PrairiesCan investment will help Lethbridge Polytechnic launch new programs that better prepare skilled tradespeople to operate in the food and beverage sector
The world is changing rapidly. Trade shifts, global conflicts, and climate change are all putting pressure on our food systems, driving up prices at home. While Canada is one of the largest exporters of agri-food products in the world, Canadians continue to face some of the highest grocery costs in the G7. We are not harnessing enough technology in our agri-food sectors, and our food chains rely too heavily on foreign suppliers.
Canada's government is focused on what we can control: building a stronger, more independent, more resilient Canadian economy. Central to this mission is a stronger, more affordable food system. That is why today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced more than $3 million for Lethbridge Polytechnic to launch new skilled trades programs that support Canada's growing agri-food sector.
Businesses across southern Alberta have identified a shortage of skilled tradespeople and technicians who understand both food manufacturing environments and advanced production technologies. Shortages of workers with knowledge of food-safe maintenance practices, sanitation protocols, specialized processing equipment, automation, and industrial controls can lead to longer installation and repair times, reduced productivity, and delayed business growth. This increases food costs for consumers.
This investment through PrairiesCan will help Lethbridge Polytechnic launch new programs that provide the knowledge needed to effectively work on equipment and machinery used in food processing and manufacturing. Program participants will require minimal on-the-job training to adapt their foundational skills to the specialized operating conditions demanded in the agri-food sector. This new programming will strengthen domestic food-processing capacity while supporting quality jobs in southern Alberta.
