A University of Guelph researcher is calling for a national agricultural extension strategy, to address what he calls the “$150-billion blind spot” holding back sustainability and progress.
Prof. Ataharul Chowdhury, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, describes himself as a believer in sustainable change. “Through research, teaching and service, I strive for enhancing or creating capacity that supports social and technological innovation,” he says.
And over the next five years, one change he’d like to see is the way extension in Canada is coordinated. Chowdhury believes extension – that is, applying research and knowledge to agricultural practices, through farmer education -- is an essential element of change.
“It’s all about guiding farmers towards better results,” he says. In practice, when researchers learn something new and helpful through their studies, they extend or disseminate this new knowledge to farmers through traditional avenues such as meetings and reports, or through virtual means including social media and websites.
Ideally, this approach results in farmers trying to implement the researchers’ suggestions, then provide feedback with their perspectives. In that way, impact can be measured.
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