2024-03-06
Canada's production of unique, high-protein crops, specifically canola and pulses presents a vast opportunity within the plant-based food, feed and ingredient sector to grow and scale up to drive towards $25 billion in sales by 2035. To meet this goal, the sector needs 17,000 employees by 2035. The Protein Industries Cluster and members of the plant-based food, feed and ingredient ecosystem are addressing this challenge by developing partnerships that can gain ecosystem-wide insight and build effective and relevant workforce solutions. Among the numerous solutions that the Cluster is supporting are two standout examples:
- The Protein Industries Cluster supported the development and delivery of two three-year diploma programs: the Engineering Technology Diploma and the Food Science Diploma. Assiniboine Community College and Roquette developed the programs for students in Manitoba, and worked with other cluster members to create the curricula. The diploma programs address the sector's labour shortage and help emerging professionals take advantage of the career opportunities presented through investments in plant-protein processing and other food and beverage manufacturing in Manitoba and across Canada. The diploma programs will add 36 new highly skilled accredited professionals to the food and beverage processing sector by the spring of 2027.
- The Cluster also supported a reskilling program that helped students build from their current areas of expertise into the agrifood sector. Palette Skills, Economic Development Regina, the University of Saskatchewan, and the Enterprise and Machine Learning Initiative (EMILI) designed and delivered the program. The program consists of an eight-week hybrid automation and digital agriculture specialist course. Supplying more than 130 hours of training, the program is available to residents of Saskatchewan and Alberta. So far, 79 percent of participants identified as individuals from under-represented groups, 44 percent self-identified as women, and 6 percent self-identified as individuals with disabilities. Just as important as this immediate success, the project partners—through the development and implementation of the program—have created an ecosystem of employers and organizations. These 104 ecosystem organizations not only recognize and understand the labour gap challenges in the agrifood industry, but are also willing to support the endeavour through knowledge mobilization and collaboration.
Protein Industries Canada
Projects supporting workforce development:
Micro-Credential Education Program for Indigenous Youths
- Partners:
- Saskatchewan Indian Institute Of Technologies, Whitecap Dakota First Nation
- Location:
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Increasing Canada's Training Capacity in Chemical and Food Science Technologies
- Partners:
- Assiniboine Community College, Roquette Canada
- Location:
- Brandon, Manitoba
Upskilling Talent in the Agrifood Sector
- Partners:
- Palette Skills
- Location:
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan