CHICAGO, Ill. — The Illinois Agri-Food Alliance (ILAFA) is proud to announce the launch of AGNITOR, a new cross-sector digital platform designed to connect agri-food professionals to classrooms for virtual chats about careers. Developed in partnership with Pathful, AGNITOR aims to spark student awareness about career opportunities spanning the agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) ecosystem to help cultivate a more diverse talent pipeline for the future.
Through AGNITOR, students across Illinois will have the opportunity to connect with professionals from government, academia, non-profits, foundations, and businesses, including startups to Fortune 500 companies. By providing students with access to real-world professionals and showcasing the breadth of job opportunities available – from mechanics, marketing, finance, and law to food innovation, technology, cyber security and more – AGNITOR seeks to inspire the next generation of leaders entering the workforce pipeline to consider careers in AFNR.
“Launching AGNITOR is a major milestone for the Illinois Agri-Food Alliance and its partners,” said Tyler Strom, Managing Director of the Alliance. “The agri-food industry is constantly evolving, and it is crucial that we cultivate a diverse and talented workforce to meet the needs of the growing and changing industry[1]. This platform will provide students the opportunity to authentically engage with professionals and explore the many career options available to them.”
In addition to connecting students with professionals, AGNITOR will also provide students with access to a wealth of resources designed to help them explore career paths and prepare for success in the AFNR industry. “From interactive lessons and hands-on activities to career exploration tools and networking opportunities, AGNITOR will provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the world of AFNR,” said Shanell Rainey – Jacob, ILAFA Careers Coordinator.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Illinois Agri-Food Alliance to launch AGNITOR,” said Dean Dittmar, Coordinator of Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education. “Careers in AFNR play a critical role in feeding, fueling, and clothing the world, while also protecting our planet’s vital resources. We are excited to bring this message to schools all around Illinois and showcase this industry has something to offer everyone.”
The launch of AGNITOR marks a significant step forward for ILAFA and its partners. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ILAFA established a cross-sector working group of industry, academic, community, and government leaders to address systemic workforce challenges and opportunities across Illinois’ diverse agri-food system. Through holistic collaboration, the group has been working to better understand the workforce landscape, identify leverage points for systemic change, and ideate pathways for coordinated action. AGNITOR is a result of their coordinated efforts to help address the reality that today’s students are largely unaware of the diversity of career and career pathways available in AFNR, especially among urban, suburban, and underrepresented minority residents.
“At CNH Industrial, we believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential for driving innovation and supporting sustainable growth in the AFNR sector,” said Michelle Javaherian who leads Community Impact as a member of the Global Sustainability Team for CNH Industrial. “We are excited to share our expertise and insights with the next generation of leaders through AGNITOR and showcase that all paths can lead to a high quality, high valued career.”
“Compeer Financial is committed to supporting the growth and success of agriculture in Illinois and beyond,” said Missy Roth, Team Leader Human Resources for Compeer Financial. “By fostering connections between students and industry professionals through AGNITOR, we can help today’s generation gain a stronger understanding and appreciation for our agri-food system and spark a lasting interest in the many different jobs and careers the industry has to offer.”
For more information about AGNITOR and how to get involved, please visit https://agnitor.nepris.com/site.
Illinois Agri-Food Workforce Collaborators & Supporters
Archer Daniels Midland; BRANDT Industries; Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences; CME Group, Inc., CNH Industrial; Compeer Financial; COUNTRY Financial; Cultivian Sandbox; Decatur Public Schools Foundation; Elevate Illinois; Ernst & Young; Facilitating Coordination in Agriculture Education (FCAE); Food:Land:Opportunity, GROWMARK; Illinois AgTech Accelerator; Illinois Farm Bureau; Open Prairie Ventures; Parkland College; OSI Group; The Development Consortium; University of Illinois.
— Illinois Agri-Food Alliance