Growing industry leaders through professional development
NFCF’s Cannabis Agriculture Leadership Program helps develop cannabis industry professionals in becoming confident national leaders. CALP is an 8-month executive-level national leadership program for experienced cannabis producers, combining seminars, assessments, retreat learning, and practical cannabis farming education across Canada.
Cannabis Agriculture Leadership Program (CALP)
8-month leadership program for cannabis farming
Cannabis farming needs leaders with stronger skills, stronger technical knowledge, and stronger national context. The Cannabis Agriculture Leadership Program (CALP) is an 8-month national leadership program built for experienced cannabis producers who want to create a positive impact across the legal industry.
CALP combines interactive online learning seminars, executive-level leadership assessments, and exposure to cannabis farming at a national level. The program builds leadership capacity, strengthens industry influence, and improves cannabis agronomy knowledge to support better decisions and stronger teams.
Program Overview
CALP supports cultivation leaders through:
- Interactive online learning seminars
- Executive-level leadership assessments
- National exposure to cannabis farming, policy, and market context
- Practical learning that supports farm performance and sector progress
Program Learning Objectives
Cannabis and hemp farming nationwide education
- Learn about challenges and impacts from government officials, farming organizations, provincial cannabis wholesalers, regulators, cannabis associations, and farmers
- Connect with agricultural leaders, policy developers, and government decision-makers
- Learn provincial cannabis farming policies, market trends, and regulatory frameworks
- Apply learning to strengthen farm operations and contribute to sector growth
Professional development and leadership training
- Complete executive-level assessments with certified leadership practitioners, agriculture leaders, and cannabis industry mentors
- Complete professional development and leadership assessments curated for agricultural managers
- Build a network of cannabis industry mentors, agricultural leaders, and academic researchers
- Gain tools to lead teams, manage change, and influence sector-wide decisions
Cannabis agriculture sciences simplified
- Learn cannabis agriculture and agricultural farming practices for indoor, greenhouse, and outdoor production from professors and researchers at accredited academic institutions nationwide
- Learn evidence-based practices for indoor, greenhouse, and outdoor production
- Apply academic research to farming operations for improved yields and quality
- Increase technical knowledge that supports innovation and sustainable farming practices
Eligible Program Candidates
CALP is open to FCF Community Members in upper management roles at Health Canada licenced facilities.
Ideal applicants include:
- Cultivation managers and head growers at standard and micro-cultivation facilities
- Head growers at nursery licenced operations
- Owner-operators of micro-cultivation facilities
- Farmers in upper management cannabis cultivation roles
- One candidate per licence accepted each year
Not eligible:
- Industry Professionals who do not quality to register as an FCF Community Member
Exception:
- A micro-producer licence holder serving as both an executive and the head operator actively working in production more than 50% of the day at the farm
Program Expectations
CALP requires commitment to structured learning and professional accountability. All participants are expected to:
- Commit a minimum of 60 hours of online and in-person education
- Step outside comfort zones and develop as leaders
- Approach assessments and activities with an all-in mindset
- Attend 6 online seminars and the Agricultural Leadership Retreat
- Attend the in-person single-day graduation ceremony
- Complete all assigned professional development assessments
- Complete the 20-minute Individual Leadership Presentation (ILP)
- Collaborate respectfully with peers, instructors, and industry leaders
- Uphold FCF values of community and leadership development
Program Curriculum
Topics are tentative and subject to change. Final agendas and discussion details are provided to participants before each seminar.
Seminar 1 (Online): Cannabis Farming in Ontario + AGM 2025
Seminar topics
- FCF Class 1 Leadership Program Overview
- Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness (OMAFA)
- Advanced Agriculture Leadership Program (AALP)
- Ontario Cannabis Stores (OCS) Ontario Grown Badge
- Ontario Cannabis Stores (OCS) Social Impact Review
- Agricorp Farm Business Registration (FBR)
- Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA)
- Cannabis Farming Property Class Tax Rate
- Influence Style Indicator Assessment®
- Annual General Meeting 2025
Seminar objectives
- Cannabis farming at a provincial level
- Executive agriculture leadership program context
- Provincial wholesaler initiatives and impacts
- Government and agricultural farming organizations
- Cannabis farming agriculture resources
- Workplace influence and negotiation styles
- FCF organizational plans and updates
Seminar 2 (Online): Cannabis and Hemp Farming in BC
Seminar topics
- University of Guelph Public Genetic Bank
- BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food
- BC Agriculture Council Farming Organization
- BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB)
- BC Producer Retail Store (PRS) Farmgate
- Expert Roundtable: BC Growers Associations
- Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA)
- Expert Roundtable: BC Industrial Hemp Growers
- DiSC Assessment Analysis Presented by AALP
Seminar objectives
- Government and agricultural farming organizations
- Provincial cannabis wholesalers
- Farmgate retail versus retail storefronts
- Cannabis farming at a provincial level
- Industrial hemp commodity organization context
- Industrial hemp producers and researchers
- Workplace communication strategies
Seminar 3 (Online): Cannabis Farming in Quebec
Seminar topics
- Niagara College Cannabis Nutrient Management
- Université Laval Cannabis Research Presentation
- l’Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA)
- Personal Growth: SMART Goals Framework
- Société Québécoise du Cannabis (SQDC)
- Association Québécoise de l'Industrie du Cannabis
- Expert Roundtable: Micro-Cultivation Farmers
- MBTI® Workplace Profile Report and Presentation
Seminar objectives
- Academic cannabis genetics research
- Agricultural farming organizations
- Personal goals and accountability methods
- Provincial cannabis wholesalers
- Quebec cannabis industry association context
- Cannabis farming at a provincial level
- Personality types and leadership styles
Seminar 4 (Online): Cannabis and Hemp Farming in the Prairies
Seminar topics
- University of Guelph Polyploid Cannabis Genetics
- Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA)
- Alberta Federation of Agriculture (AFA)
- Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan
- Keystone Agriculture Producers Manitoba
- Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC)
- Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA)
- Liquor, Gaming & Cannabis Authority of Manitoba
- Meet and Greet: Saskatchewan Retail Purchasers
- Emotional Intelligence EQ-i 2.0® Report Analysis
Seminar objectives
- Cannabis and hemp farming in the prairies
- Agricultural farming organizations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
- Provincial cannabis wholesalers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
- Product preferences and demand in Saskatchewan
- Social and emotional self-awareness
Seminar 5 (In-Person): Agricultural Leadership Retreat
Seminar details
- Duration: 3 days / 4 nights
- Location: Niagara Falls
- Food: 2 meals/day included
- Accommodations: rooming included
- Academic itinerary: KAI Inventory + SMART Goals
- Retreat itinerary: TBA
Seminar objectives
- Tour academic campuses
- Tour micro-cultivation facilities
- Tour standard indoor cultivation facilities
- Tour commercial greenhouse facilities
- Tour cannabis R&D licenced facilities
- Tour cannabis extraction facilities
- Tour commercial agriculture operations
- Learn about cannabis farming in the United States
- Develop program SMART goals
- Learn KAI Inventory concepts and problem-solving style
- Identify KAI traits in workplace settings
- Review SMART goals with the class
Seminar 6 (Online): Cannabis Farming in the East Coast
Seminar topics
- Niagara College Greenhouse Ag Best Practices
- Scotian Cannabis Alliance (SCA)
- Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture (NSFA)
- Newfoundland & Labrador Federation of Agriculture
- Prince Edward Island Federation of Agriculture
- CannabisNB / New Brunswick Liquor Corporation
- NSLC Cannabis / Nova Scotia Liquor Corp
- CannabisNL / Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corp
- PEI Cannabis / PEI Cannabis Management Corp
- Expert Roundtable: East Coast Cannabis Farmers
- Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI)
Seminar objectives
- Cannabis commodity organizations
- Agricultural farming organizations in NB, NS, NL, PEI
- Provincial cannabis wholesalers in NB, NS, NL, PEI
- Cannabis farming at a provincial level
- Conflict responses and handling styles
Seminar 7 (Online): International Export Market
Seminar topics
- University of Guelph Landrace Gene Preservation
- Farm Management Canada Leadership Program
- Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA)
- AgCann International Cannabis Consulting
- German Cannabis Business Association
- Cannabis Industry Council (CIC) United Kingdom
- Southern Africa Network of Cannabis Professionals
- Medicinal Cannabis Industry Australia (MCIA)
- CannDelta Global Cannabis Licensing Firm
- Expert Roundtable: High Volume Cannabis Exporters
- Change Style Indicator® Leadership Assessment
Seminar objectives
- National farm leadership program context
- National agriculture farming organization context
- International cannabis export markets
- International industry association perspectives
- Active international cannabis licences
- Export challenges and practical solutions
- Approaches to leading change
Seminar 8 (In-Person): CALP Class 1 Graduation
Seminar topics
- University of Guelph Tissue Culture Plant Storage
- Personal Growth: SMART Goals Final Update
- CALP Class 1 Valedictorian Graduation Speech
- CALP Class 1 Personal Leadership Profile Package
- CALP Class 1 Certificate of Achievement
- CALP Class 1 Leadership Awards Ceremony
- CALP Final Roundtable: Class 1 Wrap-Up
- CALP Class 1 Program Feedback and Testimonials
- FCF Executive Director Official Introduction
- CALP Class 1 Graduation Dinner
Seminar objectives
- Peer accountability on goals
- Formal graduation event participation
- Summarized leadership profile package
- Physical CALP Class 1 certificate
- Leadership awards ceremony participation
- Experience sharing and structured feedback
- Introduction to the farmer leading FCF
- Final class dinner
Program Leadership Assessments
Participants complete executive-level tools that strengthen decision-making, communication, conflict management, and team leadership.
- Influence Style Indicator®
- DiSC Workplace Behavioral Assessment
- MBTI® Workplace Profile
- Emotional Intelligence EQ-i 2.0
- Kirton Adaption-Innovation (KAI) Inventory
- Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI)
- Change Style Indicator®
Term Project: Individual Leadership Presentation (ILP)
Outside seminar time, each participant completes an ILP:
- 20-minute presentation on an agreed topic relevant to leadership and cannabis
- Focus on a leadership challenge or opportunity in the cannabis industry
- Concludes with a concise plan and recommendations to strengthen leadership performance across an organization and the industry
Program Costs
Program fees support delivery of online and in-person seminars, leadership assessments, program materials, marketing resources, and agenda coordination. Fees are due within 14 days of acceptance confirmation. Fees are reinvested into leadership capacity and professional development for FCF cannabis farm members across Canada.
CALP Program Registration 2026
- $4 ,999 + HST
- Covers seminar delivery, leadership assessments, program materials, and program coordination
Upcoming program cohorts
- Q3 2026 (more information TBA)
Join FCF today to become eligible to participate in the National Leadership Program.
