Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

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1341 Baseline Rd
Ottawa, ON K1A 0C5
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is a federal government agency that provides information, policies and programs to achieve security of the food system, health of the environment and innovation for growth.

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Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada employees walk together inside a greenhouse   (Photo credit: Melody Maloney)

Recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2025):

By Kristina Leung, Chantel Watkins, and Cypress Weston, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Feb 24, 2025)

Here are some of the reasons why Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada was selected as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2025):

  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada incorporates DEI commitments in all executives' performance agreements, focusing on changing public service culture, reflecting diversity, promoting inclusion, and updating policy and programs -- a specific measure includes actively supporting the sponsorship, career development and advancement of visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada launched an EX sponsorship program to address representation gaps at the senior level by offering tailored development opportunities to high-potential candidates from employment equity and equity-seeking groups
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada recently developed a formal DEI roadmap that outlines specific goals and actions to build a more diverse, equitable and inclusive sector -- key initiatives include applying a Gender-based Analysis Plus lens across the sector and enhancing engagement with underrepresented and marginalized groups
Robert Ransom, an employee at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, creates a ceremonial drum  

    Highlights

    Industry Federal government, regulation of agricultural marketing and commodities
    Major Canadian locations Ottawa ON, Winnipeg MB
    Full-time employees in Canada 5,547
    Management of diversity and inclusion initiatives diversity, equity and inclusion centre of expertise (supports objectives outlined in the organization's strategy), diversity champions, workplace wellness programs team (supports department’s commitment to being a psychologically healthy, safe and supportive work environment), national mental health steering committee
    Performance management and accountability voluntary self-identification questionnaire, candidate self-identification, committed to gender parity in the delivery of science staffing plans, diversity, equity and inclusion commitments included in all performance agreements, diversity and inclusion index to benchmark the organization's performance
    Employee resource groups Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Network Secretariat supports networks by providing guidance and training for co-chairs and members, employee networks include Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (WiSTEM), Gender and Sexual Diversity Inclusiveness, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities, Indigenous Network Circle, Young Professionals, SPROUT (for students), and Administrative Community
    Noteworthy diversity strategies and policies Mikinàk Lodge in Ottawa (provides access to Indigenous cultural teachings and a ceremony-friendly space), Indigenous Support and Awareness Office (promotes the recruitment and retention of Indigenous students and employees, provides Elder services when required, develops department-wide learning, and supports research collaborations with Indigenous partners)
    Recruitment initiatives branch employment equity staffing plans, Indigenous student recruitment initiative, participates in the Federal Internship for Newcomers Program and Federal Internship Program for Persons with Disabilities, maintains recruitment inventories for students with disabilities and Indigenous students, accelerated staffing initiative to promote opportunities for women and Indigenous scientists, public recruitment campaign targetting individuals with disabilities
    Retention and development programs EX sponsorship program launched in 2022 to provide development opportunities for high-potential candidates from employment equity and equity-seeking groups, created a framework to guide the department's efforts to create opportunities and reduce barriers for underrepresented and marginalized groups
    Training and awareness initiatives training on unconscious bias, mental health, gender and sexual diversity, Positive Space, mandatory Indigenous cultural awareness training, Indigenous awareness learning series, Indigenous Reads (books curated by the Indigenous Network Circle and available to read via the federal science library portal), Indigenous speaker series, diversity and inclusion toolkit for managers
    Diversity highlights Safe Space sessions (small group facilitated sessions to enable employees to share personal experiences and perspectives), awards diversity, equity and inclusion certificates to teams, managers and employees who demonstrated great work in relation to diversity, AgriDiversity Program (a 5-year, up to $5-million initiative to help underrepresented groups participate in Canadian agriculture), Indigenous Pathfinder service (one-on-one support to help Indigenous peoples access relevant information, tools and support to start or expand activities in the agriculture and agri-food sector), Indigenous Agriculture Science Partnerships Program to enable AAFC scientists to establish and strengthen relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit partners, French language training pilot for Indigenous employees

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