Closing the Gap: The role of knowledge mobilization in agri-food resilience
A couple of years ago, I was working as a research technician in BC’s strawberry fields. I spent long days in the sun collecting data on an insect pest, wondering whether the data I gathered would ever make it into the hands of people who could use it. During that time, I often thought about this question: If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
It got me thinking about the connection between action and impact. A fallen tree has a tangible effect. It may damage surrounding vegetation or leave a trench in the earth. Yet without a witness, that impact can remain isolated to where it occurred. Research operates in much the same way.
As I moved between rows of strawberry plants recording observations, I realized that data collection alone was not enough to make an impact. I wanted the data I collected to help someone. But without pathways for it to be shared, interpreted, and applied, my data would struggle to influence decisions beyond the field where I collected it.
This led me to pivot from doing field research to communicating it!
Now, I work for the BC Agricultural Climate Action Research Network (). Based at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at The University of British Columbia since 2017, ACARN is a pan-provincial network that connects researchers, policymakers, Indigenous knowledge holders, producers, and industry professionals. I was excited to be part of a network that treats research as a vehicle for engagement and action, especially in agricultural landscapes where producers need timely, relevant information in the face of unpredictable climate events.
The ACARN team helps position findings in a way that is easily understood and actionable by delivering interdisciplinary events, plain-language products, and knowledge mobilization training and support. These activities build capacity for participatory research and extension amongst people in the sector.
Here are some of my favourite examples from my time at ACARN so far.
Beyond the lab: Trialing solutions in BC fields
The is a participatory field research project that aims to quantify soil health, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas emissions for production practices like crop rotation and conservation tillage.
Rather than present seven years of field data, ACARN hosted an information session for producers to share directly how they adapted practices to their specific contexts and conditions. This approach built an understanding of both the science behind climate-friendly practices and the real-world practicalities of implementation, including farm staff training, operational adjustments, and region-specific adaptations.
Cross-commodity factsheets and videos
For close to two years, ACARN has been collaborating with industry leads and researchers as part of the to develop a series of producer-facing knowledge products. By synthesizing years of technical research into clear, actionable formats, ACARN has produced more than 12 knowledge products on topics ranging from extreme temperatures, pests and disease management, and export markets for apples, wine grapes, and cherries.
These resources provide information on how different factors affect fruit production, as well as tools and support resources. These are freely available on the and through industry associations, helping reduce barriers to reliable information.
The project demonstrates the value of collaboration between researchers and industry. ACARN helps show that agricultural research is responding to producers' most pressing challenges and ensuring that emerging knowledge is translated into practical solutions that can be explored and applied on-farm.
Building capacity across the sector with Science Communications Training
Beyond supporting individual projects, ACARN offers and training programs that build capacity. For example, the program is offered to students, early career researchers, agrologists, and consultants. The three‑part series focuses on: (1) initiating and developing knowledge transfer plans, (2) creating audience‑centered knowledge products, and (3) delivering engaging farmer-oriented field days.
Training participants identify their target audiences and tailor communications to their interests and specific needs. The training materials and insights are available on the ACARN website, allowing network members to revisit the content for a refresher or for the public to access it for the first time.
Moving forward together
Since starting at ACARN, I have gained a deeper understanding of what it takes to bridge the knowledge-to-action gap. I learned that no single group can do it alone – producers contribute generational and industry knowledge, researchers contribute scientific expertise, and policymakers help identify pathways for implementation and impact. ACARN strengthens the sector’s ability to share information effectively, fostering spaces to freely exchange information and shortening the distance between discovery and practice.
In a sector where challenges are complex, and solutions require deep collaboration, ACARN helps BC move forward with clarity, confidence, and connection. I am proud to be a part of a Network that, through its unique role as a knowledge mobilizer, ensures that when research lands, it resonates throughout the sector.
Join ACARN’s efforts by for the newsletter and directory and be part of a community that turns research into action!
Nisa’s work is driven by her interest in how knowledge and social context influence on-farm practices. Her experiences across research, industry, and non-profit sectors highlighted the importance of breaking down silos and fostering collaboration to create inclusive and responsive solutions to climate change.
At ACARN, she builds on this insight by bringing together diverse voices to align priorities that enhance both human and environmental resilience. For Nisa, knowledge creation and exchange are grounded in listening, adapting, and growing in step with the land and communities involved.
She holds a B.Sc. in Applied Biology from UBC, a knowledge mobilization certificate from the UBC KxM Unit, and she volunteers with the LFS Young Alumni Council.