- Registration
- Overview
- Objective
- Speakers
- Program
- Organizing Team
- Parking
Reserve your seat
Join us at the symposium — register online in just a few minutes through the University of Guelph's secure portal.
Register nowFinancial assistance: A limited number of opportunities is available for those who need assistance for registration costs. Please enquire at caree@uoguelph.ca.
Online Participation: This is a face-to-face event. We wish to accommodate a limited number of virtual participants based on out-of-province and international locations, etc. Please enquire at caree@uoguelph.ca.
Background and Rationale
Agricultural extension and advisory services (EAS) are undergoing a significant transformation towards Extension 4.0. This new approach is characterized by digitalization, diverse advisory systems, and network-based knowledge mobilization. This shift reflects the increasing complexity of agri-food systems, where farmers and service providers must address productivity, environmental sustainability, economic viability, and food security simultaneously.
However, current extension and advisory systems are fragmented across the sector. EAS related to crops, livestock, the environment, and food security are often delivered independently. Additionally, support for farm management—crucial for decision-making, risk management, and profitability—is frequently disconnected from technical advisory services.
It is also important to note that extension systems have been facing challenges of adequately promoting equity and accessibility, particularly for Indigenous and northern communities, as well as other underserved groups. Geographic isolation, limited infrastructure, cultural mismatches, and historical inequities create barriers to accessing relevant, trustworthy, and context-specific EAS.
These challenges emphasize the need for a cross-sectoral and inclusive framework that:
- Integrates crop, livestock, environmental, food security, and farm management systems,
- Embeds equity, targeting, and inclusion at its core,
- Supports diverse knowledge systems, including Indigenous and place-based knowledge,
- Leverages Extension 4.0 tools and approaches for more responsive and adaptive service delivery.
Overall Goal
To foster discussion and gather insights on an inclusive Extension 4.0 framework that integrates crop, livestock, farm business management, environmental sustainability, food security, and equity considerations, thereby supporting a resilient and sustainable agriculture and agri-food system.
Symposium Discussion Themes
The following thematic questions will guide discussion throughout the symposium.
What are the common functions, tools, and approaches across EAS?
How do differences in production sectors, cycles, knowledge requirements, and risk profiles shape EAS delivery?
What institutional and professional structures reinforce sectoral separation?
How does the separation affect farm-level decision-making?
What inefficiencies or missed synergies arise?
How does fragmentation influence environmental outcomes and resource use?
How can farm management EAS serve as a unifying platform for integration?
How can CAREE support capacity building and development of EAS in Canada?
What tools and methods support whole-farm assessment and decision-making?
How can we promote Equity, Targeting, and Inclusion in EAS?
- Targeted advisory approaches for remote and northern regions.
- Integration of Indigenous and place-based knowledge systems.
- Addressing barriers to access (infrastructure, language, trust).
- Inclusive service design for women, youth, and marginalized groups.
CAREE 2026 · University of Guelph
Meet the speakers
Voices from corss sectors of Canadian agriculture — ranching, farm economics, livestock, agronomy, and policy — join the symposium this year. Filter by focus area to browse.
Cedric MacLeod
President, MacLeod Agronomics
Executive Director, Canadian Forage and Grassland Association
Read bio
Cedric operates Local Valley Beef, a grass-fed beef ranch in western New Brunswick, and has spent two decades as president of MacLeod Agronomics, an agri-environmental consulting firm focused on integrating sustainable practices across the Canadian ag sector. He has led the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association since 2015, working toward the sector's long-term success through strategic planning and management.
Heather Watson
Executive Director, Farm Management Canada
Canadian representative, International Farm Management Association
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Heather leads Farm Management Canada, a national non-profit that promotes strong farm business management to help position Canadian farmers for sustainable growth. In 2022 she was named one of Canada's Influential Women in Agriculture, and in 2025 she received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her service to Canada.
Steve Duff
Chief Economist, OMAFRA
Adjunct Professor, University of Guelph
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Steve grew up around dairy and beef in Northumberland County and holds a Master's in Agricultural Economics from the University of Guelph. He joined OMAFRA in 1997 and spent 15 years leading business risk management programs including AgriStability and the Risk Management Program. Steve and his wife Robyn operate a beef and cash crop farm near Colborne, Ontario, and he currently chairs the Board of Farm Management Canada as a farmer director.
Jean Howden
Director of Operations
Livestock Research Innovation Corporation
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Jean grew up on a mixed farm in Northumberland County and holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture, majoring in Animal and Poultry Science, from the University of Guelph. Her career spans OMAFRA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Commission, followed by 20 years with Ontario Pork in regulations, policy, industry liaison, and research administration. Outside of work, she enjoys Ontario's outdoors — camping, kayaking, photography, and hiking.
Kelly Somerville
CEO
Livestock Research Innovation Corporation
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Kelly is originally from Mountain, Ontario, and holds a bachelor's degree in animal science from the University of Guelph. She has worked as a ruminant nutritionist with Cargill, as Member Relations Manager with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, and as a Programs Analyst with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. She co-owns Twin Valley Cattle Co., a small purebred Angus herd, with her twin sister, and currently serves as Vice President of the Ontario Angus Association.
Janice LeBoeuf
Sustainable Agriculture Lead
Arrell Food Institute
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Janice works at the intersection of agriculture, food systems, science, and policy, supporting collaborations including the Loblaw Net-Zero Food Systems Challenge, Feeding the Future with Canadian Technology, and the Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food. A University of Guelph agriculture graduate, she previously served as a provincial vegetable crop specialist with OMAFRA and is a partner in her family farm in southwestern Ontario.
Marty Vermey
Senior Agronomist
Grain Farmers of Ontario
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Marty has worked in Ontario agriculture for over 35 years, starting his career in corn breeding and seed production. Through a series of mergers he helped advance new trait technology, germplasm, and pesticides while working across product development, sales and marketing, and business management. His passion is agronomy, and he stays hands-on with the farming challenges of the Chatham-Kent area.
Tongzhe Li
Professor
University of Guelph
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Tongzhe Li is a Professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE), University of Guelph. She is Arrell Family Chair in Behavioural and Experimental Economics and founding director for the FARE Laboratory for Experimental and Applied Economics. Tongzhe obtained her Ph.D. in Economics at Washington State University in 2015. Her passion is combining economic theory and behavioral approaches to understand the complex economic, political, and social context of a problem. She has published extensively using lab and field experiments to address agri-food-environmental issues, by studying how real people make decisions.
CAREE 2026 · Extension & Advisory Services
Symposium Program
University Club, Fifth Floor (North Elevator), University Centre, University of Guelph
Registration
60 MINWelcome and Opening Remarks
15 MINOpening Presentation
15 MINDoes Canada's Extension, Advisory Service System Meet the Need?
60 MINNetworking Break
30 MINEAS in Practice: On-Farm Realities
60 MINLunch
60 MINTabletop Discussion: Reflections and Recommendations
30 MINReporting and Open Discussion: Strengthening EAS
60 MINNetworking Break
30 MINReimagining Capacity Building in EAS: Extension Education, Knowledge Systems, and CAREE
Wrap Up and Next Steps
30 MINClosing
Organizing Team
Parking Details Will Be Updated
The Symposium will be held at the University of Club located at the fifth floor of the University Centre, University of Guelph.
Directions to the University Centre:
Parking lot P11 is located at the corner of East Ring Rd. and South Ring Rd. From P11, head West along South Lane and turn right on Winegard Walk. Continue North on Winegard Walk and the University Centre will be on your left.
Highlights
What Canada Can Learn from Scotland’s Integrated Agricultural Extension System
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The Heart Behind CAREE 2025: Our Incredible Volunteers 💚
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Moments to Remember: Highlights from CAREE 2025
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Celebrating Excellence: Best Research and Presentation Awards at CAREE 2025
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Closing the Circle: Reflections from the Final Session at CAREE 2025
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Closing Session: Opening New Doors for the Future of Agriculture
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Minister Lisa Thompson Joined CAREE Plenary
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Innovating Agricultural Extension: Session IV-C Highlights
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Moments from the Morning Sessions
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Stronger Together for Sustainability
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Building Resilience: Insights from CAREE 2025 Session III
Exciting discussions at Abstract Session III-D during the 1st International Conference on Canadian Agri-food & Rural Advisory, Extension, and Education […]
Empowering Farm Business Success: A Roundtable with Heather Watson
In a room filled with energy and ideas, Heather Watson led a lively 60-minute roundtable on “Empowering Farm Business Success: […]
Moments from Lunch, Poster, and Innovation Expo
The halls of the University of Guelph were alive with energy during the 1st International Conference on Canadian Agri-food & […]
Moments from Parallel Session 1: ICT Adoption and Precision Technologies
The energy in UC Room 430 was palpable as participants gathered for Parallel Session 1 of the 1st International Conference […]
Parallel Session I – CAREE 2025
Exploring innovation in action at CAREE 2025!Our Parallel Session I on Decision Support Systems and Data-Driven Innovation (UC Room 441) […]
Greetings & Opening Session Highlights
Greetings & Opening Session Highlights | CAREE 2025 We were honoured to open the 1st International Conference on Canadian Agri-food […]
CAREE 2025 Officially Opens at the University of Guelph
🌾 Greetings & Opening Session Highlights | CAREE 2025 We were honoured to open the 1st International Conference on Canadian […]
Host & Organizer









