Farmer-led research (FLR) is a process of inquiry wherein farmers use scientific methods to address their own on-farm curiosities and challenges in ways that are compatible with the scale and man­agement style of their operations. With its flexible, adaptable, participatory, grassroots-oriented nature, FLR has typically been employed by farmers interested in ecological farming techniques and technol­ogies, and evidence shows that it contributes to the adoption and improvement of ecological manage­ment practices across a range of contexts. Engage­ment in FLR initiatives has also been linked to pos­itive social outcomes, including community-building, farmer empowerment, and enhanced capacity for leadership and collective action. In this paper, we present a case study of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario’s (EFAO) Farmer-Led Research Program (FLRP), which is currently one of relatively few FLR initiatives in North America. We draw on data from a participatory, mixed-methods research project. Our results high­light how the FLRP is enabling farmers to feel more knowledgeable, confident, motivated, and inspired to adopt and/or improve ecological prac­tices on their farms, in part by supporting them in building robust social networks that align with their farming values and priorities.

Abstract The parasitic mite Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) is the main culprit of honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colony mortality in Ontario, Canada. Most beekeepers use synthetic acaricides to control V. destructor infestations in their colonies, but the use of these products increases the risk of V. destructor developing resistance to the active ingredients, which is a growing concern. This study sought to determine the efficacy of three synthetic acaricides approved for use in Canada for control of V. destructor infestations, amitraz (Apivar™), tau-fluvalinate (Apistan®), and flumethrin (Bayvarol®), using the Pettis test. The mite mortality rate in populations of V. destructor differed for the acaricides tested. Amitraz caused a significantly higher mite mortality rate (92%) than flumethrin (78%) and tau-fluvalinate (72%) did. Amitraz was classified as “mostly effective” (90–97%), whereas flumethrin and tau-fluvalinate were classified as “minimally effective” (< 80%) for V. destructor control in the mite populations studied. Variation in mite mortality due to acaricide exposure was observed between apiaries and regions. The results highlight the importance of periodically assessing the varroacidal activity of acaricides to inform decisions to control the parasite when implementing integrated pest management strategies.

The World Health Organization has identified a shortage of trained human resources as one of the greatest challenges to increasing the availability of eye care services and reducing preventable visual impairment around the world. Increased prevalence of myopia and new strategies for myopia management have raised the prospect of various interventions, including contact lenses for therapeutic use as well as for refractive correction. More personnel skilled in contact lens fitting will be needed to address potential worldwide demand for these interventions. This review investigates the current status and future requirements of global contact lens education in light of these developments. The COVD-19 pandemic led educational institutions worldwide to move towards online delivery. An online survey among 546 educators, conducted in May 2020, investigated changes to contact lens education delivery before and after the onset of the pandemic. A total of 214 responses were received from 32 countries. Prior to COVID-19 restrictions, 23% of educators had conducted more than 50% of their total teaching online; however, 69% expected to conduct more than half of their teaching online by the end of 2020 and 12% anticipated 90% or more of their teaching would be online. Some 76% of educators expected to provide more online lectures after the pandemic and 63% anticipated new methods to deliver practical education. Around half were planning to introduce new teaching online platforms (54%) and more online assessment methods (53%). The global need for increasing numbers of skilled personnel points to a crucial role for educators in teaching the contact lens practitioners of the future. Contact lens education delivery was already evolving prior to COVID-19, and changes that are currently occurring may lead to permanent differences in the way contact lenses are taught in future. The International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) provides educators with a standardised global curriculum, online resources and teaching technology that could also serve as a model for wider ophthalmic education in future.

To tackle the rise of antibiotic resistant pathogenic microbes, iron withdrawal agents have shown considerable promise as antibiotic alternatives due to the microbes' irreplaceable metabolic need for the essential element iron. DIBI is a water-soluble, linear co-polymer functionalized with 3-hydroxy-pyridin-4-one (HPO) chelators that selectively and strongly bind iron(III) in biological environments. Compared to HPO congeners, DIBI has over 1000 times higher antimicrobial activity against a broad-spectrum of Gram-(+) and Gram-(-) bacteria including highly antibiotic resistant clinical isolates. Herein, we explain the enhanced antimicrobial activity of DIBI by a cooperativity effect of the linear co-polymer wrapping around three iron(III) centres. DIBI's structural and iron(III) binding properties were investigated by comparative experiments against HPO monomer and deferiprone using chemical and physical characterization methods with direct biological implications such as pH stability, reductive off-loading of bound iron(III), trans-membrane permeability, and competition experiments with vertebrate transferrin class iron carrier. The three iron(III) ions bound to DIBI are preferentially incorporated into a tris-bidentate chelates, which forces the linear backbone of the polymer to wrap around the complexes, as the bound iron was much less susceptible to dithionite reduction than the tris iron(III) complexes of HPO monomers and deferiprone. The results suggest a high degree of cooperativity of the polymer-bound HPO groups to effect a wrapping of the polymer backbone around the chelated iron, shielding the iron(III) centres from ready access by microbes. The structural effect of DIBI is compared to polymers containing 3-hydroxy-pyridin-4-one chelators that do not undergo this wrapping effect.

A diverse group of Canadian experts was convened for a focused 2-d discussion on potential health and welfare problems associated with the marketing (i.e., transportation and sale) of male dairy calves. Written notes and audio recording were used to summarize the information provided on transport times and marketing practices. Content analysis was used to develop a consensus statement on concerns, possible solutions, and recommendations to improve male dairy calf marketing. The group noted that calves across all Canadian regions are commonly transported at 3 to 7 d of age and undergo transport for 12 to 24 h or longer depending on the location of their dairy farm of origin. Calves in some regions are marketed almost exclusively through auction markets, whereas others have more direct sales. A need was identified for better criteria for calf fitness for transport, maintaining farm biosecurity, reducing the use of antimicrobial therapy in calf production, and improving education for farmers and veterinarians on the importance of neonatal care for male dairy calves before transportation. Experts noted that major changes in male dairy calf marketing will be required to comply with amendments to the federal Health of Animals Regulations (Part XII) on animal transportation; collaborative effort will be needed to safeguard animal health and welfare as this transition is made.

Assessment tools are needed to evaluate the effect of farming practices on soil health, as there is increasing interest from growers to improve the health of their soils. However, there is limited information on the efficacy of different soil health indicators on commercial farms and perhaps less so on organic farms. To assess efficacy, three organic growers in cooperation with the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario’s Farmer-Led Research Program tested management sensitivity, measurement repeatability, and consistency of interpretation of different soil health indicators. On each farm, we compared permanganate-oxidizable carbon (active carbon), organic matter, wet aggregate stability, phospholipid fatty acid analysis, Haney soil health test, and Haney nutrient test on one field of grower-perceived high productivity, one field of grower-perceived low productivity, and one reference site (undisturbed, permanent cover). Our results were consistent with previous research that showed grower perception of productivity and soil health associated with management-sensitive soil health indicators. Of the indicators tested, active carbon was the only indicator that was sensitive, repeatable, and consistent across the three farms, and soil organic matter was highly repeatable and consistent to detect differences greater than 0.5% organic matter. This study highlights differences among soil health indicators on commercial farms, and it concludes that active carbon and organic matter were the most useful soil health indicators for these organic farms. Participating growers intend to use results to benchmark current soil status and to help guide land management decisions towards improved soil health.

To solve the world’s most complex problems, research is increasingly moving toward more transdisciplinary endeavors. While a lot of important work has explored the characteristics, challenges, opportunities, and operationalization of transdisciplinary research, much less is known about the circumstances that either facilitate or hinder the research process, particularly from the perspectives of graduate students who often participate in them. In this paper, we aim to address this gap by contributing our own experiences as a team of four graduate students and one community partner that collaborated on a food security project. To support our collaboration, we develop and apply an analytical framework that integrates transdisciplinarity and action research. Through principles of reflexivity, participation and partnership, methods and process, and integration, we find that the framework facilitated the development of shared purposes, mutual responsibility, and meaningful relationships, resulting in the co-creation of a guidebook for farmer-led research. Our main concern with the framework is not achieving the full integration of our disciplines and practices. Transdisciplinarity together with action research holds significant promise in a food security context, but only in the “right” circumstances, where considerable time is spent building relationships, opening communicative space, and reflecting on the work with collaborators.

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in women; however, chemotherapy of breast cancer is often hindered by dose-limiting toxicities, demonstrating the need for less toxic approaches to treatment. Since the rapid growth and metabolism of breast cancer cells results in an increased requirement for iron, withdrawal of bioavailable iron using highly selective iron chelators has been suggested to represent a new approach to breast cancer treatment. Here we show that the recently developed iron-binding polymer DIBI inhibited the growth of five different breast cancer cell lines (SK-BR3, MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and T47D). In cultures of MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells, which were most sensitive to DIBI-mediated growth inhibition, iron withdrawal was associated with increased expression of transferrin receptor 1 and ferritin H mRNA but decreased expression of ferroportin mRNA. MDA-MB-468 cells that were exposed to DIBI experienced double-strand DNA breaks during the S phase of the cell cycle. DNA damage was not mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) since DIBI-treated MDA-MB-468 cells exhibited a reduction in intracellular ROS. DIBI-treated MDA-MB-468 cells also showed increased sensitivity to growth inhibition by the chemotherapeutic drugs cisplatin, doxorubicin, and 4-hydroperoxy cyclophosphamide (active metabolite of cyclophosphamide). Combination treatment of MDA-MB-468 cells with DIBI and cisplatin caused greater DNA damage than either treatment alone, which was also associated with an increase in apoptotic cell death. Taken together, these findings suggest that DIBI-mediated iron withdrawal may enhance the effect of chemotherapeutic agents used in breast cancer treatment.

PurposeTo estimate the prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and resilience amongst Canadian farmers.MethodsAn online cross-sectional survey using validated psychometric scales [Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale] conducted with farmers in Canada between September 2015 and February 2016.Results1132 farmers participated in the study. The average PSS score was 18.9. Approximately 57% and 33% of participants were classified as possible and probable cases for anxiety, respectively; the respective proportions for depression were 34% and 15%. The average resilience score was 71.1. Scores for stress, anxiety, and depression were higher, and resilience lower, than reported normative data. Females scored less favorably on all mental health outcomes studied, highlighting important gender disparities.ConclusionsThese results highlight a significant public health concern amongst farmers, and illustrate a critical need for research and interventions related to farmer mental health. These findings are important for policymakers, physicians, and public and mental health service providers, and can help to inform decision-making, policy recommendations, resource allocation, and development and delivery of training programs for farmers.

This article surveys the current state of agroecology in Canada, giving particular attention to agroecological practices, the related social movements, and the achievements of agroecological science. In each of these realms, we find that agroecology emerges as a response to the various social and ecological problems associated with the prevailing industrial model of agricultural production that has long been promoted in the country under settler colonialism. Although the prevalence and prominence of agroecology is growing in Canada, its presence is still small and the support for its development is limited. We provide recommendations to achieve a more meaningful integration of agroecology in Canadian food policy and practice.