A moving target: Farmers navigating expectations by exploring friction and traction for transforming practices in the Canadian Prairies

Harvest time in the Prairies, Manitoba

An article by Jon MacDonald, Helen Baulch, and Phil Loring

To feed a global population while preserving or enhancing the ecological systems that sustain food production, a transformation in our food systems is necessary. Although top-down approaches are often attempted, real change ultimately happens from the bottom-up and the decisions made —or not made—by producers. 

As articulated in the article Where are Canadian farmers most likely to generate multiple benefits from cover cropping?, agricultural solutions that aim to reduce ecological impacts or improve environmental conditions are rarely straightforward in their selection or outcomes. The pathways to change are often poorly understood, making the task even more challenging. Yet, despite uncertainty, exploring and implementing alternative agricultural practices at local and regional scales is essential to address growing ecological pressures while continuing to feed a global population. 

Sustainability science offers valuable tools and methods for navigating the complexity of food system transformations. One key insight is the importance of viewing complex problems from multiple perspectives. For example, examining a regional, place-based context such as Canadian Prairie agriculture reveals that adaptation in the sector is a deeply localized process with a set of nested characteristics connected to the global food system. By using alternative conceptual frameworks—like friction and traction points —we can better understand the forces that either help or hinder transformative change, particularly when informed by local insights. 

Using the climate and water-smart agricultural solutions identified in the SOLUTIONSCAPES project, we are directly engaging with local producers in the Canadian Prairies to explore the drivers and barriers—what we refer to as friction and traction points—that influence their decision-making processes. 

Fertilizer use and greenhouse gas management in Prairie agriculture illustrate friction and traction points. The use of fertilizer can increase crop yields but can create friction when excess application harms water quality. At the same time, rising fertilizer costs can discourage overuse, creating traction for local water quality improvement. This illustrates the complexity of traction and friction points for any aspect of agricultural production and ecological integrity, highlighting the need to understand local perspectives that can drive meaningful and sustainable change.

Through interviews, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities producers face when considering alternative agricultural solutions. This insight can help shape Canadian agricultural policies and management practices that enhance ecological integrity while maintaining production targets. Further, it will allow us to envision how producers’ choices create diverse, locally tailored agricultural solutions that complement one another, forming connected landscapes that are healthy, resilient, and productive.