DECEMBER 2023 29 DRY FERTILIZER SHEDS | OFFICES & TRAINING CENTERS WAREHOUSES (CHEMICAL, SEED, BULK AND PACKAGED PRODUCTS) www.MarcusConstruction.com career opportunities it offers,” the report noted. The promotion of ag as a skilled trade is not only to attract people from other countries but also to encourage youth already here that there are viable career opportunities in the ag sector. Any proposed viewpoint has to address equity-deserving groups such as women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Canadians, and newcomers. Although there are many within the agriculture community who believe that not as many people are required in the sector because we are mechanizing more and more of a farm’s day-to-day operation, smart people are still going to be required at all levels of a farm. All levels. And who is going to manufacture, maintain, or repair all of these technological marvels? Equipment is a large part of the ag scene—it’s not just seed, soil, sun, rain, et al. The Sowing Seeds of Change report from the CAHRC acknowledges that the global agriculture sector has begun to transform itself into a more mechanized and digital industry, which has led to large increases in labour productivity. The adoption “of new technology, including [the aforementioned] digitization, automation, and new crop varieties, will continue to increase the sector’s productivity and competitiveness.” However, the report does warn that without the effort put in now to find, train, and retain workers, Canadian agriculture may find it isn’t able to keep up with technology. The CAHRC report summarized that through “a combination of public education, training and upskilling, improved HR management practices, targeted immigration supports, and increased adoption of automation and technology, progress can be made to ensure this vital sector has the workforce needed to meet its potential.” As the report pointed out, there are multiple factors surrounding the Canadian labour issue, and there is no single golden ticket to resolve it. “Solving current and future challenges requires collaboration among employers, industry representatives, government agencies, and educators, among other stakeholders. By working together, a variety of approaches can be implemented to significantly improve the labour outlook in the agriculture sector.”
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