SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — AgScape

Honourable senators, I rise today in the Senate Chamber to recognize an essential organization that is helping build up young people in the province of Ontario and safeguarding the future of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food industry.

In 1991, AgScape, formerly known as Ontario Agri-Food Education, was founded to promote agriculture and food learning in the classroom. Responsible for bringing agriculture and food education to Ontario classrooms, AgScape works alongside Agriculture in the Classroom Canada to help ensure many young people in Canada have a fulsome and engaging agriculture and food education experience.

AgScape delivers a wide range of programs and services that promote agricultural education, deepen Canadians’ relationship with where their food comes from and ignite students’ interest in related careers.

Honourable colleagues, this year, AgScape is celebrating four key milestones: 35 years of empowering students and teachers, 15 years of the Teacher Ambassador Program, 10 years of the thinkAG Career Competitions program and 10 years of the AgScape brand. Together, these milestones highlight a legacy of impact and a continued commitment to inspiring the next generation of learners and leaders in agriculture.

I cannot overstate the impact that AgScape has had on the future of our province, our country and our agriculture and agri-food sector.

Canadians are disconnected from the realities of where their food comes from, and many organizations, farmers and “agvocates” are working hard to bridge this gap. But as we all know, the best place to start is by educating our youth. Through AgScape’s programming and advocacy, agriculture and food education are inspiring young people throughout Ontario and helping them learn about the social, economic and environmental impacts of the food system.

The agriculture and agri-food sector is still facing labour shortages that are contributing to billions of dollars’ worth of lost revenue, resulting in less food production every year across this country.

Further, with the RBC Climate Action Institute estimating that 40% of Canadian farm operators will retire by 2030, we must commit to building up Canada’s agricultural workforce and encouraging young people to explore careers in these fields.

For 35 years, AgScape has helped expose young people to the diverse, dynamic and rewarding careers available in the agriculture and food industries, opening their eyes to opportunities that are innovative, impactful and essential to our everyday lives.

Honourable colleagues, I hope you will join me in thanking AgScape for bringing the voice of agriculture to Ontario’s classrooms and making agricultural learning accessible, informative, engaging and fun.

Thank you. Meegwetch.