University of Guelph hosted OJS journals
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Adapting Rural Climate Cultures: The Role of Culture in shaping Adaptation in Rural Canada
No full textRural Canada is experiencing rising pressures due to climate change. To adjust to these changes, communities and governing bodies have focused increasingly on climate adaptation. Culture – our worldviews, beliefs, languages, ceremonies, stories and values, shape the climate adaptation tools and resources available to communities; however, conceptualizations of culture’s relationship to adaptation remains limited. Our research team conducted two scoping reviews of peer-reviewed and grey literature to improve understandings of i) how the relationship between culture and adaptation are conceptualized, and ii) how culture interacts with climate adaptation work in rural Canada. We also conducted an analysis of federal adaptation funding from 2016-2024. We applied decolonial and intersectional approaches to these scoping reviews, and located the results in the socio-political and economic context of rural Canada. Each literature review identified different cultural ‘tools’ that are informing current adaptation research and on-the-ground actions taking place in rural Canada. We find that the relationship between culture and adaptation is frequently discussed in literature by and with Indigenous communities. In contrast, in research by and with settler communities and governing bodies, culture’s impact on adaptation is rarely acknowledged. Our findings highlight the importance of making visible culture’s influence on mainstream adaptation practices being funded by public and private bodies; this is essential for ensuring adaptation is not maladaptive, and does not further contribute to climate change and colonialism. The presentation concludes with suggestions for pathways forward that empower communities to utilize their cultural toolkits to work towards meaningful adaptation in rural Canada
Immigration Attitudes and Experience with Racism in Northern Ontario – Survey Findings
No full textIn June 2021 and February 2022, Northern Policy Institute engaged Environics Research to gather opinions from residents in the Big Five Northern Ontario communities – North Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Greater Sudbury, and Thunder Bay. As well, NPI hosted a supplemental online survey to gather opinions from residents in rural Northern Ontario communities. Residents were asked for their attitudes towards immigration and experience with racism in their communities. By measuring racism, discrimination, and attitudes in Northern Ontario, decision-makers and others can have a baseline, if one does not already exist, to understand the extent of these issues and to utilize for assessment of initiatives and programs going forward. This presentation explores the survey findings, key takeaways, and next steps for this work
Motivations of Mexican Workers to Participate in Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program, and the Impact of Remittances on Mexican Farms: An Empirical Analysis
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The Role of Professional Advisors in Slowing or Preventing Development of Future Farm Leaders in Canada: What if We’re Part of the Problem?
No full textSuccession planning has been an incentivized process for Canadian family farms, with extensive support and resources available for several decades. As most farms still do not have a documented plan for their succession in 2025, what other factors might be at play? This paper reviewed research to consider whether the family farm’s professional advisors are playing a role in preventing the development of future farm leaders and, therefore, slowing the process. The following factors were considered: traits unique to Canadian family farms, known biases that might influence the advisors, the advisor-successor relationship, and well-intended but unhelpful value-add practices. The barriers to advisor-successor connections are evident, as is the critical opportunity to improve these relationships to foster fruitful succession planning processes. The advisors are not solely responsible for the challenges, but they can be a significant catalyst for progress and better outcomes
Unravelling Farmer Preferences for Contract Design Attributes in Ghana’s Agricultural Sector: A Discrete Choice Experiment Approach
No full textContract farming is important for integrating smallholder farmers into agricultural value chains in developing countries. While previous research has explored the impacts of contract farming on welfare and productivity, there remains a gap in understanding how specific contract design attributes influence farmers’ willingness to participate. Existing studies often overlook the heterogeneity of farmer preferences and the interaction between socioeconomic/demographic/institutional factors. This study investigates Ghanaian farmers\u27 preferences for agricultural contract design, examining how socioeconomic, demographic, and institutional willingness to participate in contract farming. A discrete choice experiment was conducted with 279 Ghanaian farmers across four regions. The DCE used a conditional logit model in analyzing farmers\u27 preferences for contract type, pricing mechanism, yield commitments, input support, and partner reliability, and a logit model to identify participation determinants. It offers insights into the dynamics of contract farming by examining farmers\u27 preferences for contract design attributes using a discrete choice experiment. The findings reveal that farmers favor written contracts, quality-based pricing, full yield commitments, limited input support, and openness to new partnerships – underscoring the importance of formalization, autonomy, and market incentives. Importantly, the study highlights that farmers are not a homogeneous group; preferences vary significantly by gender, household size, income, access to extension, and market distance. This study highlights the need for differentiated, farmer-centric contract models that reflect the diverse socioeconomic realities of smallholders. The findings extend contract farming theory by revealing key preference patterns and interaction effects, offering actionable insights for designing flexible, inclusive contracts that improve participation, retention, and long-term sustainability
Stakeholder Perceptions of Pluralistic Extension and Advisory System in Ontario
No full textOntario\u27s agricultural extension and advisory services (EAS) have transitioned to a pluralistic system, driven by evolving challenges. While new methods and structures exist, stakeholder perceptions of advisory effectiveness remain largely unexplored. This paper discussed synthesis of three interconnected Q-methodology studies to understand stakeholder prioritization of advisory methods, evaluation of pluralistic EAS performance, and assessment of advisory source usefulness. Forty-nine purposively selected stakeholders completed online Q-sorts via Qualtrics. Principal component analysis and qualitative insights revealed distinct perspectives. Study 1 identified three method preferences: Factor 1 (Personalized)—producers emphasized one-on-one, farm-specific consultations for tailored solutions; Factor 2 (Digital)—researchers and tech-oriented advisors valued webinars/apps for scalability; Factor 3 (Traditional)—advisors prioritized field days/printed materials for trust-building. Study 2 on system performance revealed three viewpoints: Perspective I prioritized service quality; Perspective II demanded integrated governance and quality; Perspective III linked governance structures to method selection to resolve redundancy and bias. Study 3 found 42% of stakeholders preferred an integrated approach; others leaned toward formal-only sources or peer-oriented networks, noting concerns over information impartiality in informal channels. Optimizing Ontario’s pluralistic EAS requires: (1) cohesive governance frameworks fostering actor collaboration and transparent accountability; (2) hybrid advisory models balancing in-person and digital delivery; and (3) structured pathways to enhance reliability of informal sources while preserving their trust-based relationships
Participatory Systems Mapping. Drivers and Barriers identification in adopting BMP for potato producers in Southern Ontario using Gephi Visual
No full textRegional agricultural systems, such as the Ontario potato sector, are economically vital to Canada’s agri-food economy but increasingly challenged by climate change, market volatility, and rising production costs. Best Management Practices (BMPs) offer promising strategies for enhancing sustainability in the sector; however, adoption by producers remains inconsistent. Inconsistency is shaped by a complex interplay of social, economic, and environmental factors, yet how these dynamics operate across different farm scales (i.e. small, medium, and large) remains poorly understood. This critical knowledge gap is addressed by employing a participatory systems mapping approach, combined with network analysis using Gephi, to investigate the factors influencing BMP adoption among Ontario potato producers. Through Focus groups discussions and stakeholder engagement, the research identifies distinct patterns across farm scales: small-scale producers rely heavily on social networks, knowledge sharing, and crop’s diversification strategies; medium-scale producers face challenges related to market access and regulatory compliance; and large-scale producers are primarily influenced by economic efficiency and corporate’s buyer requirements. The findings underscore the limitations of one-size-fits-all policy frameworks, revealing the need of tailored, context specific interventions that account for the specific pressures and motivations of different producer typologies. By illuminating the scale-dependent dynamics shaping BMP adoption, this study contributes critical insights for policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to advance sustainable agricultural practices in Canada’s potato sector and beyond
Crossing Bar Lines: The Politics and Practices of Black Musical Space by James Gordon Williams
No full textAjay Heble reviews Crossing Bar Lines: The Politics and Practices of Black Musical Space by James Gordon Williams