Highlighting the Importance of Ag Education

Issue

With greater attention around food sustainability and the environmental foot print of agriculture, there is a need to raise awareness and provide fact-based education focused on where our food comes from, recognizing the sustainability of agribusiness and its vitally important role in our economy as a natural resource. 

Background

There is an ever-increasing need to provide more fact based education in order to bridge the information gap between agriculture producers and consumers. This type of education starts at even the most basic level, providing an opportunity to educate our youth in order to ensure that the next generation is educated and informed about where food comes from and the importance of agriculture to our economy and the future sustainability of our food locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. 

Our Recommendations

1. Through incentives and initiatives, encourage employers to invest more and become more involved in providing training opportunities to their current staff; 
2. Promote increased and diversified enrollment in post-secondary tech education programs in Alberta by providing subsidies for micro-credential training; 
3. Develop and invest in the essential skills of tomorrow, such as sustained support and investments in STEM education and trades training both within post-secondary and also through career transition programming; 
4. Position the delivery of career development services to ensure a seamless, coordinated system that provides effective transition within the high school system and the workplace, for all Albertans; 
5. Continue to partner with interested stakeholders to create career development and market information resources and training for target audience; and 
6. Continue to track outcomes associated with these programs and initiatives in a transparent manner to allow for continual adjustments when necessary.