The CAREE 2026 Symposium continues with an important panel discussion exploring whether Canada’s Extension and Advisory Services (EAS) system is adequately meeting the needs of farmers and agricultural communities.
Understanding farmer decision-making is fundamental to the adoption of new knowledge, technologies, and beneficial agricultural practices. However, adoption is rarely a linear process. It is shaped by farmers’ individual circumstances, access to information, trusted relationships, and the relevance of the advice they receive.
Moderated by Kelly Somerville, this session brings together Tongzhe Li, Professor at the University of Guelph; Steven Roche, CEO of ACER Consulting; and Lauren Benoit, Nuffield Scholar, to reflect on the strengths, challenges, and opportunities within Canada’s extension and advisory service system.
The discussion highlights the importance of understanding who we engage with, how advisory services are delivered, and what enables farmers to turn knowledge into meaningful action on their farms.
As we consider the future of agricultural extension in Canada, this conversation provides an opportunity to reflect on how advisory systems can become more responsive, accessible, and effective in supporting farmers’ decisions and the sustainability of the agri-food sector.
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