Our Programs

At Inno-Hive, we operate as a platform where community supported initiatives build 21st century skills that are accessible to all. Through engaging community events, meaningful partnerships and powerful programming, we deliver immersive and inclusive learning experiences to help foster skill development and career success in the 21st century.

Why Now?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution represents a fundamental change in the way we live, work and relate to one another. It is a new chapter in human development, enabled by extraordinary technology advances that commensurate with those of the first, second and third industrial revolutions. These advances are merging the physical, digital and biological worlds in ways that create both huge promise and potential peril. The speed, breadth and depth of this revolution is forcing us to rethink how countries develop, how organizations create value, how societies balance development and environment, and even has us thinking about what it means to be a human.

Skills Development for Environment Stewardship

Along with a skills deficit, we also have national crises when it comes to climate change mitigation, household food insecurity, housing affordability and environment sustainability among others. Canada is one of the most resource-rich countries in the world and is home to the largest terrestrial biome in the world, the Boreal Forest. With new environmental and climate change commitments from governments, industries are rapidly evolving to produce more with less, conserving resources through innovative processes, products, technologies and services.

Opportunities for climate based innovations will continue to grow throughout the next century and resilience on both a national and personal level will be more important than ever. Inno-Hive is working to share unbiased knowledge about climate change, resilience strategies and practical lifestyle changes that will help communities better understand the causes, impact and actions that are needed to help sustain both our planet and our economy. With the global call to action around climate change resilience, the workforce is changing to become more conscious, innovative and dynamic when it comes to how businesses operate, what they produce and how they communicate value to their customers, all while being responsible stewards for the environment in which they operate.

New job opportunities are requiring skills and awareness that helps support long-term sustainability and Inno-Hive and its partners are helping to provide educational and skill building opportunities to build a climate resilient workforce. 

Canadian employers report challenges in finding suitable job candidates with work-ready skills to fill open roles in the agri-food industry. AgCareers.com surveyed these employers to gain deeper insights into the skills they seek and identify the most significant skill gaps in the workforce. The recently published AgCareers.com Canadian Skills Survey offers valuable market insights, data, and trends to help address skill development requirements within the industry. (Source)

 

Skills Development for Workforce

According to the World Economic Forum, 65% of today’s school children will graduate into jobs that do not yet exist. This emphasizes an urgency for young people to develop a strong technology based skillset, as well as 21st century competencies, such as collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and the process of innovation in order to thrive in this rapidly changing workforce. It is important for youth to develop the skills needed to become lifelong learners. Not only is upskilling and reskilling for youth critical for their success in the workplace, but it is also relevant and important to the recovery of our current economy.

The need for upskilling and reskilling has not only been identified by the World Economic Forum, but also right here in Canada. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce specifically outlines the need for attention and investment in upskilling and reskilling initiatives during these unprecedented times; “The return to economic activity will require companies and employees to rapidly adjust to a new normal. Retraining and upskilling the workforce during this period will help businesses prepare for post-pandemic growth, which will demand new skills and exacerbate the skills gaps already present in Ontario’s economy.”

Food Literacy and Food Security

Food is something that humans need every day to nourish their bodies and minds, unfortunately there are Canadians who are not eating food every day because they either can not afford it, access it, or what is available does not align with their culture. Food insecurity impacts 1 in 8 Canadian households, which is the result of imbalance and inequality among the globalized AgriFood value chain.

Food literacy is a key aspect to improving community food security as it empowers people with the knowledge and skills around producing, preserving, processing and preparing foods that suit their individual needs. Inno-Hive and its partners are committed to empowering communities with knowledge and skills, equipping them with the right tools and infrastructure, and supporting them to become food secure and sovereign at a local level. 

 

Agriculture and AgriTech

In Canada’s AgriFood sector, we are going through the largest transition and transformation in our country’s history. With the average age of farmers in Canada being 59 years old, there is an impending shortage of farmers and AgriFood workers that will drastically reshape the way our farms are operating as well as the affordability and accessibility of healthy Canadian-grown and raised foods. When it comes to local food production, there is a crucial need to start  attracting, equipping and supporting the next generation of farmers who will put meals on the plates of millions of Canadians. With more than 75% of Canada’s Fresh Vegetables being imported, we have the technology and the ability to produce over 50% of it, a nearly $20 Billion opportunity. Amidst the economic opportunity lies an unsettling reality that our country will rely on 30,000 immigrant farmers over the next decade to fill the impending skills and labour shortages in the sector. 

Inno-Hive’s focus on Agriculture and AgriTech is providing communities with the opportunity to strengthen regional food security through the establishment of local food infrastructure, immersive on-farm and in-class training programs, regenerative farming research and demonstration, and building and supporting local cooperatives of smallholder farmers that use both indoor farming systems and regenerative farming practices to produce food for their communities. With the global Agriculture sector going through its own technology and skills revolution, we are providing individuals with foundational skills to understand the relevant skills aligned with new and emerging opportunities across the sector. 

How Do We Help!

We offer many programs:

Youth and Adult Programs:

  • Immersive Workshops and Community Events
  • Digital Literacy Training
  • Environment and Sustainability Programs
  • Employment Readiness Programs
  • Hackathons and Industry Supported Design Challenges
  • Local Food Incubator Programs
  • Community Agriculture Infrastructure
  • Hands on Learning and Household Food Security through our Farm in a Box Grow Kits

Considerations:

  • All programs will be offered at no cost to participants
  • Programs may be offered through strategic partnerships with other organizations
  • Programs may be offered by subject matter expert volunteers from industry and technology sector

We are addressing the UN Sustainability development Goals:

 

Inno-Hive overarching Goals: 4, 9, 11, 17

Education and Skill Building: 4, 8

Environment: SDG 7,12,13,15

Food Literacy: SDG 1,2,4,11

Agriculture: SDG 3,11,15

 

Image: Courtesy of UNSDG: https://sdgs.un.org/goals