OTTAWA, ON - Actua announced new partnerships with Cargill, Farm Credit Canada and Corteva Agriscience that will address the agriculture industry's growing need for a diverse and skilled workforce.
These partnerships offer additional support to Actua's national STEM skill-development programs, which equip youth with critical, in-demand skills and increase their knowledge of the available career opportunities in leading industries, such as the agrifood sector. They also focus on promoting diversity and inclusion in the industry by engaging Indigenous youth, girls, and other underrepresented youth.
"It was Actua's focus on equity, inclusion and diversity which align with our own Corteva Agriscience goals that prompted Corteva to support this project, said Bryce Eger, President, Corteva Agriscience Canada. "Corteva Agriscience has a deep commitment to making agriculture as inclusive as the communities we serve. Through an investment in Actua's Indigenous Youth in STEM program, Corteva is supporting the next generation of Indigenous youth to become leaders in STEM-based industries, including agriculture."
"Our values drive us to put people first. That is why we are working with partners like Actua to invest in inclusion and diversity program that provide girls, Indigenous youth and other vulnerable youth STEM skill-development programs with a focus on this education can be applied in agrifood sector careers," said Connie Tamoto, Cargill's corporate responsibility lead in Canada. "At Cargill, we believe agriculture not only will enable us to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way, but it will also help us close the opportunity gap for children in across Canada."
The growing support shown by the agriculture industry began early last year when Protein Industries Canada announced its co-investment with Actua, Enterprise Machine Intelligence & Learning Initiative (EMILI) and Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) to launch a project, known as the Explore Project, which introduces youth in Kindergarten through Grade 12 to the career opportunities available to them in the plant protein, agrifood and digital agriculture sectors, and builds the skills they need to thrive as future leaders in this space. Now in its second year, the Explore Project is targeted to reach 69,000 youth over three years.
"At Farm Credit Canada (FCC), we believe investing in the next generation is important for the future of Canadian agriculture," said Marty Seymour, FCC's Director of Industry Relations. "Our partnership with Actua focuses on developing essential workforce skills and inspiring Indigenous youth and girls to consider careers in agriculture. We know these programs will have a great impact on strengthening diversity and equity, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to dream, grow and thrive in this dynamic industry."
Protein Industries Canada - one of Canada's five innovation Superclusters - not only made the inaugural investment in the Explore Project but their involvement has been instrumental in opening new avenues for industry collaboration.
"Actua's new partnerships in their youth education programs are a sign not only of their success, but of the significant impact collaboration can have on Canada's plant-based food and ingredients sector," Protein Industries Canada CEO Bill Greuel said. "From our initial co-investment in their project partnership to today's announcement, this collaborative approach has helped to drive increased interest in our sector, increased opportunities for youth and increased opportunities for Canada's small- and medium-sized enterprises. These new partnerships are exactly the sort of connections and sector expansion we hope to see come out of our co-investments, and I look forward to seeing the impact they'll have on our sector."
"Actua is pleased to see so many leading organizations come together to cultivate greater interest for this industry's innovation potential among the next generation of leaders," said Jennifer Flanagan, President and CEO of Actua. "Through these partnerships, Actua's network can further expand the reach and impact of its programs that build the critical skills, knowledge and confidence youth need to lead in the digital agriculture industry."
Source : Cision