University of Guelph hosted OJS journals
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Expanding Community Capacity for Exercise Programming for Indigenous Older Adults in Rural Canada
No full textIndigenous older adults in rural Canada experience poor access to health promotion activities such as exercise programs due to remote locations and fewer community members trained to provide such programming. Designing exercise programs which expand community capacity and prioritize community preferences may improve access and well-being for rural Indigenous older adults. Our objective was to collaborate with community members from Saulteaux First Nation, Saskatchewan, to co-design and adapt an existing evidence-based older adult exercise program, determine its feasibility, and understand barriers and facilitators to program attendance. Methods: The co-design and adaptation of the program prioritized the views of community members, incorporated Indigenous language and culture, and included considerations regarding exercise leaders, location, time, and participant supports. Twenty adults aged 50+ from Saulteaux First Nation participated in a twelve-week pilot of the exercise program. Local leaders recorded attendance at each exercise session, and we conducted sharing circles after 12 weeks of exercise to understand barriers and facilitators to attendance. Results: Average program attendance was 9/20 participants per session. The overarching theme: Our Program, Our Health, emerged from analysis and emphasizes the role of self-determination in the co-design of a culturally safe and enjoyable program that fostered both personal and community well-being. Conclusion: This program was feasible and accessible because it was designed and led by community members who understood community needs and preferences. Our presentation will highlight our strategies for building capacity for exercise leadership with community members in Saulteaux First Nation, review results and discuss implications for future programming
Diversifying Digital Communication in Extension Services: Circumventing Social Media Lock-in Effects
No full textThis paper examines the growing dependency on corporate social media (CSM) platforms within extension and advisory services, highlighting concerns about digital autonomy. While platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube offer accessible communication tools, their rapid adoption has occurred without sufficient consideration of long-term implications.Drawing on Collingridge\u27s control dilemma, the research explores how technologies become entrenched in practice—creating a tension between understanding a technology\u27s implications and the ability to reshape it. This framework helps explain how extension services have adopted CSM without fully considering potential constraints on future digital autonomy.The research employs a critical analysis of platform business models and governance structures, incorporating case studies of Fediverse alternatives such as Mastodon and Diaspora.Key findings reveal that extension services face significant lock-in effects when relying on corporate platforms, making them vulnerable to data extraction practices, inconsistent content moderation, and centralized infrastructure risks. The research identifies promising alternatives in decentralized platforms that provide greater control over governance and data management, although barriers include technical requirements and resource limitations.The paper proposes a four-stage ICT diversification strategy: awareness building, demonstration through small-scale implementations, capacity development, and systematic evaluation. It recommends collaborative approaches in which organizations establish shared infrastructure to distribute costs and technical responsibilities.While CSM will continue to play important roles in extension work, supplementing these tools with community-governed alternatives offers a pathway toward digital self-determination. Extension and advisory services can lead this diversification effort by applying responsible innovation principles to preserve future flexibility and autonomy
Exploring Prince Edward Island Beef Farmer Perceptions of Participation in Climate Change Mitigation
No full textBeef farmers play a critical role in addressing climate change through the adoption of management practices that reduce or sequester greenhouse gas emissions. However, farmers’ perceptions of their role in mitigation strongly shape their willingness to participate in such practices. This study draws on identity theory to examine how beef farmers on Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, frame their participation in climate change mitigation. Framing analysis was used to explore the identities farmers express in relation to their environmental actions.
Using a qualitative case study approach, the research employed purposive sampling to conduct in-depth interviews with nine PEI beef farmers actively engaged in mitigation-related farm practices. Data were analyzed through framing analysis within an identity theory framework to identify recurring themes and identity-based patterns.
Four primary identity frames emerged: productivist, conservationist, hero, and scientist. Most farmers drew on multiple identities when discussing their environmental actions, with the productivist frame being the most prevalent. These identity frames shaped how farmers understood and articulated their role in climate change mitigation, with participation often grounded in practical, production-oriented motivations rather than environmental ideology.
The study highlights the need for climate communication strategies that reflect the multiple identities farmers hold. Messages that align with the dominant productivist identity, while still integrating conservationist and scientific values, may be particularly effective in encouraging mitigative practices. Future research should investigate the perceptions of farmers not currently engaged in mitigation to further broaden engagement strategies
Farmers’ Perception of Climate Change and Adoption of Alternate Wetting and Drying Irrigation Technology for Rice Production in the Northwest Bangladesh
No full textRice is a staple food for about three billion people and is crucial for global food security, but climate change poses serious threats to water resources and crop yields. Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation has emerged as a promising solution, enabling farmers to reduce water use by up to 25 percent compared to traditional irrigation practices.
The main purpose of this study was to determine farmers’ perceptions of climate change and the adoption of Alternate Wetting and Drying irrigation technology for rice production in northwest Bangladesh. Specifically, the study assessed farmers’ perceptions of climate change in relation to AWD use in rice production and examined the adoption status of AWD and the factors influencing its adoption among farmers.
The study was conducted in Kalma village, Tanore Upazila, in northwest Bangladesh. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey administered to 80 randomly selected farmers. SPSS software was used to analyze farmers’ perceptions of climate change and their adoption of AWD irrigation in rice farming.
The findings show that AWD adoption in the study area is satisfactory and largely driven by water scarcity, although 45 percent of adopters lack full knowledge of the technology. AWD adoption improves water-use efficiency, reduces production costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and increases rice yields. The adoption of AWD is significantly influenced by farmers’ education level, household size, farm size, farming experience, access to information, and training.
The study concludes that AWD adoption in northwest Bangladesh contributes to improved water efficiency, reduced emissions, and higher rice yields. To maximize the benefits of AWD, adequate farmer training, access to resources, and supportive infrastructure and policy measures are essential
Encouraging Knowledge Diffusion through the Peer Group Learning Model
No full textProducers learn from each other by sharing their experiences with implementing management practices – business, personnel, production - on their farms, while positively contributing to mental health and well-being (Betker and Lemoine, 2022; Farm Management Canada, 2012). The purpose of this project was to pilot peer learning groups to test their effectiveness as an alternative way to reach producers and encourage the involvement of early adopters in knowledge diffusion. Peer groups, comprised of Saskatchewan livestock producers, were formed to establish a peer-to-peer connection. Each peer group consisted of 5-8 operations, varying in their production model and location in the province. Meetings were organized throughout the year, being mainly virtual, with an option of one or two in-person meetings for each group. WhatsApp chats were created to encourage discussion outside of the meetings. Groups identified learning priorities for meetings based on mutual interests. Meetings were 90 minutes long and consisted of upcoming event notifications, guest speakers, and facilitated discussion. E-mails emphasizing key messages and relevant information were shared after every meeting. The peer group model is being expanded, with plans to create groups targeted to certain demographics, starting with young producers. An average of 60% of peer group members consistently attended their group’s meetings. Two-thirds of participants in the first iteration of peer groups had never previously participated in a peer group, and all were somewhat or very likely to recommend peer group participation to a friend. These groups amplified extension messaging and provided a sense of community among the members. Utilizing technology to form peer groups can increase knowledge diffusion by bringing early adopters from across the province together to share their experiences. This amplifies extension of practices and increases the speed of adoption on a larger scale
Assessing AI Adoption in Ontario’s Livestock and Horticulture Sectors: Challenges and Opportunities for Responsible Innovation
No full textAs artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into Canada’s agri-food sector, its broader adoption remains limited by the absence of standardized practices, regulatory frameworks, and ethical guidelines. Despite these challenges, significant potential exists, as many agricultural operations have yet to fully leverage AI-driven technologies. This review draws on scholarly databases, reports, and government publications to examine emerging AI technologies in Ontario\u27s horticulture and livestock sectors as well as the factors influencing their adoption. As part of the exploratory phase of a larger research project, this review proposes a framework for analyzing AI adoption that incorporates systemic perspectives on capacity development and responsible innovation. It also applies technology content-layer classifications to examine AI technologies such as crop and livestock disease detection, breeding, and feeding efficiency systems. The framework is then applied to identify and prioritize key factors influencing AI adoption in the livestock and horticulture sectors, bridging practical experiences with theoretical insights into AI technology adoption in agriculture
Modelling Farmer Preparedness to Respond to Multiple Climate-Induced Hazards in Ghana: Insights from the Cragg Double Hurdle Framework
No full textClimate change poses a major threat to global agricultural productivity and food security, with smallholder farmers in developing countries like Ghana being especially vulnerable. Cocoa farming, highly sensitive to climate variability, remains inadequately equipped to handle climate hazards despite efforts to enhance resilience among farmers. This study assesses the preparedness of Ghanaian cocoa farmers to confront the impacts of climate-related hazards. A structured questionnaire was administered to 200 cocoa farmers, selected through a multi-stage sampling technique, to collect data. The research employed descriptive statistics, a perception index, Kendall\u27s coefficient of concordance, and the Cragg double hurdle model to analyze the data. The findings indicate that the majority of the farmers are experiencing climate-related hazards, including extreme rainfall, drought, and heatwaves. While 64.0% of farmers perceive themselves as prepared for climate change hazards, the intensity of their preparedness is low, with a perception index of 2.14. Gender, education, household head status, and secondary occupation significantly influence preparedness and intensity of preparedness. Despite high adoption rates of adaptive practices like planting shade trees, mulching, and manure application, barriers such as limited technical knowledge, inadequate expert support, and unreliable local forecasts hinder the full potential of these strategies. Through the establishment of weather monitoring systems, mobile device applications for weather forecasting, and targeted training workshops on climate data interpretation, farmers\u27 preparedness can be enhanced
Playing the Rebab: Unmasking Transcultural Practices of Jazz and Improvisation
No full textThis is a reflective account of a transcultural practice through improvisation, stemming from a background in jazz. Musical intersections emerge when aspects of culture and heritage are examined against improvisatory codes and traditions. As a result, a transcultural encounter is developed through the author\u27s search for new modes of expression beyond the construct of a jazz vocabulary. Drawing on traditional Malay practice of the rebab, the paper will examine the social and spiritual rituals that prescribe and parallel those in the jazz tradition, interacting with traditional values while innovating its practices. Through this, a double-consciousness is shaped to question which culture does one belong to when improvising and what responsibilities might we hold up to our heritage and identity