Uduak Edet, Rural Studies PhD Student Participated in IDRA Webinar

At a recent learning and sharing webinar entitled "Climate Change at the Intersection of Food Systems, Urban Informality and Fisherfolk Communities in Sub-Saharan Africa", organized by Universities Canada for International Doctoral Research Awards (IDRA) recipient, Uduak Edet had the opportunity to share her research. Uduak is a third-year PhD candidate in Rural Studies and a 2024 recipient of the International Doctoral Research Awards. Her research, titled 'Artificial Intelligence for Building Climate Resilient Food Systems in Southwest Nigeria,' focuses on using generative AI to improve agricultural extension and advisory services. Ensuring that farmers have fair access to timely information while managing ethical risks. Through a collaborative approach, the project empowers key actors to shape how this technology is adopted, with insights contributing to the development of future AI tools that better suit local needs

During the webinar, Uduak shared her research methods and fieldwork process. Building on an exploratory survey and interviews, she organized a capacity-development workshop for extension professionals in Southwest Nigeria. In the workshop, she led discussions on the need to evaluate AI outputs in resource-constrained settings, focusing on how to assess AI-generated information and ensure that the advice remains relevant to the local rural context. She highlighted generative AI limitations and risks, such as data privacy, misinformation, and the potential to widen gender and digital divides. Staff from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) provided technical guidance on prompt engineering, equipping participants with foundational skills to craft effective prompts and ensure relevant output.

This workshop led into an action-research phase, giving key actors hands-on experience applying generative AI to their daily work. Through this fieldwork, Uduak demonstrated strong community engagement, research, leadership, and project management skills. Working directly with end users provided her with a deeper understanding of how user experiences and perspectives shape technology adoption. Uduak concluded her presentation by sharing initial findings, reflecting on lessons learned, and outlining her knowledge mobilization plans. Her research contributes to broader conversations on evidence-based policy development and user-centered design, aiming to build stronger agricultural information systems to tackle climate change and food insecurity.

Uduak Edet's IDRA Bio:

Uduak Edet is a PhD candidate in Rural Studies at the University of Guelph, where she also earned a master’s degree in Capacity Development and Extension with a specialization in International Development. Her research uses interdisciplinary approaches to address the impacts of climate change and facilitate the capacity and resilience of rural communities through various methods, approaches, and technologies. Focusing on the digitalization of agriculture, particularly the use of artificial intelligence tools like large language models (LLMs), Uduak will explore how these technologies can be responsibly integrated into extension and advisory services. Her work emphasizes providing accurate, context-specific climate-related information to rural populations while addressing ethical concerns and minimizing the risks associated with agricultural misinformation.