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Government supports awareness and youth engagement in ag sector
June 28, 2019 By Top Crop Manager
The Government of Canada will invest more than $5.1 million to Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AIT-C) to inspire more interest in agriculture careers.
The announcement was made by Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs on behalf of Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, at the Rolla Bay Holdings Inc. potato farm in P.E.I. on June 27.
The investment was made under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership through the AgriCompetitiveness and AgriDiversity programs. AgriCompetitiveness funding of almost $1 million will help raise awareness of agriculture and increase youth engagement, develop new and expand existing online educational tools, and engage industry through ongoing information sessions and learning events.
Under AgriDiversity, an investment of more than $500,000 will enable AITC-C to create and further develop tools and programs related to agriculture to be used in Canadian classrooms at all grade levels, increasing educators’ capacity to teach agriculture literacy. Through this project, AITC-C will engage directly with students using in-person and online resources to foster a greater understanding of the agriculture and agri-food industry. These efforts will enhance interest in the sector’s career opportunities and overall public trust.
“Agriculture in the Classroom helps raise awareness and educate young Canadians on the role of our hard-working farm families and their important contribution to creating jobs and growing our economy. Agriculture is one of Canada’s most important industries. Our government is proud to support projects like these that foster the next generation of farmers and processors,” said Lawrence MacAulay in a released statement.
Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) is a national charitable organization that operates from coast to coast with nine provincial AITC members to deliver accurate, balanced, and current curriculum-linked agri-food resources, programs, and initiatives that are based on science.
