Rebuilding Trust in Science: Why Listening, Relevance, and Relationships Matter As Much As Data

Science only works when people trust it.

In our latest thought piece, ACER’s Hanne Goetz explores why trust, relevance, and real-world engagement are critical for making science matter—especially in agriculture.

With disinformation on the rise and public skepticism growing, researchers must do more than deliver facts. They must build relationships, collaborate early, and make science feel relevant to those it's meant to serve. In short:

🚨 Disinformation is a growing threat to evidence-based decision-making in agriculture and beyond.
📱 Social media can amplify both credible voices and misleading claims—trust is harder to earn than ever.
🔍 Accuracy isn’t enough—research must be relevant, practical, and grounded in real-world needs.
🧑‍🌾 Involving farmers and advisors early builds stronger, more applicable policies and programs.
🤝 Building trust means co-creating solutions, not just delivering answers from a distance.
🧠 Science communication is not optional—it’s a critical skill for impact and progress.

Read the full article below!

What Are We Reading This Month?

Invited review: Improved control of Johne's disease in dairy cattle through advancements in diagnostics, testing, and management of young stock

In a nutshell: A new review in the Journal of Dairy Science challenges the conventional wisdom that Johne’s disease testing should focus only on adult cows. It turns out that young stock—like calves and replacement heifers—not only can become infected early, but may also shed the bacteria that cause the disease. Until now, many control programs excluded young animals from testing, assuming they wouldn't yet show signs. But newer, more sensitive tests—like fecal PCR, IGRA, and ELISA—are now making it possible to detect infections earlier, even in young animals. This paper summarizes current evidence, explores emerging diagnostics, and makes recommendations for how dairy producers and vets can improve control strategies by including young stock. The authors also identify key knowledge gaps to guide future research.

Real-World Resources

The Taking a Wider Look at Quality Assurance: What is the Dairy Story?

🥛 What does "quality" really mean in dairy today?
(Hint: It’s about much more than just great milk)

In the June issue of Dairy Farmers of Ontario's Milk Producer, our team at ACER Consulting explores how quality assurance (QA) programs are evolving to reflect rising expectations across the dairy supply chain — from producers and processors to retailers and consumers.

Animal welfare, transparency, and continuous improvement are no longer optional — they’re essential. Programs like proAction help demonstrate the great care already happening on farms, while creating space for honest conversations about emerging issues, like calf care, cow-calf contact, and environmental enrichment.

We break down how QA is:
 ✅ Supporting farmers to tell their story
 ✅ Creating trust across the supply chain
 ✅ Driving sustainable, science-based progress

We hope you’ll give the article a read! (on pages 44–45)
 📖 https://issuu.com/milkproducer/docs/milk_producer_june_2025