Bibeau launches second intake of members for Canadian Agricultural Youth Council

On Tuesday, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau launched the application period for the second cohort for the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council.

Bibeau made the announcement at Farm Credit Canada's (FCC) Future of Food Conference, in celebration of Canada's Agriculture Day, with members of the first cohort of the Council in attendance.

The second cohort's 18-month term will officially start in the summer of 2022 and will be made up of new and returning members. It will remain diverse, with members from across the country, including regional and Indigenous representation.

The Youth Council meets regularly with Minister Bibeau, as well as departmental officials, to discuss the issues that matter the most to young people working in the agriculture and agri-food sectors and to advise on agriculture-related policies and programs.

The Canadian Agricultural Youth Council has already provided valuable feedback on important issues impacting the sector, including sustainable agriculture, understanding the challenges around the urban-rural divide, and how best to attract young people to the sector, which is of particular importance in a time of labour shortages. In addition, the Council's recommendations have also helped develop the Government of Canada's new AgriCommunication initiative, which is aimed at helping people better understand how their food is produced, while enabling the sector to better understand consumer expectations.

Young people aged 18 to 30, who work in or study the agriculture and agri-food value chain, and who are interested in shaping the future of the sector, are encouraged to apply here.

The application deadline is March 22, 2022.