What are you presenting or facilitating at this conference?

[Ataharul Chowdhury]

I’d love to hear more about what you’re presenting or facilitating at this conference. What inspired your session, and what key ideas or experiences are you hoping to share? This question helps others understand the purpose and value of your session—why it matters, and what participants can gain from being part of it. It’s also a great opportunity for you to reflect on your goals as a presenter or facilitator and to invite others to connect with your work in a meaningful way.

[Kamshajini Raveenthiran]

At the CAREE conference, I’m presenting my research on the Impact of Digital Extension Services on Livelihood in Vavuniya, Sri Lanka. My work explores how dairy farmers access and engage with digital agricultural education tools and how these platforms support learning, decision-making, and adaptation to sustainable practices. This research contributes to the broader discussion on environmental education, technology adoption, and capacity building in developing agricultural systems. I’m very excited to talk about my research in the “ICT Adoption and Precision Technologies” abstract session.
My session is inspired by my fieldwork with dairy farmers in rural Sri Lanka, where I observed both the opportunities and challenges of using digital tools for agricultural learning. I aim to share insights on how digital extension services can enhance farmers’ access to knowledge, support sustainable practices, and bridge educational gaps in rural communities. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how technology and education can work together to improve livelihoods and promote environmental sustainability.

[DELORIS AWALIME]

At the CAREE conference, I’m presenting my paper on “Assessing Farmers’ Preparedness to Cope with the Effects of Multiple Climate Change-Related Hazards in Ghana,” which explores how smallholder farmers, the backbone of Ghana’s agriculture, are responding to the increasing threats of climate variability, including droughts, floods, and pest outbreaks. It examines their level of awareness, adaptation capacity, access to extension services, and the social and institutional support systems that influence their resilience.

This study contributes to the broader dialogue on climate-smart agriculture and rural advisory systems, offering insights that can guide policymakers, development partners, and agribusinesses in designing targeted interventions to strengthen farmers’ adaptive capacity.

What inspired me is witnessing firsthand how unpredictable weather patterns continue to affect farmers’ yields and livelihoods, often leaving them without adequate support or early warning systems.

To motivate participants, I’ll emphasize that resilience begins with awareness and collaboration, that every stakeholder in the agricultural value chain, from researchers to advisors to farmers, has a role to play in shaping a more climate-resilient future for African agriculture.

[Janice LeBoeuf]

I am co-organizing a panel discussion called Connecting Traditional and Non-Traditional Players in Extension to Drive Sustainability Outcomes. It was prompted by some conversations I had with University of Guelph and OMAFA colleagues around the time the call for sessions was open, along with my experiences working with external partners on agricultural sustainability initiatives at Arrell Food Institute. We’re excited for the discussion on Thursday!

Panelists:
Nick Betts, Managing Director, Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food (CANZA)
Monica Hadarits, Executive Director, Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
Mohamad Yaghi, Vice President of AgExpert and Innovation Hub, FCC

Co-facilitators:
Christoph Wand, Livestock Sustainability Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness
Janice LeBoeuf, Sustainable Agriculture Lead, Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph

PARALLEL (ROUNDTABLE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT) SESSION IV
Thursday, October 30, 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 p.m.
RoundTable & Professional Development Session IV-B PCH CENTRE

Session objectives:
Explore the potential to reach Canadian agri-food sustainability goals more quickly and efficiently through partnerships that harness the strengths of public agricultural extension programs together with well-resourced organizations with overlapping sustainability goals. Participants will gain an understanding of the sustainability priorities of organizations such as large agri-food enterprises/ multinational corporations, financial institutions, and foundations. Participants will gain insight into how public extension teams with proven strengths in working with producers to effect change, can seek out, pitch to, and partner with these organizations to meet mutual goals.

CAREE session highlight

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