This Agri-Food Immigration Pilot program is launched to address the labour needs of the Canadian agri-food sector by testing a new industry-specific approach.

The pilot is designed to

• help address the labour needs of the Canadian agri-food sector, particularly in year–round mushroom and greenhouse crop production, meat processing and livestock raising industries, and
• attract experienced, non-seasonal workers who can settle in Canada

This pilot will run until May 2023.

For meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116), eligible jobs are

• NOC B 6331 – Retail butchers
• NOC C 9462 – Industrial butchers
• NOC B 8252 – Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• NOC D 9617 – Food processing labourers

For greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114), eligible jobs are

• NOC B 8252 – Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• NOC C 8431 – General farm workers
• NOC D 8611 – Harvesting labourers

For animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 and 1129), eligible jobs are

• NOC B 8252 – Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• NOC C 8431 – General farm workers

• There are annual limits on the number of applications that are processed for each occupation.

Starting on January 1 of each year, applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. This pilot will last for 3 years.