2013 ACCC Annual Conference, Okanagan College, BC Leading Edge…Ideas Uncorked 1-3 June 2013 Advanced skills for Regional economies: Agriculture and Agri Food

SAMPLES OF PROJECTS OF SOCIAL INNOVATION IN AGRICULTURE Creating a new professions and contributing to local economies Chakda Yorn DBA Scientific Director CISA - Centre of Social Innovation in Agriculture (CCTT-PSN) Presentation 2

Regional college in Victoriaville : persons (2011 census) 1465 students in 2013 (100% increase in agriculture management) Unique expertise in organic agriculture throughout the Province 3 applied research centers, 2 in agriculture The Cegep of Victoriaville 3

2 College Centres for the Transfer of Technology (CCTT) Over $4,2 M Federal competitive grants since Double with other sources A staff of 27 in 2013 in agriculture research projects in 2013 (2 in 2010) Three research centers 4

5 CISA is part of Association of Research College and of a network of CCTT 46 College Centers of Transfer of Technology (CCTT) (6 in Innovative Social Practices = CCTT-PSN since 2010) 5 YearCCTT RevenusStaffLeverage $ 46 M6103, $ 65 M9714

6 WHY SOCIAL INNOVATION IN AGRICULTURE ? Agriculture and Agri-Food is a major economic sector $ 91,2 G in Canada (2008 data) $ 19,2 G (21%) in Quebec (2008 data) BUT SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS ARE OVERLOOKED Psychological distress among farmers Well-being and loneliness among farmers Replacement rate and attractiveness Structures and systems and stakeholders management Management: Culture of innovation and best practices Human resource management and Workforce and staffing Social perceptions and local food chain (producers and consumers) Impacts of policies and rules on regions and communities Climate change and agriculture social behaviors Global trends… 6

The Centre of social innovation in agriculture (CCTT-PSN) “To conduct reflections and applied research in the field of social innovations to generate results of practical relevance for the agricultural sector and for our communities” MISSION 7 7

The Centre of social innovation in agriculture (CISA) Any novel approach, practice, action, product or service developed to solve a problem or to meet a need/desire, which has gained support amongst of institutions, organizations or communities in the agriculture and agri-food chain. SOCIAL INNOVATION IN AGRICULTURE 8 8

9 9 DOMAIN OF OUR ACTIONS The person The enterprises and the entrepreneurs Consumers, citizens and society Communities and regions Policies, structures and professionals UNITS OF ANALYSE

What we do - A few examples 1.A web portal to support and promote non-family succession in agriculture; 2.A study on the potential of the farmland trust model for farmland preservation in Quebec; 3.A statistical portrait of the work conditions of temporary foreign workers on Quebec farms (700 enterprises, 8000 migrants workers); 4.A northern greenhouse as a platform to teach healthy eating habits, promote food security and the production of local food – in collaboration with a Cree communities in Northern Quebec; 5.An alliance with 3 other CCTTs for the enhancement of the northern bio-food chain; 6.A pilot project providing farm relief services to Quebec farm owners 10

Photo : YVAN BERGERON, BERNOISE FARM Farm relief services (FRS) Replacement rate 33 % in 2011 vs. 112% in /7/365, especially for animal production Difficult to manage the predictable and the unpredictable : −Family events −Maternity/paternity leave −Vacations −Training −Participation in union, professional, community events −Accidents and illnesses CONTEXT OBJECTIVES DESCRIPTION METHODOLOGY EXPECTED RESULTS 11 QUEBEC CONTEXT

Farm relief services (FRS) SITUATION IN FRANCE Structured network since professional employees (substitutes) members (farm owners) replacement-days’ work Photo: FARM RELIEF SERVICES - MAYENNE CONTEXT OBJECTIVES DESCRIPTION METHODOLOGY EXPECTED RESULTS 12

CONTEXT OBJECTIVES DESCRIPTION METHODOLOGY EXPECTED RESULTS Farm relief services (FRS) SITUATION IN FRANCE 13

1.Identify Centre-of-Quebec dairy farmers’ needs for a FRS, inform and involve them in during the entire pilot project 2.Adapt the French model for Quebec farm owners Modus operandi Structure (ex.: cooperative?) 3.Implement the service within a group of producers in the Centre- of-Quebec region Dairy production in the Centre-of-Quebec # 1 agricultural activity 1/3 regional agricultural revenues 912 dairy farms (2012) 16 % provincial production CONTEXT OBJECTIVES DESCRIPTION METHODOLOGY EXPECTED RESULTS Farm relief services (FRS) PILOT PROJECT- OBJECTIVES 14

2 FARM OWNER FARM RELIEF SERVICE SUBSTITUTE 1 3 Risk management tool for farm owners 1.Client-Employee relationship Ex.: The substitute pays a visit to the farm prior to the replacement date to learn about the characteristics of the farm and the farm owner. 2.Business-Client relationship Ex.: Farm owner pay a membership fee and make requests to the FRS when they desire to be replaced. 3.Employer-Employee relationship Ex.: The FRS manages, trains and pays the substitute Farm relief services (FRS) CONTEXT OBJECTIVES DESCRIPTION METHODOLOGY EXPECTED RESULTS WHAT ARE FRS, EXACTLY? 15

Working definition “Any novel approach, practice, action, product or service developed to solve a problem or to meet a need/desire, which has gained support amongst of institutions, organizations or communities” - Quebec Social Innovation Network (RQIS) Our project Implementation of a nonexistent service in Quebec which targets: The improvement of the quality of life of farmers Agriculture and rural development Farm relief services (FRS) CONTEXT OBJECTIVES DESCRIPTION METHODOLOGY EXPECTED RESULTS SOCIAL INOVATION 16

SURVEY the needs of dairy farmers in the Centre-of-Quebec 90 producers = 9.7% of the population 81% believe FRS would be useful or necessary Would want to be replaced 18.5 days per year, on average ANALYSE existing best practices French farm relief services : February 2013 tour DESIGN a model adapted to Quebec IMPLEMENT AND MANAGE the pilot project The CISA will act as the Farm Relief Service Goal: 40 member-farms Expected start date: September 2013 DISSEMINATION of research findings Help implement FRS across the province, Canada CONTEXT OBJECTIVES DESCRIPTION METHODOLOGY EXPECTED RESULTS Implementation methodology Advisory committee: 11 dairy farms (16 FARM OWNERS ) Farm relief services (FRS) 17

Where we are now Preparing for September 2013 launch date Information sessions Preparing paperwork Hiring substitutes CONTEXT OBJECTIVES DESCRIPTION METHODOLOGY EXPECTED RESULTS 18

SHORT TERM RESULTS: Centre-of-Quebec Farm Replacement Service for dairy producers MEDIUM TERM PERSPECTIVE: FRS Substitute - a new profession LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE: FRS across Quebec for all farm owners CONTEXT OBJECTIVES DESCRIPTION METHODOLOGY EXPECTED RESULTS Farm relief services (FRS) WHAT ARE FRS, EXACTLY? 19 EXPECTED RESULTS

12,590 farms categorized in animal production in Quebec (2006 Census of Agriculture) Penetration rate: 10 %25 % Participants (members): Substitutes (employees): 1 substitute for 15 members Administrative employees: 4560 Total employment generated: CONTEXT OBJECTIVES DESCRIPTION METHODOLOGY EXPECTED RESULTS Farm relief services (FRS) EXPECTED RESULTS LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE 20

Colleges and regional development While about one fifth of Canadians live beyond commuting distance from a university, only three percent are beyond a similar distance from a college (Frennette, 2003) ACCESS TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION CEGEPs originally positioned to be physically accessible to residents in all regions of the province (Denis and Lipkin, 1972) 26,4 % of residents live in farm and rural areas 12 % of CEGEPs in rural areas (vs. 7% of universities) 21

Colleges and regional development College Centres for the Transfer of Technology (CCTTs) drive regional competitiveness : qualified as a “supporting infrastructures” and used as an indicator for the level of innovation within industrial clusters (Quebec Institute of Statistics, 2008) ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Rural colleges play an active role in: Strengthening economic diversification Maintaining and developing community infrastructure Providing access to technology Providing access to local health care Etc. (ACCC, 2007) 22

Contact info Chakda Yorn DBA Scientific Director CISA For more information, please contact me at:  ext 2362 Cell: Thank you!  CISA:  Victoriaville College: 23