International Development Week

1) Background

The world will need much more food by 2030—about 56% more—because populations are growing and diets are changing. Meeting this demand in environmentally responsible ways could unlock major economic opportunities by 2050.

Canada has a strong agriculture sector, but farmers do not have one easy, coordinated place to turn for advice and support. Today, extension and advisory services come from many sources—provincial governments, universities, research centres, farmer groups, and private consultants. This patchwork makes it hard for some farmers—especially small and medium farms—to get timely, practical guidance.

Farmers are also dealing with pressures seen around the world: more frequent extreme weather due to climate change, labour shortages, mental health stress, misinformation, and a fast wave of digital tools and AI. At the same time, government budgets are tight, and there is a push to raise farm productivity, resilience, and competitiveness.

There is growing interest in updating how farm advice is delivered. A modern approach—often called “Extension 4.0”—combines trusted human relationships with easy-to-use digital tools. It focuses on translating research into plain language, building digital skills, and helping farmers see the whole system: markets, climate, finance, and well‑being. The University of Guelph has already catalyzed this national conversation through its 2025 CAREE conference, demonstrating strong cross-sector interest in modernizing EAS.

International experience points in the same direction. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has found that inclusive, market‑oriented advisory services improve productivity, resilience, and incomes—especially when public and private players work together. Farm Radio International (FRI), a globally recognized Canadian NGO, has shown that radio and mobile phones can reach large numbers of farmers quickly, make advice more interactive, and build trust. These lessons can inform a Canadian model.

This event connects Canada’s domestic goals for farm productivity and competitiveness with international best practices—using Extension and Advisory Services (EAS) as the bridge.

2) Theme

Why advisory services matter for Canadian agriculture—and how global collaboration can help Canada build a future‑ready, inclusive, climate‑smart, and market‑connected system.

3) Purpose

• Show how advisory services can boost productivity, sustainability, trade competitiveness, and farmer well‑being in a time of climate stress and digital change.
• Explore how to align international assistance, impact finance, and communication/digital innovations (including AI tools and two‑way, participatory communication) to design scalable models at home and abroad.
• Create a space for collaboration, networking, and knowledge‑sharing to advance resilient food systems.

4) Objectives

• Map Canada’s current advisory strengths and gaps (policies, institutions, delivery approaches, and digital tools), building on provincial experience and University of Guelph expertise.
• Bring in insights on farmer mental health, rural well‑being, and digital literacy—key factors that affect whether advice is used.
• Showcase proven international models, including IFAD‑supported programs and FRI’s participatory radio and mobile approaches, and explore how they could be adapted in Canada.
• Identify opportunities—in Canada and globally—to link advisory services with climate‑smart practices, gender equity, and better market access, along with potential financing (e.g., blended finance, FinDev Canada, BDC, and EDC).
• Pinpoint areas where Canadian farmers and smallholders abroad face similar challenges, and where shared learning, co‑design, or pilot exchanges could help both groups.

Info: • Driving Competitiveness Through Knowledge: Canada’s Vision for Modern Agricultural Advisory Services, AAFC Minister
• From Global Food Security to Canadian Farm Competitiveness: Making smart, aligned investments in advisory services, Secretary of State, International Development.
• Opportunities and challenges facing Canadian farmers, Senator Mary Robinson
• The role of education and career development in modern advisory services, President, University of Guelph
• Why investing in global food systems matters now, GPR Director, IFAD

Info: • Panel: AAFC, provincial advisory leads, an industry association leader, and University of Guelph researchers.
• Evidence: no single national system; many players; uneven adoption, especially among smaller farms.
• Key challenges: trade pressures, climate impacts, labour shortages, misinformation, rapid AI/digital change, and mental health stress.
• Linkages to Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership priorities (capacity, climate, trade, innovation)

Info: • IFAD: What recent evaluations say about advisory services—the business case for inclusive, market oriented models and lessons on efficiency.
• FRI: Demonstration of participatory radio campaigns and simple phone tools (IVR/SMS) that drive adoption and track engagement.

Info: • Farmer and industry perspectives on adoption barriers, advisor capacity, and incentives.
• Civil society lessons on smallholder programs, gender equality, climate resilience, and coherent policy (e.g., FSPG, CFGB).

Info: A. Advisory Content and Climate Smart Practices – Practical modules on climate resilience, soil health, biosecurity, and animal welfare, aligned with market standards.
B. Digital and Media for Modern Advisory – Blending radio, mobile, voice lines, apps, and on farm facilitation; how to measure engagement and adoption.
C. Finance and Market Integration – Linking advisory services with input and output markets, risk management, and access to finance; options with FinDev Canada, EDC/BDC, and blended finance for advisory platforms and value chains.
D. Farm management and advocacy for food security - Support for women and young farmers’ entrepreneurship and digital literacy; targeted services; options with Farm Management Canada, industry associations.

Info: • Participants: Global Affairs Canada, AAFC, provincial representatives, IFAD, FRI, FSPG, industry association, FinDev, EDC/BDC.
• Deliverable: Options for Canada–global collaboration that complement the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

Info: • Light refreshments; interviews with the Minister, Secretary of State, IFAD, University of Guelph, and FRI.

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Host or Publisher SEDRD, University of Guelph and IAMCR Rural Communication Group