The WELL-E Approach to Data-Driven Inclusive Innovation: Working with and for the Canadian Dairy Industry
Authors: Elsa Vasseur and Helen Hambly and Steven Roche and Abdoulaye Baniré Diallo
Date: 2025-10-01
Status: Published
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21083/caree.v1i1.8971
Evolving theoretical frameworks of responsible inclusive innovation argue systems change must properly address real-world stakeholder needs and create positive impacts for society and environment. Our team works to integrate stakeholder and domain expert knowledge with cutting-edge AI methods for the improvement of animal and human welfare. WELL-E, a Digital Living Laboratory, is currently running at two research facilities: a university training environment and a vocational training environment for incarcerated persons, creating a community of practice allowing co-creation of technology, knowledge, and information with farmers, educators, researchers, and extensionists. At the university environment, we have been working with staff to co-develop new practices for animal housing and management. Our next major project is working directly with the vocational training environment to construct of a new dairy to test cutting-edge technologies and practices for the deployment of responsible AI tools on farms, empowering end users to be at the forefront of these innovations. While our team’s research on developing new knowledge has led to major changes in practice, we have since been working with farm staff on how best to introduce increased movement opportunities (group size, handler methods, etc.), ensuring its swift adoption across Canada. Vocational farm staff have been working directly with WELL-E to build training curriculum on stockmanship and clerical work (data entry, use of sensors), as well as to pilot new tools and technologies. Our collaborative approach promotes responsible and inclusive innovation through integration of new knowledge and technologies to the dairy industry and empowers end users to be at the forefront of positive welfare developments, ensuring their sustainability and reinforcing the importance of stakeholder participation in innovative scientific research.