:

• Working collaboratively with women in regional and provincial agriculture organizations to develop a comprehensive Action Plan, creating mission, vision, and values statements to guide the National Women in Agriculture and Agri-Food Network, establishing an interim organizational governance structure and validating it with stakeholders;
• Supporting community-led regional events in Canada designed to develop women in agriculture, including technical sessions and networking events;
• Measuring progress of women in agriculture in Canada since CAHRC’s foundational Supporting the Advancement of Women in Agriculture report released in 2015, and;
• Mobilizing knowledge and information about where progress has been made and where there are opportunities to ensure women continue to move forward in the industry.

This funding reflects a shared commitment between CAHRC and AAFC to promote gender equity, diversity, and inclusion within the agricultural sector. By leveraging their combined expertise and resources, the organizations aim to create a more inclusive and thriving industry that values and empowers women leaders.

“There has been significant work done by grassroots, volunteer Women in Ag organizations across Canada. This funding provides an opportunity to support their desire to explore a national network to support these initiatives. The funding also provides an opportunity to go back to foundational research conducted by CAHRC ten years ago to measure progress made over that period,” stated Jennifer Wright. The support of community-led, women in agriculture events is exciting as it provides local, accessible opportunities for women to connect with each other, develop skills and contacts close to home.”

“When we were farming, my wife Frances was my partner in every way and we raised our three daughters to know that there was no limit to what they could do – on or off the farm,” said the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “Women are leading right across the agricultural sector and projects like one will help build on and share the diverse knowledge and experiences of women in agriculture, making the sector stronger and even more prosperous.”

The funding from AAFC to CAHRC is not only a testament to their shared vision but also a demonstration of their proactive approach to addressing critical challenges and driving positive change within the agricultural sector.

About CAHRC: The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) is a national, not-for-profit organization focused on addressing human resource challenges facing the agricultural sector. CAHRC works collaboratively with industry stakeholders to develop solutions that support a skilled, diverse, and sustainable agricultural workforce.

About Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is a federal department responsible for policies, programs, and research initiatives that support the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector. AAFC's mandate includes promoting innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness within the industry.

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