Putting virtual worlds to work to support improved climate risk decision-making on real world farms
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Paper/Presentation Title | Putting virtual worlds to work to support improved climate risk decision-making on real world farms |
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Presentation Type | Other |
Authors | Reardon-Smith, Kate (Author), Mushtaq, Shahbaz (Author), Stone, Roger (Author), Cliffe, Neil (Author), Farley, Helen (Author), Ostini, Jenny (Author), Doyle, Joanne (Author), Martin, Neil (Author) and Loch, Adam (Author) |
Journal or Proceedings Title | Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Global Food Security |
Year | 2015 |
Web Address (URL) of Paper | https://elsevier.conference-services.net/programme.asp?conferenceID=3848&action=prog_list&session=34884 |
Conference/Event | 2nd International Conference on Global Food Security |
Event Details | 2nd International Conference on Global Food Security Event Date 11 to end of 14 Oct 2015 Event Location Cornell University, Ithaca, United States |
Abstract | Climate variability represents a significant risk to farming enterprises. Effective communication and extension of climate information may improve climate risk decision making and adaptive management responses to climate variability on farms. However, extension services are under strain worldwide due to cost and time constraints. Innovative applications of emerging digital technologies are likely to play an increasingly important role in this space. Evaluation of stakeholder responses to new web-based virtual world ‘discussion-support’ tools (short scripted video clips or machinima filmed in Second Life) indicate that they may provide a potentially revolutionary way to present and cost-effectively disseminate consistent and highly targeted information about climate, climate risk and climate risk adaptation to large numbers of farmers. Leveraging the social and observational learning aspects of farming, these tools also incorporate and apply recent advances in the use of digital technologies in education. With contextualised settings and relevant and engaging storylines, the tools model discussions between farmers about climate information, risk and on-farm practices. Follow up discussion among real life farming groups and farming families, stimulated by the tools, will potentially assist farmers to make better on-farm decisions to manage climate risk which, in turn, will support sustainable food and fibre production systems and reduce environmental harm. Prototype machinimas were developed for and trialled in the Australian sugar cane farming industry (Fig. 1). This industry is located in coastal regions of north-eastern Australia (Queensland and northern New South Wales) which experience high levels of climatic variability ranging from drought to intense rainfall events associated with tropical lows and cyclones. Improved access to targeted climate information, better understanding of climate risk and adaptation through adoption of recommended farm management best practice have been a key focus of sugar industry extension programs, In the sugar industry, as in other agricultural sectors, farmer participation in conventional face-to-face workshops, though effective in influencing adoption rates, is limited and likely to become more so as resources supporting extension services diminish. At the same time, online dissemination of technical information, though far-reaching, is often ineffective. Even the development of high-level decision support tools has seen only limited uptake among farmers. It is generally recognised within extension circles that the key to farmer engagement is through participatory processes and relevant discussion. Future development of the machinimas will enable rapid updates of relevant seasonal climate information to farmer groups to ensure access to the best available information as a basis for discussion and decision making. Increasing capacity to deliver such tools online, given expanding access to the internet and uptake of mobile technologies, also suggests potential to digitally engage large numbers of farmers globally. The virtual world platform in which the machinimas are made allows ready contextualisation of climate risk information for a target audience through customised representations of landscapes, farming systems, characters (avatars) and scripted dialogues that reflect the real life experiences of farmers, wherever they are. Discussion is a key element of social learning. By modelling conversations and stimulating further discussion, these tools may assist in providing cost-effective targeted support for learning and on-farm decision making, thereby enhancing the adaptive capacity of farmers and the development of more sustainable food production systems. |
Keywords | virtual world machinimas, climate risk management, discussion support, agricultural extension |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 300299. Agriculture, land and farm management not elsewhere classified |
399999. Other education not elsewhere classified | |
409999. Other engineering not elsewhere classified | |
Public Notes | No evidence of copyright restrictions preventing deposits. Power-point presentation. |
Byline Affiliations | International Centre for Applied Climate Science |
Australian Digital Futures Institute | |
University of South Australia | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q3210/putting-virtual-worlds-to-work-to-support-improved-climate-risk-decision-making-on-real-world-farms
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