The Agri-food Immigration Pilot is a new pilot program launched by the Canada Federal government, targeting the agricultural labor force. This program is a 3-year immigration pilot program to solve the labor shortage in the agricultural food processing industry, especially meat processing and mushroom production, thereby helping Canada achieve its export goals.

The pilot can accept a maximum of 2,750 applicants (family) each year. During the three-year period of the pilot program, approximately 16,500 people will become new permanent residents of Canada.

Starting on January 1 of each year, applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. This program will run until May 2023.

Agricultural production and meat processing are the important pillars of Canada's economic development, it is also the fact that, one in every eight jobs in Canada comes from these fields. Therefore, the process of the program would be relatively easy compared to other immigration programs.

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 laborer

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

TFor 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

Occupations are classified by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. You can see the duties for each occupation by searching the National Occupational Classification website.