Community Engagement of Quebec Dairy Producers

Context

Dairy producers are often perceived primarily through their professional role, yet their involvement in community life and beyond the farm remains largely invisible. Behind every farm operation, however, are individuals who actively contribute to the region's social and community vitality. Highlighting these contributions increases visibility of the people behind agricultural businesses and demonstrates the tangible impact Quebec dairy producers have on the social fabric of their communities.

Recognizing these contributions is particularly important in a context where the collective marketing model must be reaffirmed and promoted among citizens and decision-makers. Farms contribute to local life in many ways, including participation in community organizations, maintaining positive relationships with residents, fostering solidarity with other farms in the region, and preserving built heritage and rural landscapes.

Project objectives

This project aims to better understand the forms and trajectories of social engagement among dairy producers in Quebec, as well as the impacts of this engagement within their communities. Based on this analysis, the research team will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to develop a questionnaire designed to capture a broader picture of dairy producers’ social engagement across Quebec.

This tool will serve as a key deliverable of the project and will provide the foundation for a larger provincial survey in a subsequent phase, while also contributing to greater recognition of the social contributions made by dairy producers.