Farmer-led research is a flexible and powerful tool that can help improve your farm practices. Working with your farm systems and goals, farmer-led research helps you assess the ecological and economic impacts of your innovations, ideas and comparisons.
Do you have an idea to improve your farm system and need help designing an experiment?
Are there new crops or varieties you want to trial or adapt on your farm?
Do you want to test a new method of increasing the regenerative capacity of your farm?
Working in cooperation with EFAO’s Farmer-Led Research Program, you will receive financial support and individualized technical support to help answer your questions with confidence.
Learn more
- Farmer-Led Research Program: Get a sense of the find program and specific types of research projects.
- Research Library: Read about the type of research farmers conduct in cooperation with the program.
Get Involved
In addition to online resources, there are a number of upcoming events that can help you learn more about the process and impact of farmer-led research, and how you can use it on your farm.
Dates at a Glance
November 27: Join us for the online Research Symposium!
December 16: Ask your questions at the online Office Hours
January 6: Ask your questions at the online Office Hours
January 17: Application deadline for EFAO’s Farmer-Led Research Program
Details
Research Symposium
November 27, 2026 9:30am-12:30pm | Register to receive a Zoom link
Members: Free; Non-members: $10
The Research Symposium is an online gathering where EFAO members share their findings and insights from the 2026 research season. Please see the event link for the full list of trials.
If you want to learn about this year’s projects or are interested in conducting research in the future or, please join us!
Online Office Hours
December 16, 2026, 12pm-1pm | Register to receive Zoom link
January 6, 2027, 12pm-1pm | Register to receive Zoom link
Members: Free; Non-members: Free
EFAO research team will be holding open online office hours in December and January for prospective farmer-led research applicants to ask questions and discuss their applications. If you can not make these hours please feel free to schedule an appointment with one of our research team members.
Contact information to arrange an appointment at another time:
- Sarah Larsen, Research Director, sarah@efao.ca
- Rebecca Ivanoff, Seed Program Manager, rebecca@efao.ca
- Jessica Gale, Knowledge Mobilization Manager, jessica@efao.ca
Application Deadline
The deadline for applications for the 2026 farmer-led research season is January 17, 2027 by 11:59pm.
Application form to conduct your own trial: https://airtable.com/appPSElrt17OMWXia/pagXT2P614cQT6xBz/form
Application form to join a multi-farm trial: https://airtable.com/appPSElrt17OMWXia/pagzpwfp1WZU51mrK/form
Once you submit an application, EFAO’s Research Advisory Committee will evaluate the applications and you will be notified of funding decisions by mid-February.