Agricultural Science Communication Training

Agricultural Science Communication Training

The “Seeding Success” training series help build skills in the art and science of farmer-centered communication. Core extension topics have focused on knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) planning, producing research summaries for farmers, and delivering effective field days. The format and content is designed for graduate students, researchers, agrologists and consultants working in British Columbia.

Session recordings and materials from the Winter 2025 and Fall 2023 trainings are available here.

Enhancing farmer-centered science communication

Winter 2025

Session 1 – Getting a Lay of the Land

✔ Intro to Knowledge Translation & Transfer (KTT) planning

✔ Understanding your audience

✔ Building elements of a successful KTT plan

With guest Madeleine Arseneau, Knowledge Officer with Agricultural Climate Solutions, AAFC

Madeleine holds an MSc in Capacity Development and Extension and a BAH in Geography, both from the University of Guelph. She now works at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as a Knowledge Officer in the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program. In her role, she supports the generation, management, and exchange of knowledge both within, across and beyond the nationwide network of 14 living labs to help accelerate the adoption of beneficial management practices and technologies by Canadian farmers. Her primary goal is to ensure relevant scientific and practical knowledge reaches the widest possible audience in the agricultural community.

Knowledge Exchange Plan – TEMPLATE

Session 2 – Creating Impactful Knowledge Products

✔ Choosing the right medium for knowledge translation

✔ Crafting plain language and sticky messages

✔ Developing a research brief with BC FoodWeb

With guest Shelagh Pyper, Director of Knowledge Exchange Partnerships, Fuse Consulting

Shelagh is an environmental educator, science communicator and experienced project manager. She has a strong understanding of conservation, land management and ecology and over 15 years experience communicating science to the general public and managing large projects. She approaches each document and visual from an educational lens, striving to use plain language, captivating visuals and communication best practices to make concepts stick. She has worked with academic institutions, non-profits, government and industry to connect knowledge to practice and build trust and understanding across disciplines and sectors.

Sample Abstracts
Plain Language Guide

Session 3 – Levelling Up Your Field Day

✔ Centering farmers in research communication

✔ Enhancing learning with your delivery

✔ Structuring field day activities for success

With guest Jesse MacDonald, Knowledge Translation and Transfer Officer, AAFC Summerland

Jesse is a biologist with 16 years experience with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, and is currently Summerland’s Knowledge and Technology Transfer Officer. His peer-reviewed publications span across the disciplines of fungal pathology, virology, entomology, and physiology in horticultural commodities. He sits on a number of industry research and extension committees and leadership groups, and is the current president for the Professional Pest Management Association of BC and the Canadian Phytopathological Society BC chapter. His roles also include science coordinator for the Peace Region Living Lab and BC Living Lab, within the Government of Canada’s flagship Agricultural Climate Solutions program.

Tailoring KTT Plans – TEMPLATE

Getting your research into the hands of farmers

Fall 2023

Session 1 – How to Communicate Effectively with Farmers

✔ Understanding how adults learn best

✔ Assumptions and key characteristics of farmer audiences 

✔ Motivators and barriers to behaviour change

With guest Steve Roche, Acer Consulting

Session 2 – Tools for Farmer-Focused Research Summaries

✔ How to make your message stick

✔ Strategies for removing jargon, blending plain language and technical detail

✔ Intro to the BC Food Web research summary template and research translation practice activity

With guest Steve Roche, Acer Consulting

Session 3 – Best Practices for Distribution and Engagement

✔ Building a communications plan for your research results (using research-based best practices)

✔ Panel: Lessons learned from the field

With guests Steve Roche, Acer Consulting; Nadia Mori, Peace River Forage Association; Rachael Roussin, Kootenay-Boundary Farm Advisors

Funding Acknowledgement

Funding for these events has been provided in part by the governments of Canada and British Columbia under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.