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Pilot project to tackle farm tech labour shortage Back to video
The Automation and Digital Agriculture Specialist program, which launches in June, aims to provide job training to connect workers with players in agriculture who are increasingly using rapidly advancing technology.
“(Companies) are hesitant to make that bet on that new technology, to integrate this new automation or to pursue that new market because they don’t know that they have the workforce to help them do it,” said AJ Tibando, executive director of non-profit Palette Skills, which is conducting the program.
The accelerated eight-week course focuses on automation and digitization technologies in agricultural production and processing facilities, touching on areas like drones, artificial intelligence and big data. It’s split between online and in-person delivery.
The program is available to Saskatchewan residents with at least some background in statistics, but Tibando added that the program aims to attract newcomers and Indigenous people who may be under-represented in agriculture.
Ednali Zehavi, program manager at Palette Skills, said the program is trying to get workers’ feet in the door by lowering the employers’ perception of the risk in making new hires.
She used the example of an applicant to the program who is a newcomer to Canada and has two masters degrees, one which is from the University of Saskatchewan, but is underemployed.
While not specifically trained to work with agriculture technology, many of his skills are transferable, she said. The program may ease that process of moving between sectors, and measures its success by getting its participants employed.
