The industry’s growth potential is outpacing its human resources

For the better part of a decade, agriculture in Canada has shown enormous potential. More than boosts in productivity, trade deals have generated new opportunities, advanced technologies have helped drive performance and quality, and the industry is finding new uses for products and byproducts.

But there’s a significant challenge holding back the nation’s agri-food and agri-business sector: people. For all of the promotions of quality jobs awaiting graduates of agricultural institutions, growth within the industry has outpaced the number of people willing to work in the agri-food industry.

One particular trend is a declining reliance on labour in the ag industry. Advances in robotics in the dairy sector since the early 2000s have evolved to the horticulture sector, specifically into greenhouses, although more field operations are adopting new technologies. While some might argue that lessens the need for labour, the opposite is actually true; there may be a lower demand for people to pick and pack fruits or vegetables in the greenhouse, but the need for technical servicing of the machines will only increase.

“Unfortunately, shortages persist across all areas of this sector, not just on-farm.”
Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC)

The industry is also finding new uses for ag products: canola production is driving biodiesel processing, soybean oil is used in paint and it’s possible to ferment cellulosic sugars -for a variety of uses -from corn stover and wheat straw. From a straight business perspective, there’s a mounting demand for a variety of jobs, most of which either didn’t exist in agriculture 25 years ago or have seen the need for their expertise climb higher:

The not-so-good news
According to figures from the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), losses among Canadian producers totaled $2.9 billion in 2020, due to labour shortages, resulting in production delays and losses and lost sales. Declines in on-farm labour are forecast to reach 114,000 by 2025 and will continue to affect primary production and the entire food value chain, placing Canada’s agri-food industry at risk.

“Unfortunately, shortages persist across all areas of this sector, not just on-farm,” cites the report. “Statistically, with the rising number of retirements, workers moving to other industries and fewer younger workers considering agriculture, the workforce is drastically shrinking.”

There have been debates on how to remedy this shortfall, some believe in recruiting or “planting the seed” earlier in Grade 7 or 8 -with special emphasis that “agriculture” doesn’t equate to “farming”. Others insist the industry has to wait for the graduates from Guelph, Dalhousie, McGill or Saskatchewan, because of the industry’s specific needs.

The question is can the industry afford to wait without availing itself of talented and skilled individuals from non ag-based schools?

Different is good
On a managerial level, the changes brought about by technology, environmental concerns and heightened consumer demands are pushing the industry in new directions and employing evolving business models. Dr. Larry Martin agrees the pace of change in management is quickening, seemingly every year, and shifts in technology play a major role, with research being another driver.

“The other thing is that the markets change so rapidly now because we’re so intertwined with everybody else,” says Martin, of Dr. Larry Martin & Associates and lead instructor in their Strategic Agribusiness Management course. “If it’s not raining in Brazil, it’s a problem. If it’s raining in Brazil, it’s a problem.”

That’s created more volatility, in the markets and in trade, with many using the term, “less-forgiving” as a descriptive. But Martin contends there’s also a “just enough” environment, where the focus of many farming operations is on quantity only, without taking advantage of available opportunities in the market, many of which have premiums attached.

“I think we need to listen to the consumer more.”
Dr. Larry Martin, Dr. Larry Martin & Associates

“Some of the concerns about environment and sustainability have been translated into regulations and we sometimes think they’re (ill-informed), but they’ve certainly affected management,” says Martin. He cites the Price family that developed Sunterra Markets in Alberta and built a massive feedlot, amid complaints about ‘corporate farming’ as an example. “Look at the regulations they had to abide by for this feedlot. You can’t make it small -it wouldn’t work.”

Economies of scale have driven ag production to be more cost-efficient but managing larger farms might discourage producers from engaging with consumers, regardless of any benefits. Martin chooses to see the possibilities: if consumers are drawn in to the discussions on agriculture, there are more opportunities to explore new directions, potentially enticing non-farmers to share what they learn and encourage youth to consider careers in ag.

“We hear the agriculture sector saying we need to educate the consumer more, yet I think we need to listen to the consumer more,” he adds, citing a greater willingness that he’s witnessed among non-farmers to learn. “It’s amazing how positive urban people are. They may be anti-factory farms -which they can’t define -but they have a high opinion of agriculture and farmers.”

It could be a foot-in-the-door.

Consumers driving change
As much as the ag industry can cite GPS-based technology or advances in robotics taking on more important roles, consumer preferences are having an effect on agriculture. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois believes those preferences have been influenced by a growing awareness of health, sustainability and even ethics. Plant-based proteins, organic produce and transparency in food origins are now mainstream constructs.

For years the core of the agri-food industry has concentrated its efforts on increasing productivity in crop and livestock farming and a heightened reliance on chemical inputs. But with rising concerns about soil health and sustainability, the focus has expanded to regenerative practices, organics and a more-consumer-centric approach to food safety and traceability. That’s convincing agri-business to invest more in digital tools to monitor food quality and supply chains, addressing consumer concerns directly.

Again, those can create opportunities within the workplace.

“There are gaps in workforce development and long-term infrastructure investment,” says Charlebois, professor and director of Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, in Halifax. “Crop byproducts and innovations in sustainable practices offer great potential, but those opportunities are not consistently conveyed to youth or fully integrated into educational programs. Specialized training is key, yet many young people are still unaware of the diverse career paths in agriculture.”

That diversity in jobs and opportunities, not just in agriculture but across the food value chain, can also lack clarity in communications, adds Charlebois. That’s where public awareness campaigns, better integration of agriculture into school curricula and media outreach become invaluable. It’s more than food production but national economic stability, and it comes with an added condition.

“The growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture will reshape how we think about food production,” says Charlebois. “It’s already being used to optimize crop yields, reduce waste and anticipate supply chain bottlenecks. Its integration into agri-business means the future workforce will need to be tech-savvy and adaptive. That underscores the importance of reshaping education.”

The way of the future
Employment challenges usually don’t distinguish between large or small, or between farms and farm-related services; everyone is looking for the ideal employee to fit their particular needs. And it depends as much on the type of business as it does the skill sets of those looking for work.

Jonathan Giret understands that balancing act, growing his business, augmenting the services he provides and finding the qualified individuals to help solidify the offerings of Elite Agri Solutions. Like others in the industry, he’s been challenged in his searches, not just because of unique demands but also the shifts in services he and his staff provide.

“In most of our spaces, we’re building a business that farmers don’t know they need yet.”
Jonathan Giret, Elite Agri Solutions

In 2017, he opened Elite Agri Solutions in Glencoe after navigating the process of obtaining a grant to help build his poultry operation. He realized there was an opportunity to fill a void by assisting farmers who were also trying to obtain government grants to enhance their operations’ functions, their environmental footprint or a variety of other uses for these initiatives.

Today, the company provides guidance on writing grant proposals, nutrient management plans, health and safety training, business planning and, most recently, energy audits. Some of the services can be conducted in French or Spanish, adapting to the changing needs of their clientele.

“There’s a void in ag that most people don’t know exists,” says Giret. “If we can continue to bring in good people, we can continue to grow at a steady rate year-over-year. In most of our spaces, we’re building a business that farmers don’t know they need yet.”

A pessimist might say there’s a reason why competition was slim, but Giret says Elite is the response to an untapped opportunity. The growth of the agri-good industry has been so focussed and quick to change that most growers have stayed the course on raising livestock or growing crops; they haven’t had the time to digest many of those changes. When there’s the chance to improve their operations -with a cost-share advantage to help integrate new aspects on their farm -Giret wants to be ready to lend a hand.

“I thought I was about five years ahead of the curve on something like health and safety, and although we’re doing well, I think we’re still 10 years from the average farmer knowing they need health and safety, and doing something about it.”