TORONTO – The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $1.5 million in the new Agricultural Workforce Equity and Diversity Initiative (AWEDI) to help minority groups start and build businesses in the agri-food sector.
Funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), AWEDI provides grants of up to $100,000 to support business ventures led by primary agricultural producers and food processors who are Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, 2SLGBTQI+ people, persons with disabilities, youth, women or members of French linguistic minority communities.
“Making sure we have greater diversity in the agriculture and agri-food sector helps to create a more competitive, inclusive, and resilient food system,” said Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “This initiative will help folks from under-represented groups get started and succeed, while making the sector even stronger.”
“A priority of our Grow Ontario Strategy is to unlock the full potential of the entrepreneurial talent of our diverse communities to strengthen our $51 billion agrifood sector,” said Rob Flack, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Our government is confident that cultivating new talent in the growing agri-food sector will drive long-term prosperity and innovation while creating good paying agri-food jobs.”
AWEDI is open to applications from organizations, research bodies, municipalities or Indigenous communities. Successful projects will support under-represented groups in accessing spaces and equipment to grow or process agri-food products, as well as resources to help with financing.
Applications open on October 8, 2024, and will remain open until December 3, 2024. The Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.