Pathways to Practice: Careers and Skills for Agricultural Extension in BC
Build skills. Explore careers. Grow your network.
For the people supporting farmers in British Columbia.
November 28, 2026 ยท SFU Surrey
| DATE | TIME | FORMAT | COST |
| Saturday November 28, 2026 | 9.00 am – 4.30 pm | In-Person | Students / Job Seekers: $25 General: $50 |
Farmers rely on a wide network of advisors, researchers and technology providers to evaluate new ideas, adopt innovations, and navigate complex challenges.
Pathways to Practice is a one-day professional development conference bringing together the people who connect agricultural knowledge, technology, and innovation with on-farm decision-making.
Whether you’re exploring new careers, conducting research, supporting producers, or helping drive innovation in BC agriculture, you’ll leave with new ideas, practical skills, and valuable connections.
Hosted by:
BC ACARN | BC Centre for Agritech Innovation (SFU)
In partnership with:
UFV Agriculture | KPU Institute of Sustainable Agriculture| UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Why Attend?
Whether you are exploring a career in agriculture or already supporting producers as an advisor, this event offers valuable opportunities to learn, connect, and grow.
- Explore career pathways and opportunities in BC agriculture.
- Build practical extension, advisory, and knowledge mobilization skills.
- Connect with mentors, employers, researchers, and industry peers.
- Learn from professionals across BC’s agricultural sector.
- Stay current on emerging issues and opportunities in BC agriculture.
- Strengthen your ability to support producers through effective knowledge exchange.
Who Is This For?
- Students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals interested in agricultural extension, advisory services, and knowledge mobilization.
- Farm advisors, researchers, and industry professionals looking to expand their skills, networks, and understanding of emerging issues in BC agriculture.
- Anyone interested in careers and roles that connect research, innovation, and on-farm practice.
Event Details
Surrey University Drive (SRYE)
Surrey SFU Campus
10285 Univeristy Drive
Surrey, BC V3T 0C5
Overview
Agricultural extension helps connect farmers with the knowledge, people, and resources they need to adapt, innovate, and succeed.
Pathways to Practice will explore the diverse careers, skills, and relationships that support knowledge exchange across BC’s agricultural sector, while examining the future of advisory services in a rapidly changing world.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9.00 am | Registration and Networking Breakfast |
| 9.30 am | Welcome and Icebreaker |
| 9.45 am | Keynote Speaker |
| 10.30 am | Transition Time |
| 10.45 am | Concurrent Session One |
| 11.45 am | Concurrent Session Two |
| 12.30 pm | Lunch |
| 1.00 pm | Concurrent Session Three |
| 1.45 pm | Transition Time |
| 2.00 pm | Keynote Panel |
| 3.15 pm | Reflections |
| 3.30 pm | Networking Session |
| 4.30 pm | End of Event |
Extension careers take many forms.
Some professionals primarily support farmers through technical advice and planning.
Others facilitate learning and community engagement.
Others connect research and innovation with practice.
Throughout their careers, agricultural professionals also need opportunities for growth, leadership, and professional development.
The agenda is design with four streams that reflect the diverse ways people contribute to knowledge exchange and innovation in BC agriculture.
What is Agricultural Extension and Why Does It Matter?
Agricultural extension is often invisible, yet it plays a central role in how knowledge moves through the food system. This keynote will explore the people, relationships, and organizations that help farmers access information, adopt innovations, and respond to emerging challenges.
Session Time: 9.45 – 10.30am
For professionals helping producers navigate decisions, regulations, risk, and resilience.
Helping Farmers Navigate Programs, Funding, and Regulations
Farmers must navigate an increasingly complex landscape of environmental regulations, funding opportunities, certifications, and planning requirements. This session will explore how advisors can help producers understand and access programs such as Environmental Farm Plans (EFPs), Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs), nutrient management planning, and training opportunities.
Session time: 10:45 – 11.30 am
Science, Sales, and Stewardship: Navigating Ethical Challenges in Agricultural Advising
Extension, consulting, and agricultural sales often overlap, creating unique opportunities and ethical challenges. Through real-world scenarios, this session will explore how advisors balance business objectives, scientific integrity, client relationships, and professional responsibilities when supporting farmer decision-making.
Session time: 1.00 – 1.45 pm
Applying Climate Data to Improve Farm Management Recommendations
Climate information is becoming an essential tool for farm planning and risk management. This hands-on session will introduce practical sources of climate and weather data and demonstrate how advisors can use these tools to support farm management decisions and climate adaptation strategies.
Session time: 11:45am – 12.30pm
For professionals working to build trust, relationships, and communities of practice.
Building Trust: How to Listen to Farmers and Strengthen Relationships
Strong advisory and extension relationships are built on trust, listening, and mutual respect. Participants will learn about practical approaches to understanding producer perspectives, building credibility over time, and working with farmers as partners in problem-solving and decision-making.
Session time: 10.45 – 11.30am
Facilitating Farmer Learning and Peer-to-Peer Exchange
Some of the most powerful learning happens when farmers learn from each other. Participants will learn strategies for designing peer-learning opportunities that encourage meaningful knowledge exchange and foster communities of practice.
Session time: 11.45am – 12.30pm
Working Across Diverse Perspectives: Collaboration, Conflict, and Community
Agricultural professionals often work across differing priorities, values, and ways of knowing. Participants will learn about approaches to conflict management, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and respectful engagement with Indigenous Nations, farmers, and community partners to build stronger and more inclusive agricultural initiatives.
Session time: 1.00 – 1.45pm
For professionals who are translating ideas and innovation into farm-ready solutions.
From Research Questions to Farm Solutions
Strong agricultural research begins with farmer priorities and practical questions. Participants will learn about how to design and implement on-farm trials, work collaboratively with producers throughout the research process, and generate results that are relevant, credible, and more likely to be adopted.
Session time: 10.45 – 11.30am
Precision Agriculture and Decision Support Technologies
Digital technologies are rapidly changing how agricultural information is collected, interpreted, and applied. Participants will learn about emerging tools such as precision agriculture, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, and how advisors and extension professionals can use these technologies to support informed decision-making and navigate ethical considerations.
Session time: 11.45am – 12.30pm
From Innovation to Adoption: Bridging Technology and Farm Practice
Many agricultural technologies are developed by innovators with limited farm experience, creating a gap between technical solutions and real-world needs. Participants will hear about the role of extension professionals as brokers between technology developers and producers, including how to evaluate new tools, support adoption, and ensure innovations address practical on-farm challenges.
Session time: 1.00- 1.45pm
Strategies for building successful and meaningful careers in agriculture.
Agrology 101: Registration, Designation, and Career Development
The agrology profession offers diverse opportunities across consulting, industry, government, research, and environmental stewardship. This session will provide an introduction to professional agrology in BC, including registration pathways, competencies, designations, continuing professional development, and the value of professional accreditation.
Session time: 10.45 – 11.30am
Building a Career in Agriculture: Navigating Career Pathways and Transitions
Agricultural professionals enter the sector through many different routes and often navigate multiple career transitions throughout their lives. Through a panel discussion featuring professionals at different career stages, participants will hear about workforce trends, mentorship, networking, career advancement, work-life balance, and navigating the realities of building a career in agriculture.
Session time: 11.45am – 12.30pm
Going Independent: Building an Agricultural Consulting Business
Many agricultural professionals build careers by creating their own opportunities. Participants will hear about the realities of starting and growing a consulting or service-based business, including pricing services, developing contracts, attracting clients, managing risk, and building professional credibility.
Session time: 1.00 – 1.45pm
The Next Decade of Agricultural Advisory Services in BC.
Agricultural extension has always helped farmers adapt to change. Looking ahead to the next generation of challenges and the evolving role of advisors in supporting resilient farm businesses, agricultural communities, and a thriving food system.
Session time: 2.00 – 3.15 pm
Volunteer at Pathways to Practice and gain valuable experience while connecting with researchers, consultants, agrologists, industry professionals, and potential employers.
Why volunteer?
- Expand your professional network
- Learn about careers across the agricultural sector
- Attend conference sessions when not on shift
- Gain hands-on event experience
- Complimentary event registration
- Be part of a welcoming community of agricultural professionals
Perfect for students and early-career professionals interested in agriculture, sustainability, food systems, advisory services, research, or ag-tech.
Volunteer registration closes Oct 31 at 12pm.
Thank you to our sponsors!
McTavish Resource & Management Consultants Ltd. is a British Columbia-based consulting firm specializing in soils and agrology, led by Professional Agrologists with deep experience McTavish Resource & Management Consultants Ltd. is a British Columbia-based consulting firm specializing in soils and agrology, led by Professional Agrologists with deep experience in agricultural land management.
Core services include soil surveys and agricultural capability assessments, Agricultural Land Commission applications, farm plans, and soil salvage and reclamation support for mining and construction clients; the firm also operates a dedicated environmental division providing environmental assessments, riparian and environmentally sensitive area (ESA) evaluations, habitat and vegetation surveys, and environmental monitoring for development and resource projects.
Every recommendation is grounded in field observation and, on agricultural matters, framed around the net effect on agricultural production, giving clients workable outcomes while protecting the long-term productivity of the soil resource.in agricultural land management. Every recommendation is grounded in field observation and, on agricultural matters, framed around the net effect on agricultural production, giving clients workable outcomes while protecting the long-term productivity of the soil resource.
We are still looking for sponsors!
If you are interesting in sponsoring this event, please reach out to the ACARN team at info@bcacarn.ca
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.