Canada is at a pivotal moment in the evolution of its AgriFood sector. With 66% of farmers approaching retirement and 35% preparing to transfer their farms to the next generation, the urgency to build a resilient agricultural workforce has never been clearer. The Royal Bank of Canada projects that 40% of agricultural workers will retire by 2033, leaving an estimated 123,000 roles to be filled across the country. These numbers underscore the need for bold action—across federal, provincial, and municipal levels—to address workforce gaps, strengthen food systems, and ensure national food security.
In our work delivering agriculture education and hands-on learning to over 3,500 participants across the Greater Toronto Area since 2015, we have consistently encountered a profound gap in agricultural literacy. Whether in classrooms or community centers, most participants arrive with little to no prior understanding of the food system—despite its daily relevance in their lives. Few are aware of how food travels from farm to fork, what career opportunities exist in the AgriFood value chain, or how technological innovation is reshaping modern farming.
This lack of awareness is not the result of individual failings but of a systemic disconnect between education, employment, and agriculture. The findings of the Future of Food and Farming program, and the stories captured in our SDF 4 report, highlight a powerful insight: we do not need a new curriculum—we need to connect agriculture to the curriculum that already exists. Coding, robotics, drones, biology, environmental
science, and construction are all areas where meaningful links to AgriTech can be made. Agriculture 4.0 is already here; we must ensure that our learning systems catch up.
The challenge is to overcome persistent stereotypes, information gaps, and accessibility barriers. The opportunity lies in integrating agriculture into STEAM education, strengthening community-based programming, and reimagining agriculture as a sector of innovation, sustainability, and social impact. By embedding agriculture into how we teach, train, and inspire the next generation, we can build a stronger, more secure future for food and farming in Canada.
STEM Minds and Boreal Farms have joined forces to deliver Skills Development Programming designed to address the existing skill gaps in the agriculture sector across Ontario by empowering Grade 11/12 high school students looking at career options, community youth looking for upskilling/reskilling opportunities, and transitioning workers with immersive learning experiences, industry-relevant curriculum, and community engagement activities related to horticulture, indoor agriculture and sustainable food production.
This initiative is funded by the Skills Development Fund (SDF) with objectives to:
Our program will build foundational and transferable skills related to food and farming as well as an introduction to innovations across the agri-food value chain that are driving productivity in a rapidly evolving industry.
Participants will be engaged in both theoretical and practical workshops that will help them develop an understanding of sustainable Horticulture and Indoor Agriculture systems.
Look at our Learning Streams for more details.