Developing the next generation of tech-savvy agricultural workers.
15525 Sand Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618
949-863-1000
Western Growers © Copyright 2020
The Western Growers Agtech Workforce Readiness Campaign
In our industry today, agriculture has a shortage of labor to perform key functions such as harvesting, weeding and thinning. This decades-long labor shortage is exacerbated by the lack of immigration reform and an aging workforce. As a result, there is a critical need for leading-edge innovation from startups, established agtech equipment makers and solution providers. Along with the development of innovative agtech solutions, there is a growing demand for workers with a different type of skill set. This new labor force will require knowledge of agriculture, agtech, agronomy, biology, data analytics and logic to keep our industry moving forward.
At Western Growers we have created a number of initiatives aimed at transitioning the agriculture workforce to master rapidly developing agricultural technology. To date, our efforts include:
Careers in Ag
A career pathways program that encourages college students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers within the agricultural industry.
A statewide initiative aimed at developing a future workforce with the skills and knowledge to navigate emerging on-farm technology.
AgTechX Ed
NextGen Curriculum
Development
A project that will address the need for agriculture worker education by developing a curriculum that can be leveraged across campuses in the University of California, California State University, and California Community College systems to provide the training needed for agtech expertise for the next-gen agricultural workforce.
Junior AgSharks
Students from middle and high schools in rural areas are invited to serve as AgSharks, where they listen to pitches from agricultural technology startups and vet their technologies as well as learn about the latest technologies by interacting with leaders in the agriculture industry and venture capitalist space.
Home
for the Holidays
An annual professional mixer where college students are invited to an exclusive meet-and-greet with agriculture industry leaders and technology companies.
The New Faces of Ag:
Young Farmers Making a Difference
Turning Today’s STEM Students into Tomorrow’s Ag Extraordinaires
Workforce Development at the Forefront of Western Growers Initiatives
Articles
WG Educates 50 Students on Careers in Ag
STEM Students Receive Education in Ag during December Careers in Ag Tour
30 UC Davis, Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State L.A. STEM Students Learn about Ag
Blogs
AgTechX Ed
Western Growers teamed with Karen Ross, California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary, in 2021 to launch a statewide initiative aimed at transitioning the agriculture workforce to master rapidly developing agricultural technology.
The initiative is anchored by four AgTechX Ed events in key rural areas across California. Each event will feature a dialogue between leading farming and technology companies around the specific skills they need in their workforces, along with training opportunities available in their organizations. Additionally, local California Community Colleges and California State Universities will be on hand to share how they are revamping their curriculum and adding new educational pathways in an effort to build tomorrow’s agtech workforce. The linchpin of each event will be a keynote conversation and networking session with Secretary Ross who will provide insight into the importance of partnerships between industry, government and academia to adapt education to the changing needs of agriculture.
The New Faces of Ag:
Young Farmers Making a Difference (March 2021)
Western Growers Launches AgTechX Ed Initiative with CDFA Secretary Karen Ross
Workforce Development at the Forefront of Western Growers Initiatives
(Sept. 2018)
Press Release
NextGen Curriculum Development
Western Growers NextGen Curriculum Development effort will address the need for agriculture worker education by developing a curriculum that can be leveraged across campuses in the University of California, California State University and California Community College systems to provide the training needed for agtech expertise for the next-gen agricultural workforce.
In a train-the-trainer format, this program will prepare professors across California college and university campuses to teach the cross-disciplinary skills that will be required of new agricultural workers.
Innovation: Cultivating the Next Gen Ag Worker
Article
Junior AgSharks
The Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology introduced the Junior AgSharks Competition in 2018 to provide middle and high schoolers with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in agriculture. Junior AgSharks brings together students from local middle and high schools to listen to pitches from start-up companies developing technologies to solve agriculture’s most pressing issues. After hearing the pitches, the students “confer” with a panel of venture capitalists and farmers to choose which startup they believe has the best technology to solve issues plaguing the local region.
By hearing about the latest technologies and interacting with leaders in the ag industry and venture capitalist space, students become aware of the fact that the industry is in need of future leaders who are interested in STEM-related topics. Each Junior AgSharks event culminates with keynote addresses from movers and shakers in the robotics or tech industry.
WG and Bayer Partner to Host First AgTechx Summit in Sacramento Area
AgTechx Events Sparking Technology-Led Disruption in Farming Regions
Innovation Summit Brings AgTech to Imperial Valley’s Backyard
Articles
Home for the Holidays
The Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology hosts an annual “Home for the Holidays” professional mixer where college students who are returning home to the Salinas Valley during winter break are invited to an exclusive meet-and-greet with industry leaders and tech companies. Students are also treated to a keynote address from a leading tech professional about the latest trends in agricultural technology and the career opportunities for current agricultural students.
Nearly 100 students from CSU Monterey Bay, Hartnell Community College, UC Davis, Cal Poly Pomona and Fresno State have participated in “Home from the Holidays,” meeting professionals from top companies including Amazon Web Services, Taylor Farms and more.
Second Annual “Home for the Holidays” Ag College Student Mixer at WGCIT in Salinas
WG Tech Center Connects 50 Students to Amazon, AgTech Startups
Articles
Careers in Ag
To fill the agricultural workforce gap, Western Growers launched the Careers in Ag program in 2016 to encourage college students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers within the agricultural industry. As part of the program, college students embark on three-day tours of agricultural and technology operations in Monterey County, the Central Valley, and the Coachella and Imperial valleys and Yuma, Arizona. Throughout the tour, they learn about the vast array of STEM jobs available in the industry, meet ag professionals who provide career insight and guidance, and connect with Western Growers members to possibly pursue an internship or job within their operation.
More than 250 students from UC Davis, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State L.A., Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State and numerous California community colleges have participated in the program to date, with several having been placed in internships and jobs as a direct result of the program.