COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Agricultural Water Futures works closely with specialists in Canada’s agricultural community to exchange knowledge and ideas about our research and ensure our research outcomes have a positive impact on the sustainability of agriculture in Canada. Below is a highlight of some of our major engagement activities.
01
Local Water Solutions in a Changing Climate
December 2018, Waterloo, Ontario
This workshop brought together over 90 researchers, practitioners and policy-makers in the Great Lakes region to share and exchange insights on the way researchers, communities and governments prepare for and manage increasing local water-related threats. The event featured presentations, a self-guided tour of research impact posters, and discussion roundtables to promote the co-creation of research and informed decision-making. The event allowed practitioners to make new and valuable connections with researchers, with over 80% committing to follow-up conversations.
02
Agriculture-Water Research Expo
June 2019, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
This event brought together over 100 researchers, practitioners and policy-makers in the Prairies to showcase regional agriculture- and water-related research and open a two-way dialogue on how researchers, communities and governments can prepare for and manage increasing local water-related threats. The event featured overview presentations, a self-guided tour of research exhibits, and discussion roundtables to learn and share insights from each other’s work. The event was so well received that survey respondents suggested similar events take place regularly to support ongoing exchanges between researchers and practitioners.
03
Ontario Phosphorus Research for Today’s Farming: An Agricultural Farm Tour
August, 2019, London, Ontario
Over 50 agricultural industry experts, government officials, crop consultants and producers participated in this combined workshop and farm tour, co-hosted by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, to learn about the latest science on phosphorus in Ontario’s farmlands and what this means for water quality. Participants saw first-hand examples of different beneficial management practices and learned about the importance of geography and soil characteristics for selecting conservation practices and their impacts on stream health and watersheds. We learned from survey respondents that both the research presentation and farm tour proved equally valuable for participants, with 94% indicating they learned something new.
04
Grand River Conservation Authority Research Spotlight
October 2019, Waterloo, Ontario
Members from our team were invited to share insights from our agricultural water-related research specifically in the Grand River watershed for informing agricultural best practices. We also had the opportunity to learn from water managers and practitioners about the local socio-economic and political context that impacts our research. Over 50 attendees participated, including GRCA water managers, municipal water and wastewater managers, and stormwater utilities, Six Nations and government water programs representatives in the Grand River watershed. By hosting this event, the Grand River Conservation Authority showed its commitment to learning from our research.
05
Agriculture Considerations for the Canada Water Agency
June 2020, Virtual Workshop
As part of a series contributing to the dialogue on the creation of a new Canada Water Agency, AWF researchers Merrin Macrae, Warren Helgason and Helen Baulch participated in this virtual panel event to discuss how a new Canada Water Agency could support the sustainable management of water for agriculture. The event was aimed at agriculture and water management scientists, professionals and decision-makers and provided insights into the latest agricultural water research and scientific advances to help inform the federal government on the management issues, needs, capabilities and opportunities related to Canadian agricultural water management.
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