Irvine, Calif.-based Western Growers has teamed with Karen Ross, California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary, to launch a statewide initiative to cultivate a farm workforce that can handling advancing technology.
The AgTechX Ed initiative will bring together universities and colleges, farming and agricultural partners, and technology companies across California to transition the agriculture workforce to master rapidly developing agricultural technology, according to a news release.
“As we face chronic and worsening labor shortages, escalating labor costs and legislative mandates, and dwindling access to water, crop protection tools and other inputs, the rapid development and deployment of technology is our best hope to preserve California’s farmland and regional agricultural economies,” Dave Puglia, Western Growers president and CEO, said in the release. “AgTechX Ed is an exciting and critical initiative that can help advance the tech-expert workforce we must have to continue producing healthy California-grown foods.”
The initiative will be anchored by four AgTechX Ed events in key rural areas across California, according to the release.
The highlight of each event, according to the release, will be a keynote conversation and networking session with Secretary Ross.
“To rise to the occasion of feeding a global population of 10 billion people in the next 30 years with fewer resources and labor, we need to start investing in preparing tomorrow’s agricultural workforce today,” Ross said in the release. “Education starts in the classroom, and that’s where agriculture prominently needs to be. As the development of technology rapidly accelerates, initiatives such as AgTechX Ed lays the foundation for new tech-based education training platforms that will build an adequately trained workforce.”
The first AgTechX Ed event will be Aug. 25-26 at Reedley College, according to the release.
The remaining events will be held in Imperial Valley, Monterey County and the greater Sacramento area. In addition to the events, AgTechX Ed will facilitate internship/apprenticeship opportunities, job shadow programs and regional career mixers. The initiative will also build on existing WG workforce development programs that encourage youth to pursue careers in agriculture, including Careers in Ag and Junior AgSharks.
Registration for AgTechX Ed at Reedley College will be available later this summer at www.wga.com.
