Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Mac student news

AI for the well-being of cows and the wallets of breeders—interview with Prof. Elsa Vasseur

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:51:16 +0000

Images captured by cameras scrutinizing the slightest movements of cows. This is the basis of a major study currently being carried out by the Innovation Research Chair in Animal Welfare and Artificial Intelligence (WELL-E), jointly created by �㽶��Ƶ and UQAM. A new article in La Terre dives into the project and interviews the McGill team members at the helm.

Veterans honoured in annual John Abbott College/McGill Macdonald Campus Remembrance Day ceremony

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:43:45 +0000

Photo by Neale McDevitt: On the left, 99-year-old WWII vet Joe Maxwell shakes hands with Colonel Andrew Lussier, 35 years service including tours in Kosovo and Afghanistan. In the middle is Lt. Commander Alex Csank (20 years Canadian Navy).

Hundreds of community members take part, including students from local elementary schools, Macdonald High School, John Abbott and Macdonald Campus

By Neale McDevitt
Editor, McGill Reporter

New grocery store shuttle service

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 17:53:29 +0000

In partnership with the Maxi grocery store in Baie d’Urfé, we are pleased to announce a grocery store shuttle bus that will run Tuesday evenings beginning November 5^th until further notice.
The bus has a capacity of 37 passengers and will pick up students at the shuttle bus stop outside of the Centennial Centre.

Service will include 2 round trips between Macdonald Campus and Maxi Baie d’Urfé. Seats will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

The schedule is as follows:

Call for Nominations: Mastery for Service Award (due November 29)

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 19:22:55 +0000

Every five years, Macdonald honours an individual who has provided "outstanding contributions to the Macdonald community as demonstrated by a commitment and dedication to the Campus which has added immeasurably to the quality of the institution, its programs and student life". The award is open to all: faculty or staff, active or retired, alumni and friends.

The impact of global warming on fall colors—interview with Prof. Benoît Côté

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:52:59 +0000

While climate change may not dictate the arrival of Fall colors, it does affect this phenomenon... and its eventual disappearance.

McGill students shine at the NAIDC: Progressive Dairy interviews Beatrice Neveu and Connor Velthuis

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:33:39 +0000

In April 2024, four �㽶��Ƶ students from the Macdonald Campus' Farm Management and Technology (FMT) program participated in the 2024 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC). Beatrice Neveu, Connor Velthuis, David Kolton Crack, Jason McOuat and their coach, McGill Faculty Lecturer Mathieu Leduc, traveled to California for this three-day event to sharpen their dairy and business skills while networking with teams from across North America.

More and bigger spiders noticeable in Montreal this fall, says Prof. Chris Buddle

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 18:16:40 +0000

As spooky decorations go up around Montreal this October, real spiders are also becoming more prevalent.

Entomologist Chris Buddle, �㽶��Ƶ's Associate Provost (Teaching and Academic Programs) and Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences, told CTV News that spiders become bigger than normal and are seen more often as winter approaches.

Migrating seabirds are bringing forever chemicals into the Arctic

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 17:18:45 +0000

New research from McGill graduate shows how toxic chemicals hitch a ride with seabirds flying from southern latitudes to the Arctic

Between March and May each year, 15 million black-legged kittiwakes gather from across the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to nest and breed on rocky Arctic cliffs—some making the journey from as far as Florida or North Africa.

McGill Bioresource Engineering student awarded Environmental Research & Education Foundation scholarship

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 17:03:47 +0000

Congratulations to McGill Department of Bioresource Engineering Master's student Sadie MacDonald, who has been named the 2024 Detachable Container Association Scholar by the Environmental Research and Education Foundation! MacDonald is researching the carbon footprint and other environmental impacts of Montreal’s organic waste management systems. This research can help inform policy decisions with regards to environmental sustainability.

Magic Mud Pots win a top award for Food Science students at Chicago food expo

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 19:15:27 +0000

McGill earned its second consecutive victory in the Smart Snacks for Kids category

By Stephanie Wereley for the McGill Reporter

McGill Food Science students won first prize in the Smart Snacks for Kids category at the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) annual expo in Chicago for their interactive pudding snack, Magic Mud Pots.

It was McGill’s second consecutive victory in that category.

Saturday night sushi comes from the grocery store: Pascal Thériault comments

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 21:44:16 +0000

As consumers increasingly opt for ready-to-eat meals rather than going to restaurants, restaurants like Au pied de cochon are responding by expanding their grocery offerings.

The hidden climate cost: Food loss, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 21:20:36 +0000

Professor Gordon Price from Dalhousie University and Professor Grant Clark from �㽶��Ƶ's Department of Bioresource Engineering study the hidden climate change costs of food loss and waste in Canada. In a new article for Open Access Government, they highlight the need for greater cooperation and data sharing.

How McGill’s Sustainability Projects Fund improved campus life over the past 15 years

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 19:15:14 +0000

Have you ever used one of McGill’s water-bottle refill stations?

The little-known—and threatened—orcas of the North Atlantic

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 19:01:15 +0000

Anaïs Remili, PhD(AgEnvSc)'23, an ecotoxicologist and postdoctoral researcher, tracks contaminants that threaten the health of North Atlantic orcas. While Pacific orca populations are well studied, little is known about those that swim off the Canadian and European east coasts, and they are less protected.

Trying to protect agriculture and preserve antibiotics—interview with Prof. Jennifer Ronholm

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 20:26:47 +0000

A major issue associated with antimicrobial resistance is the overuse and potential misuse of antibiotics in agriculture.

Prof. Christopher Buddle: Mosquitos thriving in Quebec thanks to summer rainfall

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 20:09:16 +0000

Professor Christopher Buddle, an entomologist in McGill’s Department of Natural Resource Sciences whose research focuses on the biodiversity of insects and spiders, told the Montreal Gazette that the rain this summer has been particularly “good” for mosquitos.

Mosquito larvae are aquatic, relying on standing water to thrive.

First cohort of McGill Sustainability Systems Initiative Fellows includes Mac Campus "Smart insecticide" team

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:45:22 +0000

New award provides support for the next generation of sustainability researchers, promotes interdisciplinary approaches

Developing a smart insecticide, assessing protective coatings in marine environments and measuring space allocated to active transport are among the projects undertaken by the inaugural cohort of McGill Sustainability Systems Initiative (MSSI) Fellows.

Feeding Quebecers—alumni-founded Ferme Coopérative Tourne-Sol is thriving

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 20:37:26 +0000

Ferme Coopérative Tourne-Sol, founded by five McGill graduates, supplies fresh, organic produce to about 700 families, and, with its seed business and planning tools, is giving a boost to fellow farmers and gardeners

By François Shalom for the McGill Reporter

“We’re a Quebec business, we feed Quebecers. About 700 Quebec families eat well thanks to us. They eat organic, locally grown food—healthy food—and that’s important.”

Penthouse home awaits rare peregrine falcons in Victoria—comments from David Bird

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 22:32:11 +0000

The Times Colonist reports that a nesting pair of peregrine falcons, along with a juvenile born this year, have been landing on the upper decks and rooftop of the Promontory residential tower in Victoria, BC, where penthouse owner Fred Welter has set up a nesting box complete with cameras poised to stream any action.

The Jean-Martin Fortier phenomenon

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:24:40 +0000

In a recent article, L'actualité does a deep dive into small-scale farm enthusiast, author, and star of the popular series Les fermiers Jean-Martin Fortier (BA'02). This "rock-star" of organic microfarming in Quebec is highly regarded by many, though some have raised concerns that his presentation of the business as profitable and accessible to all is overly optimistic.

101 McGill research projects awarded $23.5 million in NSERC Discovery Grants funding

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:07:59 +0000

Funding supports groundbreaking research in the natural sciences and engineering

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has awarded 101 McGill research projects funding from its Discovery Grants competition for a total investment of $23.5 million.

The Discovery Grants support ongoing programs with long-term goals, recognizing the creativity and innovation that are at the heart of all research advances.

To remove CO2 from the atmosphere, this former McGill postdoc's startup looks to biomass

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 19:32:51 +0000

In 2019, while doing post-doctoral research in McGill's Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Qinhong Cai (better known as Tammy) travelled to Nunavut to join the Oceans Protection Plan, a federal initiative designed to improve marine safety and increase the protection and restoration of coastal and seaway ecosystems. Cai, an environmental engineer, was sent to monitor hydrocarbon contaminants and microbial genomics along the Kivalliq transportation corridor.

McGill scholars receive $190,000 to expand impact of research in the social sciences and humanities

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 17:57:57 +0000

Seven �㽶��Ƶ researchers have been awarded over $190,000 in Connection Grants by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The awards are part of $1.7 million in federal funding invested in 54 projects nationwide.

Mac Campus and Music staff members honoured for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 19:04:34 +0000

Adelina Lameiras and David Wees are the latest winners of the Dean of Students Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising.

Adelina Lameiras, Student Affairs Administrator at the Schulich School of Music, was recognized in the Administrative Staff category.

David Wees, a Faculty Lecturer and Associate Director of the Farm Management and Technology Program in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, won in the Academic Staff category.

McGill student investigating why Quebec's red cardinal population has exploded

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 17:31:38 +0000

The population of red cardinals has exploded in Quebec over the past 25 years. After eight months of tracking 41 cardinals as they flew from tree to tree in different environments, a �㽶��Ƶ biologist spoke to the Journal de Montreal about why cardinals may be thriving here.

Mac student awarded prestigious Seed Science Foundation scholarship

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 20:10:09 +0000

Please join us in congratulating Henry Alexander Cordoba Novoa, Ph.D. candidate in plant breeding and genetics at �㽶��Ƶ's Macdonald Campus, on receiving the Roger Krueger Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the Seed Science Foundation at the American Seed Trade Association Leadership Summit held in Nashville, TN on June 15–19, 2024. This award recognizes Henry's outstanding research, integrity, and professionalism and his passion for the future of agriculture and the seed industry.

17 McGill researchers honoured with prestigious Canada Research Chairs

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 14:48:28 +0000

McGill awarded $10.9 million in federal funding through Canada Research Chairs Program

Searching for Life’s Simple Necessities Across the Asteroid Belt

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 19:22:54 +0000

NASA’s Europa Clipper mission will explore the characteristics of Jupiter’s moon Europa. Its data will help scientists assess if the icy body has the potential to host life.

A previous satellite mission indicated the likely existence of a salty global ocean beneath Europa's ice, potentially holding more water than all of Earth's surface.

How AI could help farming become more efficient and sustainable

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 18:20:06 +0000

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries across Canada and the world, and agriculture is no exception. Post-secondary institutions and innovative farms are rapidly working to apply AI to food system challenges from labour shortages to climate change.

Montreal drives for greener golf courses by banning most pesticides

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 14:06:21 +0000

Montreal will become the first jurisdiction in Canada to legislate and regulate on golf course pesticide use after a decision to ban most pesticides at golf courses across the city starting next year. Following a successful 2-year pilot project, the ban aims to encourage the use of low-toxicity alternatives to protect biodiversity and human health. Golf courses, which were previously exempt from certain pesticide restrictions, will face fines for non-compliance.

In conversation with Jamie Depolla, valedictorian for the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences ‘B’ ceremony

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 15:54:29 +0000

"The Mac Campus community is one of inclusivity, kindness and open-mindedness. I have felt loved, encouraged and pushed to do better every day."

In this special series of Q&As, McGill’s 2024 valedictorians share their insights and perspectives as they reflect on their academic journeys and look back at the moments that defined their time at McGill, from navigating the challenges of entering McGill during the COVID pandemic to finding and fostering a sense of community.

How to reduce the ecological footprint of your plate without becoming vegan?

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 15:07:28 +0000

Are you having guests over for a barbecue at the end of the week? What will you put on the grill? Animal proteins, most likely. Even if we know the effects of red meat consumption on the environment and potentially on health, for many people it's inconceivable to go without.

McGill awards honorary doctorate to Marcel Groleau

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 14:53:51 +0000

By Myriam Laplante El Haïli, originally published in La terre de chez nous

On June 5, Marcel Groleau, former president of the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), was awarded �㽶��Ƶ's highest honor, an honorary doctorate. The distinction underlines the important legacy Mr. Groleau leaves to Quebec's agricultural sector.

Skills shortage could lead to food insecurity

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 14:14:18 +0000

A lack of scientists specialized in plant breeding could lead to ‘dire’ food security implications in Australia, and around the world, according to new research conducted across three continents.

Plant breeding is a multidisciplinary science that underpins the global production of food, animal feed, fuel and fibre.

In conversation with Anna Gleason, valedictorian for the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences ‘A’ ceremony

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:33:01 +0000

"McGill made me more comfortable with being myself and it gave me more confidence in both social and academic settings."

Bioresource Engineering Professor Grant Clark receives 2024 Macdonald Campus Award for Teaching Excellence

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:27:57 +0000

“Kind, approachable, compassionate, patient, respectful, enthusiastic.” These are just a few of the words used by students describing �㽶��Ƶ Bioresource Engineering Associate Professor Grant Clark, recipient of the 2024 Macdonald Campus Award for Teaching Excellence, awarded at the June 5 convocation ceremony.

Francine Lacelle receives 2024 Macdonald Campus Award of Excellence for Administrative and Support Staff

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:24:07 +0000

At last week's staff relations reception, Acting Dean Valérie Orsat presented the 2024 Macdonald Campus Award of Excellence for Administrative and Support Staff to Francine Lacelle, Administrative Supervisor of McGill's Farm Management and Technology (FMT) Program. Please join us in congratulating Francine and thanking her for outstanding service to �㽶��Ƶ and Macdonald Campus.

Government of Canada invests $6M in climate change adaptation and interdisciplinary research at McGill

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 17:55:03 +0000

Two McGill-led climate change mitigation projects receive funding from the New Frontiers in Research Fund’s (NFRF) International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Competition. Thirteen researchers receive grants through the NFRF Exploration Competition.

Marcel Groleau named Honorary Degree recipient in the Faculty of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 23 May 2024 19:29:25 +0000

Ten exceptional individuals will receive honorary degrees from McGill as part of Spring 2024 Convocation ceremonies. This year’s recipients represent a diverse array of leaders whose contributions span disciplines, industries, and continents.

Developing a healthier, more profitable food industry in Quebec

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 16 May 2024 15:56:21 +0000

As the cost of living continues to rise, our need for affordable, local, and nutritious foods has never been greater. Quebec’s food producers want to meet that demand — but how can they innovate and stay competitive in a challenging economy?

Finding answers is the mission of the Consortium for Research, Innovation and the Transformation of Agri-food (Consortium RITA) at �㽶��Ƶ.

Animal Science postdoc wins Concours de vulgarisation de la recherche de l’Acfas

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 15 May 2024 21:04:28 +0000

Since 1993, l'Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas) has been inviting up-and-coming scientists to popularize their research through an annual competition.

Open to master's, doctoral and post-doctoral students from all Canadian universities, the competition encourages the production of texts, audio and video files, and comic strips that shed light on subjects from all disciplines.

Video: AI in milk production

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 14 May 2024 15:19:41 +0000

Dairy producers know that the slightest change in the behavior of cows can give an indication of their state of health. But since they can't be everywhere at once, artificial intelligence could help improve and extend the lives of their livestock. In �㽶��Ƶ's Macdonald Campus farm, researchers are developing tools to detect problems before they occur.

What's with all the wild turkeys in Montreal?

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 09 May 2024 18:32:18 +0000

Wild turkey sightings are on the rise in Montreal.

David Bird, emeritus professor of wildlife biology in McGill's Department of Natural Resource Sciences, told the Montreal Gazette that warmer temperatures have influenced the habits of more than just wild turkey populations.

“All these birds that are not normally found in cold, cold regions are now moving north because of climate warming,” he said.

New ECP3 greenhouse unveiled

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

From left to right: Roseann O’Reilly Runte (Director of CFI, Government of Canada), Hugo Dionne (Québec government representative), Marie-Claude Bibeau (Minister of National Revenue and MP for Compton—Stanstead), Peter Moffett (Director of CORSÈVE), Sébastien Roy (Professor of Biology, Université de Sherbrooke), Anja Geitmann (Dean of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill), Carole Beaulieu (Dean of Science, Université de Sherbrooke), Pierre Cossette (Rector, Université de Sherbrooke), Catherine Latendresse (Head of Communications, METRO).

Breaking boundaries: Bioresource Engineering shines at McGill Design Day debut

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Generations of Bioresource Engineering students have participated in the BREE 495 capstone design course. What innovative ideas did this year’s students come up with?

Microgreens: Grow fast, eat young

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Pictured above: Greenhouse production of sunflower microgreens in biodegradable containers.

By David Wees, agr., Faculty Lecturer, Farm Management & Technology Program and Dept. of Plant Science, FAES

Ah, spring: that time of year when farmers and gardeners can’t wait to plant. Even apartment dwellers want to see some green, but with most of the world’s population now living in urban areas, space to grow may be limited.

Mac students inspire next-gen scientists at John Abbott Sustainability Through Science Symposium

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Pictured (from left to right): McGill/Mac representatives Ingrid Chiraz and Andrew Churchill; grad students: Jasmine Muszik, Mehtab Singh, Aylish Marshall; JAC representatives Sean Hughes and Karim Jaffer

By Kathy MacLean

In the dynamic landscape of scientific inquiry, effective communication is not merely an option; it's a necessity. Bridging the gap between complex research and broader audiences fosters understanding, sparks curiosity, and drives positive change.

Two McCall MacBain Scholars coming to Mac in 2024

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

The McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill today announced its fourth cohort of recipients: 30 students who will pursue a funded master’s or professional degree combined with mentorship and leadership programming, as well as 117 who earned entrance awards ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 each.

Chris Buddle: Artist, poet, conservationist

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Most members of the McGill community know Chris Buddle as a professor, an entomologist, a researcher, or a McGill administrator. But Buddle is a man of many more talents, which you can read all about in a new McGill Reporter article.

On May 22, he will launch A Portrait of Astonishing Nature, a remarkable collection of original poetry and watercolour paintings that pay loving tribute to the plants and animals around us.

The price of food inevitably "volatile"

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

From bad weather to global conflicts, and even the breakdown of supply chains, food prices are subject to unpredictable variations.

Here's a look at what's been shaking up the food market in recent years.

Anaïs Remili receives President's Prize for unparalleled commitment to science communication on whale diets

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Photo: Anaïs Remili (centre), winner of the Prize for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows, with Valérie Orsat, Acting Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and McGill President, Deep Saini

The domination of private interests presents a risk to the long-term health of the Bay of Fundy

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

In The Conversation, Department of Natural Resource Sciences PhD Candidate Elson Ian Nyl Galang and Dalhousie University Postdoc Lara Cornejo write about their experience gathering a group of leading thinkers in Halifax, near the iconic Bay of Fundy, to set about imagining “what could plausibly happen to the Bay of Fundy coast by 2072.”

McGill School of Human Nutrition student Manon Fantino wins francophone McGill MT180 competition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Congratulations to School of Human Nutrition PhD candidate Manon Fantino, winner of McGill’s francophone 3-Minute Thesis (MT180) competition! Manon will represent McGill at the Concours ACFAS MT180 Nationals in Ottawa on May 15^th.

An appetite for business—McGill experience helped dietetics student build a company that’s true to her values

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Although Zoey Li, BSc(NutrSc)’17, always had an interest in business, she never expected to launch a company that helps people take charge of their health.

Li, who was recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 in the food and beverage category, built her success on her ability to find opportunities, develop new skills and make connections, as an undergraduate and afterward.

Thousands flock to John Abbott to take in solar eclipse

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

On Monday, McGill played host to thousands of people for the spectacular solar eclipse with a series of public events at the downtown campus, the Gault Nature Reserve, and on the West Island (with Macdonald Campus collaborating with John Abbott College).

Near perfect weather conditions – especially following last week’s snowfall – drew throngs of Montrealers outside to take part in what will be for many, a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Celebrating our exceptional student leaders

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Macdonald community members gathered at the Ceilidh on Wednesday, April 3, to celebrate the Gold Key Recipients for 2024. Students, staff, friends, and family listened in as Daniil Batanau, Henry Cordoba Novoa, Sara Kosumi, Philippe Leblond, and Henry Lee shared their inspiring stories of how they became involved in community life at Macdonald Campus and how rewarding it has been for them to give back to their fellow students.

Future of Food conference sees high student engagement

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Student engagement was high at the Future of Food Conference in Ottawa, as youth turned out to hear panellists and keynote speeches by stakeholders from across the agriculture value chain.

Several student groups from Queen’s, McGill and the University of Ottawa heard about sustainability, innovation and politics in agriculture at the February event.

McGill Farm Management and Technology student Aidan Velthuis, who grew up on a dairy farm south of Ottawa, attended the conference.

Artificial intelligence in the barn

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Imagine cows roaming freely in a barn equipped with cameras and sensors linked to artificial intelligence in a system that predicts their mood and lifespan. Implementing such a system is the mission of the new Research and Innovation Chair in Animal Welfare and Artificial Intelligence (WELL-E), created jointly by �㽶��Ƶ and UQAM thanks to $5 million in funding over five years.

The advantages of regenerative agriculture in the prairies

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

McGill Farm Management and Technology Program Director Pascal Thériault spoke to Radio-Canada's Le Café Show about what regenerative agriculture is, how it can improve water retention in the soil—an increasingly important consideration as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of drought in the prairies, and its role in carbon capture.

From chocolate to home insurance, climate change is making life more expensive

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Rising costs of cocoa due to drought and disease affecting crop yields is proof of how global warming is hitting our pocketbooks, agronomist and economist Pascal Thériault, McGill Farm Management and Technology Program Director, told CBC.

The food system "relies on stability, and what climate change does is it creates situations where nothing is stable," he said.

Four Mac Campus students reach finals in McGill Three-Minute Thesis Competition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

What is 3MT/MT180?

In the University-wide 3MT/MT180 competition, graduate students have the chance to showcase their leading-edge research before a live audience. With only three minutes and a single slide, students must engage their audience and convey the complexities of their work to a diverse, non-expert audience. Participants may present their research in English or in French and winners will advance to regional and national competitions.

Food Security Summit fosters collaboration between student food advocacy groups

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Representatives from student groups across campus and beyond gathered in the University Centre for a Food Security Summit on March 15 to discuss ways to improve the sustainability, accessibility, and affordability of food systems at McGill. The summit included presentations, “visioning sessions” where attendees exchanged ideas on discussion questions in smaller groups, and a free lunch.

Shrinkflation in house brands

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Large retailers are reducing their formats to cut production costs in a period of high food inflation.

Shrinkflation is not sparing the private labels that consumers love to save money on, Radio-Canada reports. Already in the spotlight for their record profits, Canada's major food retailers are in turn reducing the formats of their new products.

Eclipse events abound at McGill

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

McGill will be hosting three solar eclipse events on April 8, one downtown, one at Macdonald campus, and another at the Gault Nature Reserve.

At approximately 3:20 p.m. on April 8, the sky above Montreal will go dark during a total eclipse of the sun. A rare celestial occurrence, the next total solar eclipse won’t happen in Montreal until the next century. “A total eclipse of the sun is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says Carolina Cruz-Vinaccia, Outreach Program Administrator at McGill’s Trottier Space Institute (TSI). “You really don’t want to miss it.”

Campus garden initiatives can help grow the next generation of environmental change-makers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

No longer a problem of the future, the climate crisis is now driving devastating real-world impacts here in Canada and worldwide.

Less polluting burps

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

With its burps and farts, a dairy cow emits as much methane every year as a car driven 20,000 kilometers. Ottawa has just authorized the marketing of a feed additive that could transform the fight against global warming on the farm. 3-NOP could reduce methane emissions from dairy cows by an average of 30%, and from beef cattle by an average of 45%.

How does it work?

Methane is formed in cows' rumen—the front compartment of their stomach—during digestion.

McGill ranked highest among Canadian university in the “Food Science & Technology” subject—Shanghai Global Ranking 2023

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

According to the Shanghai Global Ranking 2023, McGill now ranks number one among Canadian universities by the “Food Science & Technology” academic subject. This trend is remarkable, as �㽶��Ƶ has consistently risen in the global ranking year after year.

Food Science & Technology is also one the best ranked subjects at McGill.

McGill Food Science students selected as Institute of Food Technologists finalists

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Three teams of McGill Food Science students (food product development class-U3) have been selected as finalists in three different Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) competitions. They will attend the annual IFT FIRST event and expo taking place on July 14-17 in Chicago, the world’s largest gathering of food science professionals, where they will compete with the other teams for cash prizes.

Ottawa Valley Farm Show highlights latest technology and techniques in Canadian farming

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

The Ottawa Valley Farm Show, a cornerstone event for the agricultural industry, not only celebrates the achievements of local farmers but also showcases the latest agricultural products and technologies essential for sustaining industry growth.

Caitlin Allen, a recent graduate of McGill's Farm Management and Technology Program, aspires to one day own a dairy farm, but knows that passion and hard work are just part of the puzzle. Innovation is crucial.

In Bermuda, the signs of the season are changing

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

White-tailed tropicbirds spend most of the year at sea, out of sight of people. When the seabirds make their annual descent into Bermuda to breed, though, their long, streamer-like tails, snowy white plumage, and shrill calls are impossible to miss. To locals, the birds’ return to the islands is a reliable sign of spring.

Celebrating International Women’s Day with McGill’s female Deans

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Friday, March 8 was International Women’s Day, marking the achievements of women and serving as a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

This year’s theme is Inspire Inclusion—a message exemplified by McGill’s female leaders. At the moment, 10 of McGill’s 14 deans are women, including our own Acting Dean Valérie Orsat.

The McGill Reporter shared their thoughts on the women who inspire them, the progress that’s been made, and the barriers that have yet to be broken.

Restoring Quebec’s landscapes for sustainability and resilience

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

In a new article for the McGill Reporter, Department of Natural Resource Sciences PhD Candidate Elson Ian Nyl Galang argues that to restore Quebec’s landscapes for sustainability and resilience, we need to carefully think about which pathways of development and decision-making we prioritize.

Macdonald Campus Farm ranked best managed dairy herd in Vaudreuil−Soulanges

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Each year, Lactanet recognizes top performing herds and outstanding dairy herd management based on the Herd Performance Index. McGill's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is very proud to share Macdonald Campus Farm’s results for 2023 and to underline the farm’s ranking:

1 of 29 herds in Vaudreuil−Soulanges
4 of 189 herds in the Montérégie−Ouest region

School of Human Nutrition Student Wins Prix Étoiles Montantes Yves-Deshaies du Réseau CMDO

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Macdonald Campus student Meryem Talbo (BSc(NutrSc)'17, MSc(NutrSc)'19; pictured above on the right) has been awarded the Prix Étoiles Montantes Yves-Deshaies du Réseau CMDO, revealed during the Joint Scientifique meeting of the CMDO network and the Société Québécoise de Lipidologie, de Nutrition et de Métabolisme (SQLNM) held in February.

Why the price of bananas stays low and steady

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Although bananas are not immune to price spikes, as seen recently due to poor harvests, the desire of retailers to keep them affordable and an efficient production chain largely explain why the popular fruit remains among the most accessible in the supermarket year round, agronomist and economist Pascal Thériault, McGill Farm Management and Technology Program Director, told La Presse.

Macdonald Farm: A unique place of learning on the island of Montréal

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

La famille du lait featured our very own Macdonald Campus Farm in their online magazine, speaking to General Manager Janice Pierson.

The organic songs of BSc(Ag.Env.Sc.) Alum Shaina Hayes

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Ahead of the release of her second album, Kindergarten Heart , expected on February 23, Mac Campus alum Shaina Hayes spoke to Le Devoir about where she finds inspiration for her work and the connection between her farming and her music.

Farm Management and Technology students celebrate Canada's Ag Day at Future of Food Conference

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

On Canada's Agriculture Day on February 13, year 2 and 3 students in McGill's Farm Management and Technology (FMT) program attended the Future of Food conference in Ottawa, thanks to sponsors Farm Credit Canada and CropLife Canada. This one-day event features speakers and industry leaders in Canadian agriculture and food discussing innovation and how Canada can shape the food industry.

Spotlighting McGill’s women in STEM

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

This Sunday, February 11, marks the United Nation’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which promotes full and equal access to science for women and girls.

According to the UN, a significant gender gap persists at all levels of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world. Even though women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, most countries, no matter their level of development, have not achieved gender equality in STEM.

Lunchbox specialist Cook it takes refuge from creditors to be bought out

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Times are tough in the ready-to-eat and boxed meal industries. In order to be able to continue in business, Cook it has taken steps to protect itself from creditors, and is planning to be bought out by British Columbia-based Fresh Prep Foods.

Deglaciated Soils: Microorganisms emerging from melting glaciers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Growing up in Minnesota, McGill PhD student Scott Sugden spent a lot of time outdoors, particularly canoeing and backpacking in the Arctic.

The Arctic became a landscape that he cared deeply about. It led to work in outdoor education, a high school biology classroom, and now as a researcher in environmental microbiology.

A day of learning in the Longhouse

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

On November 22, a delegation of McGill senior academic leaders, including Interim Vice-President (Global Engagement) and Department of Plant Science Professor Anja Geitmann, Associate Provost (Teaching and Academic Programs) and Department of Natural Resource Sciences Professor Christopher Buddle, and School of Human Nutrition Professor Treena Wasonti:io Delormier, visited the Mohawk commun

Canada's Food Guide may be less accurate for seniors

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Seniors aged 65 and over who meet the recommendations of Canada's new Food Guide may not be getting enough of some important nutrients, warns a new study published by researchers at �㽶��Ƶ: their diet may not contain enough folate, vitamin D and calcium.

The rise of vertical farming

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

In the contemporary agricultural landscape, interest in vertical farming is surging. This alternative to conventional methods can allow farmer's to cultivate crops in compact spaces, maximizing output without expanding horizontally by instead cultivating crops in vertically stacked layers or inclined surfaces. Increasing land use efficiency is critical as the world grapples with limited arable land, especially in urban areas.

Palm oil giants push out smallholders in Guatemala; deforestation risks remain

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Guatemala is now the third-largest palm oil producer after Malaysia and Indonesia (which produce 88% of the global supply) and is often seen as a more sustainable alternative. Today, more than 60% of Guatemala’s plantations are certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). High certification rates are largely attributed to plantations owned by a handful of producers, making it easier to certify large chunks of the industry, according to RSPO.

Do Wild Varieties of Crops Hold the Key To Developing More Resilient Agriculture?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

As hostile weather intensifies, plant breeding focused on climate-adapted crops has taken on a sense of urgency.

With cultivated crops often suffering from a lack of genetic diversity making them more susceptible to diseases and pests, scientists are now turning to wild varieties, which can offer valuable yet previously overlooked genetic traits. By crossing the wild tepary bean with a black bean or a pinto bean, for example, scientists may be able to breed a new variety that can better endure similar harsh environmental conditions that its relative thrived in.

‘Business as usual is not going to cut it’: Niki Ashton on feds’ economic update and wildfires

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

As the ash settles on Canada’s record wildfire season, “business as usual from the federal government is not going to cut it,” NDP MP Niki Ashton told Canada’s National Observer.

From coursework to conservation: how students brought the pollination meadow project to life

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

It's not every day that a university assignment transforms into a real-world conservation initiative. Yet, that's precisely what happened with the Macdonald Campus Pollination Meadow project. What began as coursework evolved into an ecological marvel, all thanks to the hard work and vision of a group of Macdonald students led by Alex Kuijper Dickson BEng’23 (Bioresource) and Heather Brown BSc(AgEnvSc)’24.

Ărramăt Project: harnessing Indigenous wisdom for biodiversity conservation and community well-being

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Imagine living in a world where the wisdom of Indigenous communities guides our actions towards biodiversity and human health. This isn't just a vision; it's becoming a reality through the groundbreaking initiative known as Ărramăt. This New Frontiers in Research funded project is a pioneering effort to acknowledge and amplify the voices of Indigenous peoples, empowering them to share their knowledge about the environment's role in promoting health and well-being.

Bridging worlds: the Northern Research Knowledges Lab's collaborative approach to conservation in Canada's North

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

As the Arctic wind whistles through Canada's northern wilderness, a unique collaboration is unfolding between scientists and Indigenous communities. Graduate and Postdoctoral students in the Northern Research Knowledges Lab, under the leadership of Dr. Murray Humphries, are redefining how scientific research is conducted.

The hidden value of nature: enhancing our well-being

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

In our busy everyday lives, it's easy to overlook our deep-rooted connection with nature. The connection is not just about the nourishment we derive or the air we breathe; nature subtly but significantly enhances our well-being. This intriguing intersection is where McGill Department of Natural Resource Sciences PhD candidate Jackie Hamilton directs her research.

Teaching biodiversity at Macdonald Campus

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Dr. Murray Humphries (PhD’01), a passionate wildlife biology professor at the Macdonald Campus, spends his days immersed in the fascinating world of biodiversity—the colorful, complex tapestry of life on Earth. At the Macdonald Campus, we don't just study this diversity, we celebrate it.

Expert report imagines possible futures for this ecologically rich slice of Nova Scotia

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

The tidal wetlands and dykelands of the inner Bay of Fundy are critical ecosystems in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, providing essential benefits to human and non-human communities.

These ecosystems offer biodiverse habitats, protection from coastal flooding, and cultural value for Indigenous, Acadian, and other communities. However, they are increasingly threatened by climate change, making their management more complex and their future uncertain.

How the Spike in Farmland Prices is Affecting Canadian Farmers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

The spike in farmland prices has boosted the equity of farmers all across Canada. Are farmers leveraging this new-found equity to generate new business opportunities or farm wealth? To explore what farmland values mean for farms and farming across Canada, Country Guide sat down with Pascal Thériault, agricultural economist at Macdonald Campus, �㽶��Ƶ and vice-president of Quebec’s Ordre des agronomes.

The ROI on DNA: Gene Editing a Game Changer for Farmers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently approved gene editing for use in breeding new crop varieties, meaning plant breeders can now apply the technology to their work. Gene editing has the potential to quickly develop new varieties with greater accuracy in targeting traits such as drought and disease resistance, with promising agronomic and trade implications for farmers.

AI for data analysis in agriculture

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

In the not-so-far-off future, artificial intelligence could help farmers analyze data to make decisions and improve their outputs.

“The bottleneck right now is that farmers have data but don’t necessarily know what it means. They often need a specialist to figure it out,” says Felippe Karp, a PhD candidate in McGill's Bioresource Engineering department and member of the Precision Agriculture and Sensor Systems (PASS) research team led by Professor Viacheslav Adamchuk.

Raw pet food, cattle linked to drug-resistant salmonella outbreak affecting mainly kids

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

An outbreak of extensively drug-resistant salmonella has been linked to raw pet food and contact with cattle, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Co-imagining futures of Canada’s landscapes in the Anthropocene

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

We live in the Anthropocene era. Human actions have become the major driving force behind unprecedented environmental challenges, creating delicate complexities and uncertainties about the future of the planet and humanity. Canada’s critical landscapes are not spared from these challenges, threatening the well-being of human and non-human communities that depend on them for various natural benefits. Thus, our ability to prepare, plan, and reflect for the future has never been as important to ensure that Canada’s landscapes thrive sustainably and resiliently in the Anthropocene.

Raymond Octagon 4th-floor classrooms reopen November 14th

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

At the start of the semester, we had to close access to the Raymond Octagon 4^th-floor classrooms unexpectedly. Debris of asbestos-containing plaster had been found in the cavity between the roof and the ceiling of two of the classrooms as we prepared for necessary work on the roof. This work, combined with the design of the ceiling – which included openings between tiles – presented a risk of asbestos fibres being released during the work.

Metro, a Quebecois company?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

In answer to a question posed by a reader, La Presse looked into the origins of the Metro group with expert commentary from agricultural economist Pascal Thériault, Director of McGill's Farm Management and Technology program and Senior Faculty Lecturer.

Among the five major players in the grocery field (Metro, IGA, Loblaw, Costco and Walmart), Metro is the only one to have its head office in Quebec. The big decisions are therefore made here, indicated Thériault.

Hundreds brave harsh weather to honour veterans

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Undaunted by snow, sleet, and hail, hundreds of people gathered on John Abbott’s Memorial Field to honour Canadian veterans in the annual Remembrance Day ceremony on November 10.

Tribute was paid to our veterans through poetry, song, and speeches by Rick Cartmel, retired Master Warrant officer in the Black Watch; the Honorable J. Michel Doyon, Lt. Governor of Quebec; and Anja Geitmann, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, among others.

Voices are raised against the hidden substitution of ingredients in foods

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

After "shrinkflation," it's now de-qualification drawing criticism from consumers concerned about marketing ploys that give the impression of getting less for their money. The Trudeau government promises to investigate the practice, but experts say immediate action is needed.

In most cases, ingredient substitutions are virtually imperceptible. But recipe changes for certain foods can leave their mark.

Update on air testing

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

When we reopened the Raymond, Macdonald-Stewart and Barton buildings in March 2023, we established a temporary air testing program that consisted of testing for the presence of airborne asbestos in more than 35 areas across the complex. This testing program was not a regulatory requirement but rather put in place out of an abundance of caution.

India's millet revival: How the once-neglected seed is making a comeback

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Millet, once a staple in Indian cooking and agriculture before being superseded by rice, is at the centre of a massive promotional campaign launched by the Indian government.

The healthy and hardy cereal, which thrives in arid and difficult conditions in which other crops cannot survive and requires less water, is being touted as a "superfood" that could force a more nutritious diet on India's population, and also help mitigate the devastating effects of climate change on the South Asian country.

A flood of ideas from McGill’s Brace Water Centre

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:55:56 +0000

Located on Macdonald Campus, many would mistake the Brace Water Centre's unassuming office for a private residence. Yet looks can be deceiving – for not only does the Centre boast an extraordinary history, it’s also associated with some of the University’s most exciting scientific researchers.

Birds nesting in agricultural lands more vulnerable to extreme heat, study finds

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

As climate change intensifies extreme heat, farms are becoming less hospitable to nesting birds, a new study found. That could be another barrier to maintaining rapidly eroding biodiversity that also provides benefits to humans, including farmers who get free pest control when birds eat agricultural pests.

McGill establishes research chair to address climate change in the North

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

As Canadians experience a year of record-breaking wildfires, floods, and extreme heat, experts are warning that these conditions will persist and likely intensify over the coming decades as we experience the escalating effects of climate change and global warming. These impacts are being felt even more acutely in northern regions of the planet, where temperatures are rising at four times the global rate.

You are what you eat—and for orcas, that’s bad news

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Researchers have known for decades that orcas across the North Pacific have harmful pollutants in their system.

Where do new apple varieties come from?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

The apple is constantly being reinvented, changing with the times and cultures. The Malus domestica species comes in some 7,500 varieties.

"Today, people want crisp, sweet apples. Quebec used to import a lot of Granny Smiths; they're now much less popular because they're very acidic," explains David Wees, a McGill Plant Science lecturer and Associate Director of the university's Farm Management and Technology Program.

From AI to robot butchers, automating the meat packing industry is not cut-and-dried

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Artificial intelligence, automation and robotics are reshaping many parts of the economy, and experts say the meat-processing sector could benefit from improved technology to overcome labour shortages, improve food safety and remain competitive against alternatives like plant-based proteins.

Change has been slow, but companies are making strides, such as using robotics to transport heavy animal carcasses within a facility, to stack and move boxes for delivery and to optimize transportation loads to reduce the amount of trucking.

Social environments are important determinants of nutritional risk among older-aged adults

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

According to a new study published in The Journal of Nutrition by a team including Associate Professor Daiva Nielsen and other researchers from McGill's School of Human Nutrition, a supportive social environment may protect against nutritional risk among middle and older-aged adults.

Achieving alternate futures in the Anthropocene

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

A recent article, written by a team which includes Professor Elena Bennett in McGill’s Department of Natural Resource Sciences, explores the challenges of the Anthropocene, a new geological epoch defined by humans' colossal impact on the environment. To counteract this widescale destruction, the researchers propose that imagination is a hopeful yet complicated tool for creating a positive environmental future.

Your 2023 guide to chasing fall foliage across Quebec

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Across Quebec, we're already seeing leaves start to transition from bright summery greens to the burnished, coppery hues of Fall—but the changes aren’t happening because the days are chillier. As McGill Plant Science Lecturer David Wees told the Montreal Gazette last year, it's actually because the days are getting shorter.

Sports Logging: She'd never touched an axe before coming to �㽶��Ƶ

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Even though she grew up on a farm, Stéphanie Naud had never touched an axe or saw before studying at McGill's Mac campus. As a natural athlete who loved the outdoors and working with her hands, when she heard about our unique inter-university lumberjack club, she was intrigued, she recently told Le journal de Montréal.

Oh my gourd! Giant pumpkins in Lennoxville, QC

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

With fall officially here, it's time for Lennoxville, Quebec's annual Giant Pumpkin Festival, where people can see pumpkins that weigh as much as 680 kilograms.

The festival — which is taking place at the Amédée Beaudoin community centre Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — is a family event with bouncy castles, a petting zoo, a farmers' market, music and even horse-drawn carriages.

Alexandre Lemire started growing giant pumpkins three years ago after being inspired by festival founder Mike Macdonald's crops. Last year, his biggest pumpkin weighed 704 kilograms.

How can the use of plastics in agriculture become more sustainable?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

It is impossible to imagine modern agriculture without plastics—12 million tons are used every year. But what about the environmental consequences? An international team of authors, including McGill Department of Bioresource Engineering Professor Jan Franklin Adamowski and Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry Associate Professor and Chair Stéphane Bayen, addresses this question in a recent study.

Master's student Will Hein writes about his odyssey to the heart of the Arctic

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Wonder found chasing bugs: A summer in the Yukon Arctic

In a new McGill Reporter article, Renewable Resources Master's student Will Hein writes about his journey to the heart of the remote Arctic wilderness to study wildlife interaction in the face of climate change.

The Impact of Wildfires on Birds in Canada

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

This was the worst year for Canadian wildfires on record and though fire season is not yet over, we can already start to see and look at some of the impact of fires on our ecosystems across the country. One population particularly affected by the fires this summer is birds.

Nationwide tracking sought for rare disease that is spread by canines, fatal if untreated

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

As cases creep upward of a rare disease that spreads to humans from wild canines and dogs, medical experts say it's important to get a better understanding of its incidence across the country.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is an infection caused by the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis, which is carried by coyotes, dogs and foxes. The tapeworm common in Europe was first detected in wildlife in Western Canada in 2012; one year later, the first human case of AE was found in a woman in rural Alberta.

Four Mac Undergrads Awarded for Outstanding USRA Posters

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

On September 7, thirty two AES undergraduate research awardees shared posters illustrating their summer research jobs.

Dean Anja Geitmann broke through the waves of animated conversation to congratulate the students for engaging in this inspiring science conversation and to award four researchers for their outstanding posters:

University response to the report on asbestos-related closures at Macdonald Campus

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Please find a message from Principal and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini below, followed by a message from Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi.

A message from Principal and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini

Dear members of the McGill community,

Basement of Octagon in Raymond Building Reopens September 11

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

We are glad to inform you that the basement of the Octagon section of the Raymond Building is open again as of Monday, Sept. 11.

Food companies are swapping ingredients with lower-quality substitutes to cut costs, experts say

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

If you’ve noticed that certain products in the grocery store taste different from how you remember, it’s possible some of their ingredients have been swapped for cheaper alternatives.

Experts say food producers are increasingly changing the ingredients in products to cut costs amid soaring food prices and labour shortages—a practice known as “skimpflation.” Could our health be at stake?

Update on Internal Audit investigation

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community,

I know that this week’s news of construction-related classroom closures in the Raymond building has made for a frustrating start to the new academic year for many of you. It is especially disappointing given the ongoing disruptions the community has experienced as a result of construction work.

I want to assure you that McGill’s senior leadership is aware of the problems and remains focused on resolving them.

Update and impact of construction activities at the Raymond Building

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

August 30, 2023 – Update and impact of construction activities at the Raymond Building

In June, we wrote to inform you that some of the work related to the major renovation project underway at the Raymond Building had restarted, mainly exterior work, including the replacement of the roof.

Operational Update August 29, 2023

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community,

Further to yesterday’s message regarding the inaccessibility of certain classrooms and subsequent reassignments, I can confirm that the classroom revisions can now be found on Minerva. I invite instructors and students to consult their Minerva schedule to find the updated room numbers and locations.

The following locations have been added to the list of classrooms (buildings maps linked in the table below) *:

Building

Room

Operational Constraints Fall 2023

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community,

As we transition from summer to a new academic year, I would like to warmly welcome new and returning Macdonald Campus community members and wish you all a good start to the fall term.

As instructors and students prepare for the start of classes, I must regretfully inform you that, due to unexpected construction-related issues, the following Macdonald Campus classrooms are temporarily inaccessible: R1-042, R4-045, R4-046/048, R4-047.

Will California floods impact Quebec's food availability and price?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

“In Quebec, it hasn't been good this year either. We lose California, there's still Florida, there's still Mexico. We hope that it goes well somewhere because we will pay for it, one day," �㽶��Ƶ agronomist and economist Pascal Thériault told 98.5fm host Luc Ferrandez.

Quebec imports fruits, vegetables, and wine from California.

Climate change made weather conditions that powered Quebec fires twice as likely, scientists say

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

The record-setting wildfires that ripped through Quebec this summer were made more likely and more intense by human-caused climate change, according to a new analysis conducted by 16 researchers within the World Weather Attribution group, from universities and meteorological agencies in Canada, the Netherlands, the U.K. and the U.S.

‘Modernizing agriculture an imperative need for food production’

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Modernization of agriculture is imperative for food production, Vijaya Raghavan, Distinguished James McGill Professor from Canada, said on Tuesday while inaugurating the Eighth Agricultural Graduate Students’ Conference at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

Scientists and agricultural students have a significant role to play in achieving integrated food production, Prof. Vijaya Raghavan emphasized.

Canada’s devastating wildfire season prompts calls for new approach

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

The wildfires that ravaged Canada this summer have some experts calling for a more aggressive approach than the country has applied in the past.

This year, nearly 30 million acres have burned across Canada. In eastern provinces such as Quebec, where blazes are less common, wildfire agencies that are equipped to fight fewer and smaller fires were largely unprepared for the circumstances.

Take a look inside this Montreal restaurant's basement farm

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

A restaurant in Montreal's Southwest borough is taking a more direct interpretation of "farm to table," growing much of their produce in the basement, refurbished with cooling, lighting, and humidity systems.

Café Monk co-owners Peter Simard and Eric Pineault call the refurbished bunker Ferme Fortuna. Since building the farm during the pandemic, when produce prices were spiking and stock was unreliable, they've used the farm to supplement the menu and sell the surplus to nearby restaurants.

Extreme heat and drought continue to affect Saskatchewan agriculture

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

July 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth according to the European Copernicus service and extreme heat and drought are compromising many crops in Saskatchewan.

The provincial government's latest weekly crop report shows that from July 24 to 31, moisture levels in agricultural fields were insufficient in 49% of cases, and very insufficient in 38% of cases.

New course for Fall 2023: Interdisciplinary discussions of Indigenous Peoples' contemporary issues

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Join us in an examination of Indigenous histories and how they relate to contemporary nutrition, environmental and health issues from a Two-Eye Seeing perspective. Learn from Dr.

Montreal looks to boost lagging participation in food waste collection

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

All residential buildings in Montreal with under nine units now have brown bins—but only 63 per cent actually sort out their food waste, according to a 2021 survey conducted by the city. Meanwhile, the Lachenaie landfill in Terrebonne—the only landfill in the Montreal area—is set to reach its capacity in 2029.

The city says a large-scale food waste awareness campaign will launch later this year to try to boost citizens' participation in separating out organics.

Palm oil plantations and deforestation in Guatemala: Certifying products as 'sustainable' is no panacea

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Palm oil, which can be found in roughly half of all packaged supermarket products, is notorious for causing deforestation and biodiversity loss. Efforts to curtail the damage have largely focused on voluntary environmental certification programs that label qualifying palm-oil sources as "sustainable."

Natural structures can give rise to stronger, lighter systems

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

In a recent multidisciplinary study published in Advanced Science, researchers build upon the principles of biomimicry by drawing inspiration from the wing of a dragonfly to redesign that of a Boeing 777.

Sollio, McGill join forces on novel coated fertilizer study; PurYield is being marketed as a nutrient uptake enhancer

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Sollio Agriculture has partnered with �㽶��Ƶ to test the benefits of PurYield, a new coated fertilizer which enhances nutrient uptake by plants. Researchers will compare it to commonly used uncoated urea fertilizer to assess its impact on corn grain growth, yield, and quality, as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Previous trials showed a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The new study aims to validate these environmental benefits over five years, with funding from Sollio and a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Can a disease-free, drought-proof potato exist? A map of the vegetable’s genes aims to find out

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

A Canadian-led team has assembled the most extensive genetic roadmap of the potato to date, along with its closest relatives, in order to bolster the plant’s ability to cope with climate change and protect its future as a mainstay of global food security and sustainability.

McGill launches new partnership with the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

On May 31, 2023, �㽶��Ƶ’s Margaret A. Gilliam Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) and SOCODEVI, in collaboration with the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), held an event showcasing concrete actions to strengthen sustainable agriculture, improve the living conditions of smallholder farmers and increase the resilience of agri-food systems. This event also launched a new collaboration between IFAD and McGill IGFS, including an internship program and IFAD student group.

Experts: WHO's cancer research agency to list aspartame sweetener a possible carcinogen

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Aspartame, used in products such as diet sodas and chewing gum, will soon be listed as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" for the first time by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization's (WHO) cancer research arm. (Reuters)

L’Arboretum Morgan, pour admirer la faune et la flore

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

L'Arboretum Morgan, qui s'étend sur 245 hectares de réserve forestière, abrite 170 espèces d'oiseaux, 30 types de mammifères et une myriade d'insectes et de plantes. Ses divers habitats, dont des zones humides, des forêts et des champs, offrent une occasion unique d'observer la nature dans toute sa splendeur.

Lean times hit the vertical farming business

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Vertical farming, once touted as the future of agriculture, is currently facing a lean period. Challenges in scalability and energy consumption have cast a shadow on this innovative farming method.

Building a more resilient food system

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

The impacts of climate change, rising fuel costs, geopolitical conflicts, and global supply chain snags make today's delocalized food system—and the 8 billion people who depend on it—increasingly vulnerable.

Part of the solution to building a more sustainable and resilient agrifood system is to improve local, indoor food production. Researchers in McGill’s Biomass Production Laboratory are doing just that, increasing access to fresh produce year-round.

Des semences de peupliers en abondance à Windsor

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Si vous habitez les alentours de la ville de Windsor, peut-être avez-vous remarqué des substances blanches semblables à du pollen amassé sur les trottoirs, les pelouses ou les terrasses. Ce sont des semences de peupliers. À l'émission Matins sans frontières, David Wees, enseignant en horticulture à l'Université McGill, explique l'origine de ces semences, leur importance et comment se comporter vis-à-vis d'elles.

New research will look at dairy welfare and technology

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

A new research collaboration at �㽶��Ƶ and the University of Quebec in Montreal will explore the role of artificial intelligence in promoting dairy cattle welfare.

It will be led by Dr. Elsa Vasseur of McGill’s Department of Animal Science and Abdoulaye Baniré Diallo of UQAM’s Department of Computer Science.

The Mystery of the Vanishing Kestrels: What’s happening to this flashy falcon?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

The number of American kestrels has dropped sharply. That goes against the trend for birds of prey, broadly seen as a conservation bright spot.

Hypotheses about the decline abound. In a newly published special issue on kestrels in The Journal of Raptor Research, Dr. Smallwood and David Bird, an emeritus professor of wildlife biology at �㽶��Ƶ in Montreal, list seven possible factors for kestrel declines that they argue merit more research, in no particular order.

How Canadians' lifestyle behaviours changed during the COVID-19 pandemic

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Sixty per cent of roughly 1,600 Canadians who took part in a new study from McGill's School of Human Nutrition say their lifestyle habits either stayed the same or improved during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the flip side, 40% of participants say they adopted less healthy lifestyle habits, including worsened eating habits, sleep quality, decreased physical activity and weight gain.

Professor Ryan Mailloux appointed Director of the School of Human Nutrition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Professor Ryan Mailloux has been appointed Director of the School of Human Nutrition (SHN) effective from June 1, 2023, for a five-year term.

Dr. Mailloux earned his Ph.D. in Biomolecular Sciences from Laurentian University in 2007. He joined McGill in 2019, previously serving as an Assistant Professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Raghavan receives McGill’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership in Learning

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

“There are lots of opportunities to contribute to society,” says Vijaya Raghavan. “If I can share that point with students, I think it can go a long way.”

Ronholm receives Principal’s Prize for Outstanding Emerging Researcher

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Ronholm was among three highly accomplished early career researchers who received a significant McGill distinction: The Principal’s Prize for Outstanding Emerging Researchers.

In conversation with Alessandra Granata, valedictorian for the Agricultural & Environmental Sciences ‘B’ ceremony

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

McGill’s valedictorians are outstanding students whose strong academic performance, leadership and community involvement has earned the respect of their peers. This year’s cohort is remarkable for its diversity, each having vastly different backgrounds, experiences, passions and goals.

What they do share is ambition, curiosity, and a desire to have a positive impact on the world.

Status of the investigation into the building closures

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community,

I am writing to update you on the progress of the investigation into the asbestos-related building closures at Macdonald Campus.

In conversation with Alex Kuijper Dickson, AES valedictorian A ceremony

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

What they do share is ambition, curiosity, and a desire to have a positive impact on the world.

Newly discovered chemical is a highly targeted killer of parasitic worms

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

The most abundant animals on farms—and everywhere on land, in fact—are microscopic worms called nematodes. Some kinds benefit the soil, but others parasitize crops, inflicting more than $100 billion in losses worldwide each year. Although pesticides can get rid of harmful nematodes, they inflict collateral damage on other life.

Six innovations that can help feed the world

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Around the world, food is grown on land of all sizes and all types, but that diversity means farmers often fail to take into account landscape complexity and soil variability, according to Chandra A. Madramootoo, a professor of Bioresource Engineering at �㽶��Ƶ, in Montreal, Canada.

He says that one solution is precision farming, an approach that “enables the selection of crops, and chemical and water applications within spatially similar land and soil zones.”

McGill team advances in Deep Space Food Challenge

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

A team led by two recent McGill bioengineering graduates, Alexander Becker and Cynthia Hitti, has made it through to the final phase of the Deep Space Food Challenge (DSFC) with their system for rearing crickets as a food source for long-haul space voyages.

$3.2 million for McGill Research from the New Frontiers in Research Fund

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Congratulations to two Macdonald Profs who have received funding through the New Frontiers in Research Fund Exploration stream, which supports high-risk, high-reward and interdisciplinary research: Hamid Akbarzadeh (BRE) for Origami-inspired deployable sensoriactuator soft robots and Mehran Dastmalchi (PltSci) for Plant-derived biosynergists to enhance pesticide efficacy.

Are candy-striped spiders a threat to North American ecosystems?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Research published in Ecology took a closer look into the candy-striped spider’s diet and behaviour and found that these spiders use a variety of tactics to take down prey much larger than themselves, including sleeping bees and wasps.

Joint Chair aims to leverage AI and IoT to improve animal welfare in Canadian dairy farms

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Testing reports now available online

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

The reports from the testing done just before and during the recent closure of the Raymond, Barton and Macdonald-Stewart buildings are now available online. You will find the reports on the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) website. We will continue to post the results from the weekly air tests undertaken since the reopening.

$1.7M for McGill from NSERC for ‘One Health’ and quantum research

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

A research team led by William Dawson Scholar and Assistant Professor Jen Ronholm (AnSci/FdSci) has received $1.65 million for an NSERC CREATE in One Health Against Pathogens (OHAP). Ten co-applicants from McGill, the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Guelph, and l’Université du Québec à Montréal will collaborate.

Genome Canada invests $7.7M in McGill research

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Genome Canada has invested nearly $8 million in two McGill projects as part of a total national investment of $18.1 million in genomics-based research. Through public-private partnerships, these investments will help accelerate the commercialization of genomics and increase its real-world applications.

McCall MacBain Scholarships go global

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Thirty students from 10 countries will form the first global cohort of McCall MacBain Scholars at �㽶��Ƶ, arriving in September 2023. Hailing from 26 universities, the new scholars will pursue fully funded master’s or professional degrees in 18 departments and schools across eight McGill faculties.

The Macdonald campus looks forward to welcoming its first scholar, Rachel Opoku-Afriyi, a recent graduate of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), who will pursue an M.Sc. in Renewable Resources.

Analyzing the fat of killer whales reveals what they eat

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Scientists are studying the diets of the oceans’ top predators as they change in response to their environments. This is because how much and what they eat can affect how ecosystems function.

And while researchers know that killer whales, also known as orcas, are the oceans’ apex predators, our understanding of their diet — particularly the quantity of each species they consume — remains incomplete. This is especially true for remote populations that cannot be observed year-round.

Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue grocery store will reopen this spring

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue will soon have its only grocery store back up and running. The new store, "Marché Ami," will feature locally made products as the owners aim to promote local buying. The new owners have already begun hiring staff, including former employees. They are planning to open their doors by late May.

Take virtual trip to the arctic with Dorothy Newton Swales, McGill’s “mother of botany”

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Heather Rogers, a Digital Humanities student at MA, has taken her research on Dorothy Newton Swales (BSc Plant Pathology, 1921; MSc Bacteriology 1922; Ph.D. University of Manitoba, Mycology 1931) and transformed it into an interactive website so that others can follow the six decades of botanical collections made by the herbarium's first woman curator (1964-1971) and longest serving mentor to young botanists.

L’agriculture en manque de relève

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Un récent rapport indique que 40 % des travailleurs agricoles partiront à la retraite d'ici 2033 et que le pays manquera de 24 000 employés d'ici là. Pascal Thériault, économiste et directeur du programme de gestion et technologies d’entreprise agricole à l’Université McGill, analyse la situation.

Celebrating our exceptional student leaders

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Macdonald community members gathered at the Ceilidh on Wednesday, April 5, to celebrate the Gold Key Recipients for 2023. As the ice storm outside intensified, students, staff, and friends listened as Arthur Bégin, Defne Helvacioglu, Estee Ngew, and Meryem Talbo (picture above: fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh from left) shared their rewarding experiences of being involved in community life at Macdonald Campus before being awarded the cherished Gold Key pin.

Food safety during a power outage: what to keep, what to throw away

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Preventing illness from spoiled groceries needs to be top of mind, says a food safety expert at �㽶��Ƶ.

"There can be a range of symptoms, most often diarrhea and vomiting, the ones we're all familiar with but foodborne infections can also be quite serious," said Jennifer Ronholm [Food/Animal Science], a professor of food microbiology.

AES research garners support from the 2023 MSSI Ideas Fund

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

The McGill Sustainability Systems Initiative (MSSI) has announced the results of its latest Ideas Fund competition. The Ideas Fund awards seed funding to projects led by McGill researchers, enabling them to pursue high-risk, high-reward projects in sustainability research. Congrats to AES Researchers who have received funding for the following projects:

Quand l’université s’adapte à la ferme

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Les enjeux dans le domaine agroalimentaire se multiplient et se complexifient. Les programmes de formation doivent évoluer en conséquence. Coup d’œil sur ce qu’il se passe du côté des deux universités qui offrent des programmes en agronomie : l’Université Laval et l’Université McGill.

McGill Pulse Breeding Program 2022

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

The McGill Pulse Breeding Program and the non-profit organization SeedChange have partnered to bring the ImPulse Project to fruition, an initiative to promote knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and agricultural resilience in the pulse sector.

During the summer of 2022, and thanks to the support of the FRQNT-RQRAD, the ImPulse Project held two field days with actors in Quebec’s pulse sector. The sessions focused on agricultural management, market trends, cultivar evaluation, and the development of pulse varieties adapted to Quebec.

Rabais pour l’épicerie : 467 $ par année pour une famille, c’est 9 $ par semaine, nuance un économiste

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Le budget fédéral dévoilé mardi prévoit un « rabais pour l'épicerie » sous forme d'aide ponctuelle pour aider les citoyens à composer avec l'inflation. Cette mesure de 2,5 milliards de dollars, qui profitera à 11 millions de personnes, pourra atteindre 467 $ par an pour un couple avec deux enfants.

L'économiste Pascal Thériault, chargé de cours au département des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'environnement de l'université McGill, n'est pas convaincu de l'efficacité d'une telle mesure.

Woodsmen Competition returns to Mac

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

On March 18, the familiar sounds of sawing and chopping filled the air of Macdonald Campus with the return of the Macdonald Campus Woodsmen Competition. On hiatus since the outset of the pandemic, the 61st edition of the competition drew hundreds of enthusiastic spectators cheering on athletes from six schools: Colby College, Dalhousie Agricultural Campus, Dartmouth College, Sir Sanford Fleming College, UNB and the host team from Mac.

Read the article in the McGill Reporter.

2023 Gold Key Awardees Named

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Congratulations to students Arthur Bégin, Defne Helvacioglu, Estee Ngew and Meryem Talbo, recipients of the 2023 Macdonald Campus Gold Key Award for service to the Macdonald community.

These students have contributed immensely to the enrichment of the Macdonald community, as evidenced by the heartfelt testimony provided by many members of the Macdonald community during the recent nomination period.

Students launch new hub to advocate for global food security

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Open to students in any field of study, the aim of the Nexus is to raise awareness about the topic of food security, while also giving its members a place to come together and learn from one another. As its name suggests, the Nexus will work closely with the Margaret A. Gilliam Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) at McGill to organize events, educational campaigns, and other activities that support the institute’s work.

Nielsen and Brassard: 2023 CNS awardees

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

Prof. Daiva Nielsen is the recipient of the 2023 New Investigator Award 2023 by the Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD) and the Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS). The award recognizes demonstrated excellence and outstanding contributions to nutrition-related research and/or improving the nutrition care of patients.

Harriet V. Kuhnlein receives INUS Living Legend Award

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Congratulations to Dr.

How to save money at the grocery store without sacrificing nutrition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Food experts [including Prof. Daiva Nielsen (SHN)] have said that eating healthy is top of mind for Canadians, but how do you do that while saving money? Dietitians have suggestions for people trying to find the cheapest sources of nutrition, especially in the winter when the freshest produce is imported – and expensive.

Fresh produce contaminated with toxic BPA-like chemicals found in food labels, study finds

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Steps were taken in Canada to reduce the use of Bisphenol A (BPA), a toxic chemical linked to prostate and breast cancer, commonly found in plastics, the lining of food cans, water bottles, and paper receipts. But in many cases, it has been replaced with similar hormone disrupting chemicals, like Bisphenol S (BPS).

Answering your questions

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community,

Thank you to everyone who joined us for last week’s Town Hall. We have received quite a few questions, and we will answer as many as we can in the coming days in FAQ, with updates flagged by date.

Investigation into events leading to Macdonald Campus building closures

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:53:52 +0000

I have been closely following the situation involving the closure of the Raymond, Barton, and Macdonald-Stewart buildings on McGill’s Macdonald Campus. I have heard many of the concerns shared by our community members, and I agree that it is essential for us to ensure we have the fullest possible understanding of this situation.

Barton reopens, parts of Macdonald-Stewart remain closed

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Yesterday, we announced that the Macdonald-Stewart and Barton Buildings would open today. Barton will indeed fully reopen today, but during a final inspection of Macdonald-Stewart, it was determined that the southern half of the first floor of that building must remain closed a while longer, due to the presence of equipment and temporary structures obstructing hallways.

Raymond Building Update and Student Supports

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community,

Anticipated re-opening and Town Hall

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Message from Fabrice Labeau, Co-Acting Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) and planning chief for the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on behalf of the EOC

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community,

Update on Barton re-opening timelines

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community,

As Reading Week draws to a close, I am pleased to provide some updates for you on the building closures.

Macdonald-Stewart re-opening on track

Graduate student concerns regarding building closures

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Message from Josephine Nalbantoglu, Associate Provost (Graduate Education) & Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Jean-Benoit Charron, Associate Dean (Graduate Education) FAES

Dear Graduate Students,

We understand that the recent closures of the Macdonald-Stewart, Barton and Raymond buildings have had a major effect on your life and progress as graduate students. It’s particularly tough, coming after all the disruptions and unexpected closures in the first few years of COVID.

Updates and Barton test results

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community,

Results of testing for Macdonald-Stewart

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald campus community,

Late yesterday afternoon, we received the final results of the microvac testing in the Macdonald-Stewart Building, which has been underway since February 3, 2023. These tests provide reasonably complete information about this building, though we are still gathering information about Barton and Raymond.

Below in this email, you will find:

Taco Belles place second in the Maple Innovation Challenge

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Congrats to Taco Belles Veronica Jaramillo and Priscilla Leftakis for their second-place finish in the Maple Innovation Challenge. The competition was sponsored by Quebec maple syrup producers, the Maple Products Corporation and the Canadian Institute of Food Science & Technology (CIFST). Their product? A maple vegan hot chocolate mix.

Presentation on the Macdonald building closures

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community,

You are invited to register for a presentation by Fabrice Labeau, Co-Acting Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) and planning chief for the Emergency Operations Centre.

Professor Labeau will give an interim update about the status of the building closures at Macdonald Campus: where we are and what we know to date. He will provide answers, where information is available, to some of the common questions we are hearing from the Macdonald community.

Message from the Dean

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community

As you learned from the latest message by Director (Campus Public Safety) Pierre Barbarie (sent on February 7, 5:06 pm), the Barton-Macdonald-Stewart-Raymond building complex will need to stay closed for at least another week while additional tests for asbestos are being conducted. The purpose of these tests is to ensure that all spaces in the vast expanse of these buildings are covered.

Opening timelines extended

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community,

Testing is continuing at the Barton and Macdonald-Stewart buildings. The Emergency Operations Centre is extending testing to all rooms in the complex to ensure complete coverage.

This, unfortunately, will further extend timelines for the buildings to re-open. The earliest date on which testing will be completed is likely the end of next week.

Three building closures extended

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Dear members of the Macdonald Campus community,

Testing remains underway at the Barton and Macdonald-Stewart Buildings, and still has not yielded any concerning findings. This careful testing is taking longer than originally anticipated; therefore, the earliest date on which these buildings may re-open is now Thursday, February 9.

Once this testing has concluded, we will focus our efforts on the Raymond Building.

As noted in previous messages:

Update on Macdonald Campus building closures

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Dear members of the McGill community,

We wanted to send a quick update on the building closures on Macdonald Campus, following yesterday’s email.

Exploring nutrition through a high-tech lens

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

McGill’s Clinical Nutrition Research Unit, a key part of the School of Human Nutrition at Macdonald Campus, has a new home and vastly improved infrastructure for cutting-edge studies. The CNRU is pursuing a wide variety of projects with one common ingredient – the instrumental role that nutrition plays in keeping us healthy.

Read the article in the online edition of McGill News.

McGill teams participate in Deep Space Food Challenge

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

On January 17, two McGill teams, InSpira Photobioreactor and the Cricket Rearing, Collection, and Transformation System (CRCTS) competing under the McGill Advanced Bio-Regenerative Toolkit for Long Excursion Trips (MARTLET) umbrella, presented their prototypes to the NASA/CSA Deep Space Food Challenge’s jury.

Read the story in the McGill Reporter.

Nutrition professionals should promote buying local study finds

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

According to a study by a tea

Whyte-led research among Québec Science's top 10 discoveries of 2022

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Three of the ten studies honoured by the award-winning science magazine Québec Science have c

CIFOR-ICRAF announces Dr. Eliane Ubalijoro as CEO

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Eliane Ubalijoro (B.Sc.(Agr)’92, M.Sc.’95, Ph.D.’01) has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and Director General of ICRAF -the world’s leading research and development centre on trees, forests and landscapes. Dr. Ubalijoro will be the first African woman Director General of a CGIAR Research Center and CEO of two Centers in CGIAR’s 52-year history.

Agropur sells U.S. manufacturing plant

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Dairy processor Agropur continues to refocus its activities. After selling its interests in IÖGO yogurts two years ago, in December it sold a Wisconsin-based plant used to manufacture dairy and non-dairy ingredient blends. The sale price was not disclosed.

New Resource making McGill labs more sustainable

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Interested in making your lab a more sustainable place to work and study?

Check out the Sustainable Labs Guide, a newly updated resource to help McGill faculty, staff, and students operate their labs more sustainably. This online guide suggests about 75 actionable steps to improve water and energy conservation, animal research, waste management, and more.

Learn more in the Sustainable Labs Guide

Janice Pierson named General Manager of Macdonald Farm

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Ms. Janice Pierson will join Macdonald as the General Manager of the Macdonald Campus Farm effective January 9, 2023.

Mac Campus dairy wins regional award for milk excellence

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

For the third year in a row, the Macdonald Campus Dairy Unit has been awarded the title of Regional Club of Excellence Milk Quality Champion by dairy industry giant Agropur.

Accepting the award at a regional meeting on November 25, Natasha Lapointe, Animal Science Coordinator of the Dairy Unit, credited her team’s commitment to maintaining high standards.

Mainstreaming bison meat

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Northfork Bison, one of Canada’s biggest specialty and wild game meat companies, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The founder and president of the company, Rocco Verelli, B.Sc. (Agr)’85, is leading the charge to educate consumers on the savoury goodness of protein-packed bison meat and stimulate growth in a niche food industry that has helped bring the beefy ruminants back from the brink of extinction.

Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue recognized as 'Bird Friendly City'

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

During the UN biodiversity summit known as COP15, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue was one of 14 cities in Canada, and the only place in Quebec, to be named a "Bird Friendly City." Nature Canada developed this

Mac campus dairy wins regional award for milk excellence

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

For the third year in a row, the Macdonald Campus Dairy Unit has been awarded the title of Regional Club of Excellence Milk Quality Champion by dairy industry giant Agropur.

Accepting the award at a regional meeting on November 25, Natasha Lapointe, Animal Science Coordinator of the Dairy Unit, credited her team’s commitment to maintaining high standards.

Quebec increases its sustainable agriculture program by $15 million

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

On Monday, Minister of Agriculture André Lamontagne will speak at the 7th Summit of Subnational Governments and Cities, an "official side event" of COP15. The Minister, alongside a dozen dignitaries, will participate in a panel that will stress the importance of making local governments ambassadors for the new global framework on biological diversity, set to be adopted at the close of COP15.

Herd of fugitive cows frustrates tiny village in Canada

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

A herd of approximately two dozen heifers spooked during a thunderstorm has been wandering through the countryside east of Montreal since July. All attempts to capture the heifers have fallen short, and the herd has survived by eating unharvested corn and other field crops and drinking from streams in the area.

Food prices continuing to rise, but at a slower rate explains Thériault

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Food prices have increased by 11% in Quebec in 2022, the largest increase in Canada. In an annual report released on Monday, 26 researchers predict that the upward trend will continue into 2023, but will be less marked. Price increases in Québec in 2023 should be below the national average, around 5%.

An update on the Bicentennial tree planting project

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

David Wees (FMT) provides an update on a recent project coordinated with Lindsay Flood, Franco Nardi and Freida Beauregard, to plant 200 trees on Campus to honour McGill’s Bicentennial.

“Altogether, we planted 203 trees. Most have survived. The only tree we had a problem with was the pin oak. Right now, the trees are small and scattered around the campus, but that’s how it starts. Five years from now, we’ll have a little forest.”

Hugues Plourde named Fellow of the Ordre des diététistes-nutritionnistes du Québec

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Hugues Plourde, Ph.D., FDt.P., a Senior Faculty Lecturer in the School of Human Nutrition and Clinical Coordinator, Professional Practice (Stage) in Dietetics, has been named a Fellow of the ODNQ - the most prestigious award given by the Order - for his exceptional contributions to the profession.

Congrats Hugues!

Whalen speaks at ILO session on emerging green economy in Africa

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Prof. Joann Whalen (NRS) was an invited speaker at a recent session hosted by the AgriEdge program at Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and the ProAgro Program at the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Mac Food Science teams advance in Maple Innovation Challenge

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Golden Bar (Wayne Sawka, Sky Castaing and Anas AlHouran), Cold Noodle (Jinyu Zhou, Zijing Yu, Xinyi Liu, Xiyuan Shang and Simin Tan) and Taco Belles (Veronica, Jaramillo and Priscilla Leftakis) are three Macdonald Campus teams advancing to round two of the Maple Innovation Challenge competition.

McGill receives $4.8 million to advance climate change science and technology

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

The Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund, administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), is investing more than $4 million in three McGill-led projects through the Climate Awareness and Action Fund (CAAF).The projects will fill knowledge gaps about the environmental and economic impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen Canada's capacity to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Bennett and Xia among Highly Cited Researchers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

On November 15, Clarivate Analytics, a company specializing in citation data, published the Highly Cited Researchers 2022 list. Many citations mean a paper has had great influence among scientific peers. A group of 16 McGill researchers made the cut, recognized as some of the most frequently cited scientists and social scientists in the world over the last decade. The 2022 list captures the period from 2011 to 2021.

Read the article in the McGill Reporter.

Students vote in favour of SPF and Daily Publications Society

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

“[The Sustainability Projects Fund] is a resource for all McGill community members to launch or grow a sustainability initiative on campus [and] spark positive change in their own learning and work environment. We are thrilled by the level of enthusiasm reflected in the results of the SSMU referendum.” Shona Watt, Sustainability manager in the McGill Office of Sustainability.

2022 Scholastic Awards – Celebrating Student Excellence

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

The 2022 Scholastic Awards Reception on November 8th recognized more than 175 outstanding Macdonald undergraduate and graduate students. The Faculty awarded over $380,000 in named scholarships at the undergraduate level and more than $465,000 in fellowships and awards at the graduate level.

FMT grads find success with Ferme des Paniers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Congrats to FMT students Diego Occhicone and Rami Sader, FMT’22, who had a successful season in their new venture, the Ferme des Paniers market garden. The pair who met at Macdonald during their studies, sell their produce through subscription baskets and at local markets.

H. Deep Saini is next Principal and Vice-Chancellor

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

The Board of Governors of �㽶��Ƶ is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. H. Deep Saini as the University's 18th Principal and Vice-Chancellor. Currently President and Vice-Chancellor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Prof. Saini will begin his five-year, renewable term at McGill on April 1, 2023. He will also hold the appointment of Full Professor in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Elena Bennett: Exploring the complexity of ecosystems

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Exploring the complexity of ecosystems

by John Allemang

Elena Bennett delights in uncertainty.

Huge crowd pays respect to military veterans

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Standing at the podium surrounded by 1,500 people on the John Abbott football field, Joe Maxwell, gazed up into the sunny November sky and said “It’s good to be alive.”

A 97-year-old WWII vet, Maxwell was one of the special guests at the November 3 Remembrance Day ceremony featuring veterans and dignitaries who spoke, recited poetry or contributed with music. Anja Geitmann, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, addressed the crowd, and Defne Helvacioglu, Macdonald Campus Student Society President, recited the poem Nameless.

Zacharie Cloutier named Best Cheese in Quebec

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Zacharie Cloutier from Fromagerie Nouvelle France in the Eastern Townships, has been crowned best cheese in Quebec in the

Virtual map aims to connect people to food resources across Toronto

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

With the help of Agincourt community services, Registered Dietitian Ekta Amarnani, M.Sc.’17 has put together an interactive map that helps people locate food resources across Toronto with the intention of increasing access to food.

COVID-19 reshaped the way we buy, prepare and consume food

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

To better understand food-related decisions during the pandemic, our research team conducted an online survey among a sample of adults from the province of Québec. This survey spanned three different time points between the initial lockdown in the spring of 2020 and the curfew period in Québec in the winter of 2021.

Canadian government invests $1M to improve health of dairy cows

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

With an investment of nearly $1 million from the Government of Canada, the Association of Veterinary Practitioners of Quebec will be able to develop a digital tool to anticipate and reduce the risks associated with metabolic diseases in dairy cows which are a major health problem, especially in the post-calving period. Prof. Xin Zhao (AnSci) and Maxime Leduc, BSc(AgEnvSc)’12 an Affiliate Member of the Department of Bioresource Engineering, are participating in the project.

Fall colours on full display at Mac Campus

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Macdonald Campus is beautiful year-round, but is truly spectacular in the fall. Neale McDevitt, the Editor of the McGill Reporter, took a stroll through Mac Campus this past weekend and took the following pictures.

View photos in the McGill Reporter.

Ferme Le Paysan Gourmand finding creative ways to reduce food waste

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

L'Épicerie recently featured Rosemarie Allen (B.Sc.(AgEnvSc)’12) and Jacob Morin (FMT’11) of Ferme Le Paysan Gourmand in Saint-Félix-de-Kingsey who participate in an on-farm program to reduce food waste. The episode follows Meilleur Après volunteers who harvest produce that would have remained in the field. Produce harvested is then shared between the participants, the producer and Meilleur Après – who in turn redistribute the produce to organizations in the region or transform it into products that are then sold to finance operations.

Mac alumni win Homegrown Innovation Challenge

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Hydroponic strawberry growers and Co-founders of Vertité, Ophelia Sarakinis (FMT’19) and Phillip Rosenbaum (B.Sc.(AgEnvSc)’19, MSc.’21) and their partners have just won the first phase of the Homegrown Innovation Challenge, a “six-year, $33-million initiative from the Weston Family Foundation to future-proof food production in Canada.”

Whalen offers expert view on status of soil health in Canada

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

On September 29^th, James McGill Professor Joann Whalen, Natural Resource Sciences, testified as an expert before Canada’s Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry on the topic of “Review and report on the status of soil health in Canada”.

Watch her testimony on ParlVu (09:43:59)

David Wees explains the science of fall colours

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

"People think that the colder fall temperatures trigger the colour change, but it’s actually the photoperiod," explains Plant Science Faculty Lecturer David Wees. However, some regions of Quebec are luckier when it comes to fall colours than others: those with a lot of deciduous trees like maples, oaks or even birches. On the other hand, areas that have more conifers will see fewer transformations to their landscape.”

Nutrition student helps MUHC add Indigenous option to menu

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

When an Indigenous patient receiving treatment at the MUHC refused to eat, McGill MScA candidate Manveen Sethi was enlisted to find an authentic recipe for Bannock bread, a traditional Indigenous snack. Through research and with the help of Indigenous patients who taste-tested recipes, Sethi found a recipe that will now be permanently available on the MUHC menu and hopefully offer a little comfort to Indigenous patients being treated at the facility.

Investing in student success

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

McGill students have proven time and time again that they are some of the most creative, versatile and adaptive people in their approach to solving problems, and they’re using knowledge acquired in and outside of the classroom to generate innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.

Funding brings groundbreaking ideas to life

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

School of Human Nutrition alumni Bianca Loge, BSc(NutrSc)’20, Kristen Sunstrum, BSc(NutrSc)’21, and Zoey Li, BSc(NutrSc)’17, reminisce about the unique extracurricular opportunities made possible by the Student Experience Enhancement Fund, and the host of real-world skills they acquired that they’ve since gone on to apply to their blossoming careers.

Filmmaker Alex Pritz focuses on human relationship with the natural world

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

In August, documentary filmmaker Alex Pritz, BSc(AgEnvSc)’13 – BSE has released his award-winning National Geographic documentary The Territory which “provides an immersive on-the-ground look at the tireless fight of the Indigenous Uru-eu-wau-wau people against the encroaching deforestation brought by farmers and illegal settlers in the Brazilian Amazon.”

Learn more in Focus on Macdonald

Made by hands-on learning: Jennifer Dumoulin

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Focus on Macdonald sat down with alum Jennifer Dumoulin, BSc(AgEnvSc)’11 Environmental Biology, to ask a few questions about her student experiences that led to a successful career as an environmental manager.

Building agricultural capacity in Quebec

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

In the 1960s, only about three percent of the land in Quebec was suitable for cultivation. The Province’s population and need for food outstripped the yield from Quebec farms. More than half of Quebec’s most fertile lands required improved water management – either better drainage or supplemental irrigation to maximize productivity and yield. Over more than four decades, Emeritus Professor Robert Broughton’s work would revolutionize soil drainage in Quebec, leading to increased food production and capacity in Quebec’s irrigation and drainage industry.

Langwieder: Boating around James Bay to collect polar bear hair

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Researcher Alexandra Langwieder (PhD candidate NRS/Humphries) spent her summer boating over 1200 kilometres around James Bay, setting up hair snares and camera stations to keep an eye on a unique population of polar bears.

Listen to the story on the season opener of CBC’s Quirks and Quarks.

CFI invests $3.9 M in McGill research

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Prof. Daiva Nielson (SHN) has received funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (CFI JELF) to establish the Sensometric Lab to investigate what influences human eating behaviour, for example, genetic predispositions, the role of price promotions and advertising, as well as other sensory stimuli, like smell. The lab will be equipped with novel wearable devices to monitor and map the brain’s activity related to eating.

Liu named MI4 Pfizer Early Career Investigator Award Winner

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Qian Liu, PhD, an Assistant Professor at �㽶��Ƶ’s Institute of Parasitology, received the award for her project, Single-molecule interactions between Nipah virus and the interferon-induced transmembrane proteins.

Bennett co-authors The Guidebook for the Engaged University

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Co-authored by Prof. Elena Bennett (#NRSMcGill/#McGillBSE) the Guidebook for the Engaged University gives the academy both a vision and a roadmap to a more impactful future, in which universities, including their scholars and staff, catalyze solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges.

U.S. fruit sellers look to Canada for berry production amid drought, rising costs

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

While there is a lot of trial and error, partnering with larger players may be worth it for the Canadian growers, says Mary Doidge, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics at �㽶��Ƶ in Montreal. "Companies like Driscoll's that have a little bit more capital might be able to take those risks," she said.

Read the full artilce on CBC.ca

Jenny Eng named 2022 Campus Public Safety Ambassador

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

“Jenny is very proactive when it comes to safety in the workplace, always reaching out to ask questions to ensure a safe workplace and building for all,” wrote the Security Services Macdonald team. “Jenny is never afraid to reach out to Security when she sees something unsafe. During an emergency, you can always count on her collaboration and help. Her diligence and dedication to her work has been essential in helping prevent workplace accidents.” Congrats Jenny!

Automated defibrillator proves critical in cardiac arrest case on campus

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Just as she was preparing to leave her Macdonald campus office on May 24, 2022, Kelsey Tibbo, Operations Manager, Security Services, got a call from a patroller reporting that a man had collapsed in front of the Morgan Arboretum entrance and was unconscious.

Tibbo and another patroller hopped into the Security vehicle and drove to the Arboretum. Once there, Tibbo saw that the man – who had been cycling – was in cardiac arrest. Aided by an automated external defibrillator (AED), she performed CPR until she felt a pulse and saw that the man was breathing on his own again.

Spiders caught in a web of Internet lies

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

It’s no secret that the internet and social media fuel rampant spread of misinformation in many areas of life. A collective of researchers, including Catherine Scott, Postdoctoral Fellow in �㽶��Ƶ’s Lyman Lab, have explored this phenomenon as it applies to news about spiders. The verdict? Don’t blindly trust anything you read online about these eight-legged arthropods—or anything else for that matter—and always consider the source.

Chevalier: Low muscle mass associated with cognitive decline in seniors

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Stéphanie Chevalier, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the School of Human Nutrition, directed the team of researchers who have revealed an association between low muscle mass and accelerated cognitive decline in older adults.

Patrick Cortbaoui on securing food for the future

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Food security is one of the fundamental challenges to sustainability of the 20^th century, with approximately 11.7 percent of the global population experiencing extreme food insecurity, according to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022 (SOFI).

Sylvie Lapointe named Unsung Hero

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Sylvie Lapointe, a constant advocate and a champion for Macdonald students, has been named an Unsung Hero as part of the #McGill200 Bicentennial Celebrations! Sylvie recently retired from the role of Operations Manager in Macdonald Student Services. Bravo Sylvie!

Killer Whales invading the Arctic – unlocking secrets from their blubber

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Killer whale populations are invading the Arctic, creating major disruptions to an ecosystem already severely impacted by climate change.

A blueprint for life on MARS

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Lost Hammer Spring, in Nunavut in Canada’s High Arctic, is one of the coldest and saltiest terrestrial springs discovered to date. The water which travels up through 600 metres of permafrost to the surface is extremely salty (~24% salinity), perennially at sub-zero temperatures (~−5 °C) and contains almost no oxygen (

Anikka Swaby wins 2022 Let's Talk Science Volunteer Award

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Anikka Swaby, BSc(NutrSc)'18, MSc (Human Nutrition)'22 is the recipient of the Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award!

This award recognizes an exceptional volunteer who has shown outstanding innovation, communication and a commitment to STEM education and outreach.

Anikka leveraged her knowledge and expertise as a registered dietician to develop the Good Gut Bacteria kit which has been added to the McGill Let’s Talk Science kit library and has been adapted for multiple symposiums and homeschool workshops.

Spring 2022 Convocation wraps up at Macdonald Campus

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

McGill’s Spring 2022 Convocation began on an overcast day on May 26th, with graduating Health Sciences students accepting their degrees under the Convocation Tent downtown. The 2022 festivities came to a close June 3rd, a glorious sunny day, at the Centennial Centre on Macdonald Campus with two ceremonies for students graduating from the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

These were McGill’s first in-person Spring Convocation ceremonies since 2019.

For the love of family… and farming

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

On Friday, June 3rd, Joe Harrel accepted his Farm Management and Technology (FMT) diploma during Spring 2022 Convocation ceremonies for the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Unlike many members of the Class of 2022, however, Harrel will not be seeking employment upon graduation. Truth of the matter is, he is already gainfully employed.

“I own the Speedy Auto Service and the Novus Glass in Kirkland with my partner Andy Arbuckle, and I own and operate Optimum Business Brokers as well,” says Harrel, who was also selected valedictorian by his classmates.

200 years of McGill’s Botanical history inspires Montreal artists

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Two-hundred years ago, a young man frequented swamps, stream banks and thickets, collecting wild plants across what would become the urban core of the city of Montreal. He had recently returned home from Edinburgh, where he had gone to be receive medical training, learning there also techniques of drying and preserving plant specimens, botany and medicine then being sister-subjects.

Changing of the guard at Mac Campus Hort Centre

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Although it may seem obvious that teaching and learning are at the core of the McGill experience, it’s worth noting that these activities aren’t strictly happening in classrooms and labs, nor are they reserved for faculty and students. Rather, McGill staff can also be counted among this group of teachers and learners, many of whom have spent their careers acquiring knowledge, honing skills, and eventually imparting what they’ve learned on to those who will succeed them.

The Keeler Family and Macdonald through Five Generations

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Lachlan, FMT‘22, Ross, FMT’23 and Gavin McDonald, FMT’24, have a long family history with Macdonald. The brothers grew up on Kerrydale Farms established by their ancestor Donald McGillis, an immigrant from the Scottish Highlands, who arrived by canoe on the banks of the Raisin River in Williamstown, Ontario in 1784. Over the next two centuries, the McGillis family grew Kerrydale Farms into a successful operation that is now in the hands of brothers William “Bill” McDonald, FMT’97, and Thomas “Tom,” DipAgr’93 – father to Lachlan, Ross and Gavin.

Mac Campus welcomes new Director of Development

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Celeste Longhurst joined the Macdonald University Advancement Team early in the new year. In this position, she leads the AES fundraising campaign and manages the Faculty’s University Advancement team whose activities also include alumni relations. Celeste hails from Toronto and has worked in philanthropy throughout her career, with a focus on fundraising for environmental organizations. She joined us from the National Wildlife Centre, where she was Director of Development, and has a Bachelor in Environmental Science from Queens University.

Rethinking the world, one small farm at a time

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

How can we help societies achieve more resilient agriculture in the face of geopolitical disturbances and climate change? Why do we continue to propose agricultural systems based on globalized commodity markets as the only way to feed ourselves? Why continue to subsidize models that destroy soil fertility, ecosystems and put our health at risk?

Conversations with valedictorians: Chloe Garzon

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:49:28 +0000

"Arriving at Mac Campus I was astounded by the green space and proximity to nature. The sense of community is unparalleled... Coming to Mac was like finding a home away from home."
- Chloe Garzon

Elliott receives Principal’s Prize for Outstanding Emerging Researchers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Three highly accomplished early career researchers have received a significant McGill distinction: The Principal’s Prize for Outstanding Emerging Researchers.

Since 2013, McGill has honoured 24 of its most talented and accomplished early career researchers with the prestigious Principal’s Prize for Outstanding Emerging Researchers. This year, three up-and-coming research stars – Stefanie Blain-Moraes, Kyle Elliott, and Marie-Claude Geoffroy – have joined their ranks.

Bravo gala honours McGill’s winning researchers and scholars

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

On May 18, 97 laureates were celebrated at the Bravo 2022 gala, an event honouring McGill researchers and scholars across disciplines who won special awards, memberships, and prizes during the preceding year.

Cestari: research offers hope in treating more than COVID-19

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Until two years ago, m�㽶��Ƶ vaccines had never been approved. Now, Faster to produce than conventional vaccines, the potential applications of synthetic m�㽶��Ƶ to prevent illness and treat diseases seem nearly limitless.

Remili recognized as Pricipal's Prize runner-up

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Whether it was by creating access to self-care, working to eliminate stigma in women’s health, or providing thoughtful commentary on topics ranging from the spread of COVID-19 to how the government spends its money, McGill researchers have once again gone above and beyond to share their knowledge and be of service to society this academic year.

McGill’s botanical history inspires Montreal artists

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Two public art projects launching in Montreal this summer take inspiration from the botanical collection of Dr. Andrew Holmes, one of the founders of McGill's Faculty of Medicine.

2022 Hon doc recipients announced

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

The University’s first in-person Spring Convocation since 2019 will celebrate 14 exceptional women and men, including a Nobel Prize-winning chemist, an acclaimed Quebec writer, a medical doctor committed to Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation, and the scientist-entrepreneur behind Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine

Bennett named to U.S. National Academy of Sciences

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

The National Academy of Sciences announced today the election of 120 members and 30 international members-including McGill Professor Elena Bennett (Natural Resource Sciences)-in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

Bayen's fight against food fraud

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight (LC-Q/TOF) is proving one of the most comprehensive methods for testing food authenticity, according to Dr Stéphane Bayen, an Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry at �㽶��Ƶ.

Vasseur leading change in dairy industry

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Canadian dairy experts are rethinking their approach to the industry, now recommending that cows have more freedom of movement in order to improve their well-being.

This is a far cry from how dairy farms currently maintain their herds, especially in Quebec. As such, the “Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle”, a reference tool for Canadian dairy producers, is currently under revision.

McGill researchers granted 3.8M toward sustainable agriculture

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Three Mac-based research projects have been funded through FQRNT/MAPAQ’s first Partnership Research Program-Sustainable Agriculture . All of the projects fall under the scientific program developed by the Réseau québécois de recherche en agriculture durable.

Congrats to Profs:

McGill undergrads crowned world synchronized skating champions

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Some people say it is a dry run for life outside the Roddick Gates. McGill undergrads Olivia Ronca and Loriana Cocca might agree. On April 9, as part of Montreal’s Les Suprêmes synchronized skating team, they gave a performance of a lifetime, earned top marks and were crowned world champions.

Consortium RITA receives $6M in funding

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

On March 26th, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr. André Lamontagne, announced grants totaling $7.1M to three organizations engaged in the food processing sector, including $6M in funding to The Consortium for Research, Innovation and Transformation of Agrifood (RITA) at �㽶��Ƶ over the next 5 years.

McGill joins Moderna in battle against global health threats

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

�㽶��Ƶ has joined Moderna’s m�㽶��Ƶ Access program, which aims to accelerate innovation and enable new vaccines and medicines for emerging and neglected infectious diseases through collaborative research and preclinical development. McGill is the first university in Canada to join this program as it ramps up its international rollout.

Natalie Wu on the importance of clean and affordable energy

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Through the International Youth Internship Program (IYIP), a joint program with the Government of Canada and the United Nations Association in Canada, young Canadians are given the opportunity to gain professional experience in international development work. Natalie Wu, a Bioresource Masters student, was selected as part of the 2021 cohort. She was a Junior Professional Consultant (JPC) and was remotely placed for six months at the World Food Programme’s (WFP) headquarters in Rome.

Raising livestock sustainably - A win-win solution for climate change

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Veterinarian and Ph.D. candidate (NRS) Vivian Arguelles Gonzalez weighs in on silvopastoralism, an alternative agricultural system that could address the environmental impacts of livestock, and provide farmers with social and economic benefits that include creating new jobs, developing new skills, reducing costs and improving their incomes.

Paul Meldrum on growing food for the future

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Paul Meldrum is no doubt a busy man. From establishing a dairy farm from the ground up to working as an agricultural journalist with CBC and CTV, he has been involved in both telling the stories and improving the mechanics of our food systems.

Mac Campus students celebrate women of the CIUSSS

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Macdonald Campus students celebrate the women of the CIUSSS West Island on International Women’s Day

Gillung, Dastmalchi receive CFI-JELF funding

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Professor (Natural Resource Sciences) and Director of the Lyman Entomological Museum Jessica Gillung and Assistant Professor (Plant Science) Mehran Dastmalchi are among the eight McGill recipients of funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Fund (JELF) and the Government of Quebec.

Potato milk: a growing trend

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

In the midst of the pandemic, in 2020, the plant-based drink industry saw nearly 20% growth, and is estimated to be worth about $350 million, according to data provided by Plant-Based Foods of Canada. One of the latest plant-based drink source is potatoes, which, according to

Dr. Michèle Iskandar, Research Associate at McGill’s School of Human Nutrition, can be healthy alternatives.

The rising cost of ready-made food

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

In 2020, Quebecers spent more than $1.78 billion on frozen and ready-to-eat meals in grocery stores, but how will the rising cost of inflation impact the price of these convenient ready-made meals?

The Building of Macdonald College

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

The story of the ‘Building of Macdonald College’ was featured as part McGill’s ongoing Bicentennial celebrations. The McGill Board of Governors officially welcomed the new college on June 18, 1906. The College structure, consisting of the School of Agriculture, the School of Household Science, and the School for Teachers, reflected Sir William Macdonald’s conviction that “farm, home, and school” were the three pillars of society.

Caitlin MacDougall named Quebec 4-H Volunteer Leader of the Year

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Congratulations to Farm Management and Technology’s Caitlin MacDougall who has been named Quebec 4-H Volunteer Leader of the Year. Caitlin is currently on educational leave pursuing a Global MBA Candidate at EDHEC Business School in France.

Read the full announcement at 4-H Canada.

McGill welcomes new Indigenous professors and staff

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Brittany Wenniserí:iostha Jock, Assistant Professor in the School of Human Nutrition, was one of seven Indigenous staff members from a wide range of disciplines who partook in McGill’s 4^th annual Indigenous Faculty and Staff Welcome Ceremony held February 14^th. The 90-minute online ceremony was designed to highlight the University’s commitment to increasing the Indigenous presence on campus.

Vasseur: improving the lives of dairy cows

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences, is co-chair of the scientific committee that participated in the development of the new Canadian standards that will require Canadian dairy farmers to implement a new code of on-farm practices that include rearing calves in groups, exercise sessions for cows, and enlarging stalls.

Read the full article (in French) in La Presse.

Macdonald Student-Run Ecological gardens cultivate a sustainable future

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

One of the first concerns about the climate crisis is often the future of our food systems. Tucked between fields at the Macdonald Campus farm and the Morgan Arboretum in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue at the western tip of Montreal, is a group working on just that: the Macdonald Student-Run Ecological Gardens (MSEG). They are a small but mighty group that has been growing produce and educational opportunities on our campus for over a decade.

New study reveals the poor hit hardest by heat waves

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

In a new study, our team of climate scientists, economists and engineers (including BRE’s Mohammad Reza Alizadeh and Jan F. Adamowski]) found that the poorest parts of the world are likely to be two to five times more exposed to heat waves than richer countries by the 2060s. By the end of the century, the lowest-income quarter of the global population’s heat exposure will almost match that of the entire rest of the world.

Environment students tackle climate-change problems

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

In [Bieler School of Environment course] ENVR 401, advanced undergrads team up to conduct research on behalf of actual “clients,” such as not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, and operating units of the University. The students scope out their projects at the start of the fall semester. By the end of the semester, they submit final reports for dissemination to the research community and to the people affected.

2022 Gold Key Award Winners announced

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Congrats Antoine Bouvier, Sean Clarke, Chloe Garzon, Anthony Iheonye, Kristina Mosdossy, and Sharvani Ram - our exceptional students who were awarded Gold Keys for leadership and excellence in the promotion and development of extracurricular activities at Macdonald at today's Founder's Day ceremony.

Learn more about their contributions to student life.

Nancy Lavigne receives 2022 Macdonald Award of Excellence for Administrative and Support Staff

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Congratulations to Macdonald Campus Farm Staffer Nancy Lavigne, the recipient of the 2022 Macdonald Award of Excellence for Administrative and Support Staff! Says Farm Manager Paul Meldrum, "When Nancy throws herself into a job, it is full bore. There is no halfway with Nancy - it's go big or go home."

Read more about Nancy’s accomplishments in the McGill Reporter

Drawing the future of Mac campus

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

As part of McGill’s Bicentennial year, the 2022 Founder’s Day--held February 10th-- took on a graphic twist as illustrator Jordana Globerman turned the Macdonald campus community’s thoughts and dreams into seven dynamic, vibrant panels during an interactive real-time Zoom performance.

Compost collection expands across McGill campuses

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

New standardized compost bins to be found on both the downtown and Macdonald campuses thanks to financial support from RECYC-QUÉBEC and the Sustainability Projects Fund, marking an important step towards becoming zero-waste by 2035.

Read the full story in the McGill Reporter

Bennett among list of top female researchers working toward greener future

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Is the greener future female? Here are three remarkable women including Elena Bennett, Research Chair (Tier 1) in Sustainability Science (NRS/BSE) leading the charge toward a more sustainable future in Canada and around the world.

Says Bennett, “we used to talk a lot about nature thriving despite people, and then people thriving despite nature with Western expansion,” she says. “Later, it was, ‘How we can we set aside enough nature despite what people are doing?’ Now, we are looking at how people and nature interact and can thrive together.”

Kimmins' HISTurn project receives Innovation Funding

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Led by Dr. Sarah Kimmins, Department of Animal Science and Pharmacology and Therapeutics, HISTurn is one of three Prelaunch Phase projects awarded support through the University’s Innovation Fund. This fertility diagnostic technology fills a health needs gap by accurately diagnosing infertility in men and providing clinicians with actionable information to allow them to streamline fertility treatment pathways. The team aims to make the clinical journey for couples inclusive of men and to increase the births of healthy children.

Mac Dairy Herd scores in Top 20%

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Holstein and Multicultural Herd at Mac Farm in Top 20% of all herds using Lactanet’s milk recording and herd management services

Once again, the Dairy Farm Team’s hard work, high standards and attention to detail have resulted in the impressive performance of the Mac Dairy Herd.

Leduc receives Prix Jeune Agronome from l’Ordre des Agronomes du Québec

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Congratulations to Maxime Leduc, BSc(AgEnvSc)’12, a self-employed consultant in forage systems and Farm Management and Technology Program Lecturer, who has been awarded the Prix Jeune Agronome from l’Ordre des Agronomes du Quebec for his exceptional contributions to Quebec agriculture. Earlier this year Maxime received the Macdonald Distinguished Young Alumni Award.

AES researchers to play key roles in NFRF-T project

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Professors Murray Humphries, Director of the McGill Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment (CINE), and Treena Delormier and Hugo Melgar-Quinonez, both from the School of Human Nutrition, will play key roles in the NFRF-T project, Biodiversity Conservation and the Health and Well-being of Indigenous Peoples, led by the University of A

Toni Bird named a #McGill200 Unsung Hero

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Congratulations to Retiree (2012) Toni Bird named an Unsung Hero as part of the #McGill200 Bicentennial Celebrations!

Over nearly four decades in a variety of roles ranging from Faculty Club Coordinator to Student Affairs professional, Toni built relationships between the Faculty and its staff and students.
A committed, dedicated, accomplished and compassionate professional, she was a trusted ally and a very well respected member of the Macdonald community who is most deserving of this award.

Burgos and Edick among researchers recognized by Québec Science

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Scientists affiliated with McGill were once again well-represented in Québec Science magazine’s annual list of the top 10 scientific discoveries.

Noroozi receives prestigious Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

On December 13^th at a ceremony hosted by the Canadian Governor General’s Office in Ottawa, Ebrahim (Eby) Noroozi, MSc'78 (Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry), was presented with The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers in the presence of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.

Nancy Lavigne named Unsung Hero

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Every institution has a number of people who become the face of that organization. But for every recognizable “star,”, there is a bevy of unsung heroes who quietly go about their work, making things happen. We call these people “the unsung heroes,”, and nobody embodies the spirit of that definition at McGill more than Nancy Lavigne.

Bennett and Xia named to 2021 Highly Cited Researchers list

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Academic careers are built on many factors, including perseverance, thirst for new knowledge, and research papers. One of the measures of the impact of these outputs is the annual Highly Cited Researchers 2021 list from Clarivate.

McGill MARTLET teams take home NASA and CSA Deep Space Food Challenge prize

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) have named the winners of the first Deep Space Food Challenge, an international contest that sought novel food technologies for future astronaut missions, as well as for use in resource-scarce regions on Earth.

Celebrity chefs Martha Stewart and Lynn Crawford joined former astronauts Scott Kelly and Chris Hadfield in making the announcements in a video aired by NASA on its television channel on November 15th.

Quand une histoire de canneberges se conclut par un don pour l’environnement

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Grâce au don de Marc Bieler, l’Université McGill peut offrir un meilleur soutien à la recherche en environnement.

« La canneberge est la culture maraîchère la plus écologique qui soit, déclare Marc Bieler. D’une part parce qu’elle est cultivée sur des terres classées impropres à l’agriculture, les sols étant trop humides et acides, et d’autre part parce que la loi nous oblige à conserver à l’état naturel 35 % de la superficie de la ferme. »

Un modèle unique de recherche collaborative pour l'industrie agroalimentaire

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Rassembler des entreprises concurrentes autour d’une même table avec des chercheurs pour innover : c’est le défi sur lequel mise, depuis 2017, le Consortium de recherche et d’innovation sur la transformation alimentaire (RITA) à l’Université McGill. Et ça marche.

Claire Bolduc receives Hon Doc

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

On October 21, 2021, McGill conferred an honorary doctorate upon Claire Bolduc, a passionate advocate for rural affairs, agriculture and agronomy in Quebec. The honorary doctorate is �㽶��Ƶ’s highest honour, given in recognition of highly talented and engaged individuals who serve as an inspiration for our community of students, professors, researchers and staff.

$2.5 million for the creation of the Réseau québécois de recherche en agriculture durable

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

On October 8th, the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Nature et technologies (FRQNT), along with its partner the ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation (MAPAQ) announced the creation of the Réseau québécois de recherche en agriculture durable (RQRAD), a flagship measure of the Plan d’agriculture durable 2020-2030 (PAD).

Stamping out superbugs

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

During the last year and a half, the world’s attention has been focused squarely on SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. While deadly, this virus is only one of many pathogens that threaten our well-being. For many years, scientists have been warning about another microscopic menace: drug-resistant microbes.

Elena Bennett named one of Canada’s top sustainability leaders

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Congrats to Elena Bennett (NRS/BSE), one of sixteen Canadian sustainability leaders (#Clean16 honourees) named to the Delta Management Group’s 2022 Clean50 list.

Green and Gold, and Mac all over

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Ann Louise Carson BScAgr’81 immersed herself in Mac traditions. She’s now supporting them for the next generation through a legacy gift.

Read more in the August 2021 edition of Focus on Macdonald

From family farm to family gift: Mac graduate ‘cultivates’ experiential education

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

As a young Macdonald College student, Alton McEwen, BSc(Agr)’66, had plenty of opportunities for experiential education during the summer months, working seven days a week on the family dairy farm in the Chateauguay Valley. Thanks to a generous gift from McEwen, internships will continue to play an essential part in the education experience at the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Read more in August 2021 issue of Focus on Macdonald

Flower power: Quebec farmer invites visitors to pick bouquets on farm

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

McGill alumnus Marc-André Isabelle (Dip.FMT, BEng. Bioresource) is a course lecturer in the Farm Management & Technology program. The Isabelle farm in Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, has evolved and expanded throughout the years, from dairy to strawberries to produce, and most recently launching FestiFleurs, a popular pick-your-own bouquet event.

Seabirds & their vulnerability to a warming climate: Q&A with researcher Emily Choy

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

A study released this month found that as the climate changes in the North, some cold-adapted arctic birds are especially susceptible to heat stress.

Four McGill students win Weston Family Awards in Northern Research

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Prestigious awards provide support to young scientists in Canada pursuing research in Canada’s North

Former staff member Pierre G. Langlois named Unsung Hero

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Congratulations to Pierre G. Langlois, B.Sc. (Agr)'78, CBIS (MIS)'90, the first of several members of the Macdonald community to be named an Unsung Hero as part of the University’s Bicentennial Celebrations!

Pierre lives the Macdonald motto “Mastery for Service.” Over the years, he has dedicated much of his time and energy to representing the interests of others and bettering the units and communities he serves.

The changing face of the Farm Management and Technology Program

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Women make up more than 50 per cent of the graduating cohort for first time in program history.

Convocation is a special time and an important milestone in the lives of graduating students. Today’s virtual Convocation ceremony for the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences enjoyed a milestone of a more collective fashion, however.

For the very first time, the graduating cohort from the Farm Management and Technology Program (FMT) was made up of more than 50 per cent women.

Conversations with valedictorians: Sreedurga Cherukumalli, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

“It becomes so easy to do your part when everyone around you is doing their part to live sustainably.”

Hailing from around the world, McGill’s valedictorians are a diverse, multitalented group. When they came to the University, they brought with them their unique backgrounds, passions and ambitions. While they all praise the education they received at McGill, one thing is certain, the University has benefitted just as much for having them as valuable, contributing members of our community.

Sustainable Sparks: Klara Winkler on planting the seeds of a good Anthropocene

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Follow the journey of environmental scientist and McGill researcher Klara Winkler on the search for bright spots of sustainability at McGill

By Maya Willard-Stepan, Communications Intern, McGill Office of Sustainability

Associate Professor Stéphane Bayen receives 2021 Agilent Thought Leader Award

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Setting the standard in the fight against food fraud

Bioresource engineer Michael Ngadi receives CAAIN grant

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

MatrixSpex Solutions, founded by Bioresource Engineer and James McGill Professor Michael Ngadi, is the first funding recipient of The Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) for its project: Optimizing Hyper-Eye: An Integrated Solution for Assessment of Fertility and Gender of Pre-Incubated Eggs.

Combattre le racisme en nutrition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

La nutrition ne peut plus être que l’affaire de femmes blanches, minces et souriantes qui mangent des pommes – le cliché de la nutritionniste vue par Google Images. Un groupe de travail sur le racisme en nutrition « a été mis sur pied il y a quelques mois, dans la foulée de la mort de George Floyd et des questions qui en ont découlé », indique Mélanie Champagne, directrice des communications de l’Ordre des diététistes-nutritionnistes du Québec. Portrait de la situation, en sept bouchées.

GoodLeaf souhaite bâtir une ferme verticale à Longueuil

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

L’entreprise ontarienne GoodLeaf, dont le principal actionnaire est le géant de l’alimentation McCain, espère acheter des terrains qui appartiennent à la Ville de Longueuil dans les prochaines semaines pour y bâtir une ferme verticale qui permettrait de produire de petites laitues et des pousses dès 2022, a appris Le Devoir.

Canada geese: What you may not know about the pesky national symbol

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Many Canadians are familiar with the honking and hissing that marks the beginning of the spring season, some might be more intimately familiar with the feeling of large wings batting about the sides of their head, but one thing is for certain: most Canadians have a Canada goose story.

Canada geese flying in their V formation are usually one of the first signs of the return of warm weather, but it also marks the return of the pesky waterfowl taking over our waterfronts, golf courses and parks. Here’s what you should know about the birds that have become a national symbol.

With planet’s future on the line, scientists seek a full accounting of nature’s assets

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

'Eco-accounting' project aims to produce a comprehensive tally of our natural landscapes, to better aid decision-making around land management

The bean counters have arrived and Elena Bennett [Natural Resource Sciences] could not be happier.

Water: Preserving a precious commodity

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

To mark World Water Day (March 22), Bioresource Engineering Professor Chandra Madramootoo a member of the steering committee of the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture – expands on the theme of this year’s World Water Day: Valuing Water, and describes the goals of the federal government’s Canada Water Agency, which is in the process of being created. He is contributing to this effort.

McGill Reporter

Narwal tusks reveal mercury exposure related to climate change

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

“Our research shows that climate change is having substantial impacts on Arctic ecosystems, with consequences for exposure to toxic pollutants like mercury,” says co-author Jean-Pierre Desforges, a Postdoctoral Fellow [NRS] at �㽶��Ƶ under the supervision of Nil Basu [NRS/SHN] and Melissa McKinney [NRS].

McGill Newsroom

Rural Alaskans struggle to access and afford water

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Water scarcity in rural Alaska is not a new problem, but the situation is getting worse with climate change. Lasting solutions must encourage the use of alternative water supplies like rainwater catchment and grey water recycling.

Growing that bright red berry

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Bieler Cranberries Inc. is the largest single-site cranberry farm in Canada producing up to 40 million pounds of fruit a year, and its founder and president Marc Bieler is recognized as Canada’s Cranberry King. The road to this achievement, however, was not a straight line. Along the way, Bieler encountered detours, new opportunities and changes of plans — all fueled by a passion for the land and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Le marketing des aliments locaux

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

“Il faudrait que l’engouement pour les produits locaux, pour les produits du terroir et pour ce qui est fabriqué au Québec demeure, même une fois cette pandémie terminée. Tous ces bons réflexes qu'on a développés pour acheter des produits locaux doivent rester, et les épiciers devront continuer à nous offrir ces produits-là, à bien les identifier et à les mettre en évidence.” Pascal Thériault, Faculté des sciences de l’agriculture et de l’environnement de l'Université McGill.

Valérie Orsat wins ‘Engineering and Physical Sciences’ Suffrage Science award

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Bioresource engineering prof cited for research excellence and role as mentor for women entering the field

New inter-campus shuttle buses unveiled

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

McGill’s shuttle buses are sporting a brand-new design.

After a curveball of a year, the revamped McGill-red vehicles—which feature a new, bold Made by McGill design style—will, with any luck, serve as a beacon of the many exciting things to come as the university progresses toward the gradual resumption of on-campus activities.

Dr. Michael Ngadi: Serving up solutions to food insecurity

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Bioresource Engineering professor Michael Ngadi has spent his career trying to help solve some of the world’s most pervasive food problems. Recently, Ngadi and his research team traveled to remote communities in Bolivia, Laos, Zambia, Malawi and Ethiopia to examine elements of the local diets, assess their nutritional status, and build programs that would introduce nutrient-dense foods into local cuisines.

New Season Extension Technology at the Hort Centre

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Here's a feast for your eyes on this chilly February morning. Join Mike Bleho for a trip back to the sweltering summer of 2020 to see the construction of a couple of new structures at the Hort Centre - a low input high tunnel and a greenhouse. Thanks to this new infrastructure, the team produced tomatoes right up until the first week of November! The project came together thanks to the dedicated efforts of our staff and students and was supported by the McGill Sustainability Projects Fund.

Les petites fermes poussent

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

En chute libre depuis les années 1940, le nombre de fermes se stabilise au Québec. Fait rare, il a même légèrement augmenté en 2020. Derrière cette hausse se cache toutefois deux réalités. Si les petites fermes de proximité et les érablières sont en croissance, les productions animales sont en baisse, pour la plupart. En février 2020, Clémence Briand-Racine [BSc (AgEnvSc)’14 ], fondant officiellement son entreprise agricole maraîchère : la Ferme aux colibris.

Macdonald Campus Dairy Cow Pasture Project uses sustainable best practices to bolster education

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Animal-friendly fences, optimized water use and rotational grazing systems help make the Mac dairy herd more sustainable overall

“This system of pasturing uses the cattle to manage grass growth, and in return, the cattle get highly nutritious grass at the peak of quality while spending the spring, summer and fall outside in a natural environment,” says [Farm Manager, Paul] Meldrum of the Project which received funding from the University’s Sustainability Projects Fund.

Past, Present, Future: Founder’s Day 2021 goes virtual

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

| Caitlin MacDougall, Liaison Officer, Farm Management and Technology Program

Nearly 200 members of the McGill-Macdonald community gathered for a virtual celebration of Founder’s Day on Zoom on February 11, 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic required organizers to rethink the traditional format. The transition to a digital event was a smooth one, with veteran MC Paul Meldrum, Manager of the Macdonald Campus Farm, seamlessly connecting each segment with some behind-the-scenes help.

Survey says: Canadians asking for better food systems and food sparked by COVID-19 access

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Inter-provincial survey gauges how Canadians have accessed food during the pandemic and their perceptions of food systems

Shopping anxiety, higher food prices and individual income limitations are some of the factors making access to food challenging for Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study suggests.

McGill PhD candidate on being part of the UN World Food Programme’s Nobel Peace Prize

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Kate Sinclair is working at the World Food Programme, Sri Lanka while simultaneously finishing her PhD in Human Nutrition at McGill

December 10, was a typical day at the office for Kate Sinclair… Kind of, but not really. Not by a long shot.

Can COVID-19 be transmitted through food?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

[Authors: Bridget O'Brien is a 4th year undergraduate student in the Faculty of Science (Microbiology & Immunology), and an Honours student with Dr Ronholm. This paper stems from her NSERC USRA research project with Dr Ronholm in the summer 2020; Dr Jennifer Ronholm is an Assistant Professor in both the Departments of Animal Science and Food Science, whose research focuses on the microbiome of food-producing animals]

Congratulations to all the participants and award winners of the 2020 Lister Family Engaged Science 3-Minute Thesis Competition!

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

On Wednesday November 25th, 2020, 9 passionate Macdonald campus graduate students each presented their thesis research in 3 minutes. With only one non-animated slide for visual support, each competitor walked us through the complexity of their research and the impact their work will have. Over 60 people attended the event and engaged in an incredible Q&A session with the competitors, while our astute panel of judges had the challenging task of identifying the most outstanding presentations among the 9 memorable presentations that were given that afternoon.

Ecological Improvement of Dairy Cow Pastures Project wins 2020 Sustainability in Operations Catalyst Award

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

The Ecological Improvement of Dairy Cow Pastures project has created a sustainable pasture system at the Macdonald Campus Farm which features a rotational grazing system for cattle, the addition of approximately 700 trees and shrubs, the installation of water lines for access to fresh water, and the purchase of a mobile shade umbrella to protect cattle from the sun. The re-design of the pastures has led to improved animal well-being and reduced machinery usage.

Michael Bleho honoured with 2020 Distinguished Contribution Catalyst Award

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

As Coordinator of the Horticulture Research Centre at the Macdonald Campus Farm, Michael [Bleho] has demonstrated his commitment to sustainability through his daily interactions with students and his work making the agricultural process more eco-friendly throughout his 30 years at the Centre. Michael was a driving force in establishing ‘McGill Feeding McGill’, an initiative which directly provides Macdonald Campus produce to campus dining halls.

Our Top Students: 2020 Macdonald and Stewart Medal Recipients

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Congrats to these exceptional Macdonald students who achieved the highest aggregate standing in the first or second year of their respective programs! The Macdonald Medals (BSc(AgEnvSc), BEng(Bioresource) and BSc(FSc) programs) and Stewart Medals (BSc(NutrSc) progam) were presented at the recent Scholastic Awards Ceremony.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Plantation d’arbres en accéléré au campus Macdonald de McGill

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

“La plantation d’arbres sur le campus Macdonald, on en fait depuis des décennies. Mais on s’est engagé à en faire beaucoup plus au cours des prochaines cinq années dans un objectif de développement durable. On veut, entre autres, essayer de diminuer les gaz à effet de serre (GES)”, indique le directeur associé du programme de gestion et de technologies agricoles, David Wees [FMT/PlantScience/Sustainability Workgroup].

Macdonald Campus: Working together toward a sustainable future

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

"I am constantly inspired and motivated by the outstanding enthusiasm we have had from within the working group and from the larger community of students and staff,” says Cynthia Kallenbach, who also serves as the [Sustainability of Campus Operations] Workgroup’s Chair. “As for the survey results, we saw common themes emerge, including banning single-use items, diversifying the green space, and ‘greening’ the campus infrastructure.

Arctic Researcher wins prestigious 2020 L’Oréal Canada For Women in Science Research Excellence Fellowship

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Emily Choy [Post Doctoral Fellow, NRS. Advisor : Kyle Elliott] became hooked on the Arctic when, as a Master’s student, she jumped on a research opportunity to study the effects of manmade contaminants on High Arctic food webs on Devon Island, Nunavut. “When I experienced how out of the world it was and observed the wildlife that are so highly adapted to the Arctic environment, I just fell in love,” says Choy.

Ecological insights from three decades of animal movement tracking across a changing Arctic

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

[Natural Resource Sciences professor Kyle Elliott, Canada Research Chair in Arctic Ecology, and grad students Allison Patterson and Don-Jean Leandri-Breton are co-authors on this study]

Opinion: Degradation of Quebec forests is costly to all

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

[Co-author Joshua Sterlin is a PhD student in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences at �㽶��Ƶ.]

An increase in cutting in Quebec’s public forests would be a mistake for the forests, the industry, the climate and the regions.

A recent opinion article in the Montreal Gazette (“Shortfall in forest harvest is costly to economy” Oct. 29) called on governments and logging companies to work together to increase cutting in Quebec.

In Memoriam: Emeritus Professor John R. Ogilvie (1930 – 2020)

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

John R. Ogilvie, BScAgr’54, PhD, FCSBE, FASABE, P.Eng., P.Ag (Dist), 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, a leader in agricultural and bioresource engineering, died on March 20, 2020 at the age of 90, in Guelph, Ontario.

At-Home Homecoming 2020

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

This year’s Homecoming was different from what we all know and love about a Mac Reunion. While we were not able to reconnect in person, there were many virtual opportunities for alumni to participate in, such as favourite events like the Beatty Lecture and Leacock Luncheon. Dean Anja Geitmann also hosted a Masterclass titled Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition, Food Security, and Well-being that was moderated by Professor Murray Humphries, Director of the Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment (CINE).

Community commitment in the spotlight at Forces AVENIR gala

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Macdonald Dietetics students Alyshia Guan, Asmaa Housni, Danielle Kasis Akal and Kristina Madjuga were recent Forces AVENIR award winners (health category) for their work as part of the Collaboration Interprofessionelle Montréalaise Étudiante (CIME). CIME is an interprofessional team of medical, nursing, dietetics and social work students sharing the common goal of diminishing healthcare gaps experienced by asylum seekers in Montreal.

Treena Wasonti:io Delormier: Building Bridges

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

| Valerie MacLeod

Although Homecoming 2020 took on a different shape this year, the new virtual delivery of Masterclasses and other celebratory events gave alumni a unique opportunity to tune in to fascinating discussions on a variety of different topics, at their convenience, from the comfort of their homes.

E-newsletter: Message from the Dean

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Dear friends,

The fall semester is well underway and although we continue to face challenging circumstances and restrictions, every day I feel extremely proud of the hard work, resilience and flexibility of everyone in our community in delivering our academic programs and providing a safe environment for all. Life on campus is significantly different this year, and although it can be easy to dwell on some of the current hardships, it is more important than ever to try focusing on all that is still great at McGill and Macdonald!

Macdonald Campus ablaze with fall colours

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

A resident of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, McGill Reporter editor Neale McDevitt frequently visits Macdonald Campus. Recently, over the course of a few weeks, he took pictures of the grounds as they underwent their annual fall transformation.

Enjoy Neale's photos here...

A new chapter for Environmental Studies at McGill

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Landmark $15-million gift commitment from McGill alumnus Marc Bieler to the School of Environment will bolster environmental scholarship, research and outreach

Scientists grappling with complex and seemingly unresolvable issues often refer to them as “wicked problems”. Arguably, some of the nastiest are those related to the deteriorating health of our environment.

Robin Beech named McGill's new Dean of Students

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Congratulations to Professor Robin Beech (Parasitology) who will become McGill’s Dean of Students on November 1.

Robin joined the Institute of Parasitology in 1992 and has served as the Associate Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies since 2015. In addition to his extensive experience in student advising, supervision, discipline and policy, he is skilled in conflict resolution, mediation and creative problem solving.

Maclean’s rates McGill as the top medical-doctoral university in Canada

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Earlier today, Maclean’s Magazine issued its 30th annual Canadian university rankings and, for the 16th straight year, McGill was named the country’s top medical-doctoral university. The Medical Doctoral category includes 15 universities with a broad range of PhD programs and research, as well as medical schools.

Read more in the Reporter...

Gaspillage alimentaire. Il faut qu’on parle des légumes moches

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

Même si le consommateur est de plus en plus sensibilisé à l’enjeu du gaspillage alimentaire, l’achat de légumes moches demeure un marché de niche au Québec. Pourtant, quand on abandonne un légume laid à la ferme, on ne jette pas seulement une denrée, on gaspille toutes les ressources naturelles et la main-d’œuvre nécessaires pour la produire.

...Pour l’économiste agricole Pascal Thériault, qui enseigne à la faculté des sciences de l’agriculture et de l’environnement de l’Université McGill, il est difficile de pointer un seul coupable.

McGill-Mac Campus Alums named to Canadian Agricultural Youth Council

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:37:19 +0000

We were thrilled to learn that several members of the McGill-Macdonald Campus community were selected from more than 800 applicants to sit on the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council.

Virtual Programming – Our New Outreach

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

We have been offering timely science topics to the community for 21 years through our Food for Thought Lecture Series, and felt the need to continue offering interesting and thought-provoking lectures/discussions for the Fall term. For the past four years, the Series has opened with our very special A. Jean de Grandpré Distinguished Speaker Series. The Series was established to honour Chancellor Emeritus M. A.

Navigating the new academic year

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

An interview with Professor Valérie Orsat, Associate Dean (Student Affairs)

Each new school year is unique, and back-to-school in fall 2020 has taken a very different shape than usual. The campus is still as beautiful as ever with summer’s end, however with much reduced student presence since most of our courses are being taught entirely through remote platforms. The fall term has presented challenges and increased stress for both students (faced with the unexpected) and course instructors (faced with the uncertainty of the teaching medium).

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

First online USRA poster presentations a resounding success

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Thanks to the leadership of TLS presentation coach, Dr. Andrew Churchill, and support from McGill Office of Student Academic Services and the Lister Family Engaged Science Initiative, 21 undergraduate students wowed us with their research posters, lightening talks and Q & A responses during the Faculty’s first-ever online Undergraduate Student Summer Research Poster Presentation event.

Congratulations for a job well done are extended to all!

The impact of COVID-19 on Quebecers’ access to food

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed daily life for citizens in most countries around the world. The speed at which the public had to react and adapt to government directives for physical distancing is unprecedented, causing numerous hardships in acquiring the essentials.

A Fresh Take on Food Safety

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

In an age of mass food production and distribution, McGill’s Food Safety and Quality Program has been working toward developing innovative ways to ensure safety in the Canadian and global food supply chain. And with forward-thinking researchers like Dr. Xiaonan Lu at its helm, the program is well on its way to fulfilling that mission.

Lu, the newly appointed Ian and Jayne Munro Chair in Food Safety and a leader in the field of food safety and food microbiology, is excited to shift the research he started seven years ago to McGill’s Macdonald Campus.

From the Dean

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

From the Macdonald E-newsletter: August 2020

I hope you have all had a nice summer, enjoying the beautiful weather and spending time with loved ones. It is hard to believe that September is on our doorstep and classes are beginning this week! The Fall term is certainly going to look quite different, with students learning remotely both in Montreal and across the world – but I know without a doubt that no matter where our students are, they will receive the quality education they deserve.

Oignons contaminés à la salmonelle: demande d’action collective

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Plus de 450 personnes ont officiellement contracté la bactérie salmonelle de souche Newport au Canada cet été, dont 23 au Québec. Selon l’Agence canadienne d’inspection des aliments (ACIA), une personne en est possiblement morte, tandis que 66 personnes ont dû être hospitalisées.

...Qu’est-ce que la salmonellose ?

COVID-19 Q&A: How has the pandemic impacted the environment?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

While the world has been locked down for much of the spring and summer, airplanes have been grounded, fishing fleets have sat mostly idle and cars have stayed parked in their driveway as people worked from home. What kind of impact has this had on the environment? And what lessons have we learned from the relatively quick pivot governments and citizens have made to combat the spread of COVID-19? Can we apply the same commitment and speed of mobilization to pressing issues like climate change?

Urban beekeeping can be bad for wild bees

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Urban beekeeping has been touted as a way to boost pollination and improve sustainability, food security and biodiversity in cities. Many people and businesses who've added beehives to their backyards and rooftops (including CBC) say they're doing it to help fight declines in bee populations.

But researchers say urban beekeepers are likely doing just the opposite when it comes to wild bee species.

How Canada became an environmental outlier

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

OpEd by Tom Mulcair, former the leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada (2012-2017).

Fifty years ago, Canada became a major, credible player in the world of environmental protection with the creation of our first department of the environment by former prime minister Pierre Trudeau. That move was accompanied by a progressive vision that was critical of the unbridled growth which showed no regard to the consequences for life on our planet.

Ces plantes nuisibles qui envahissent les champs agricoles et les forêts

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Phragmite, panais sauvage, herbe à poux, nerprun, renoué du Japon : ce sont toutes des plantes envahissantes, nuisibles à un certain degré, qui prennent de plus en plus de place sur les terres agricoles et parfois même dans nos forêts. Plusieurs sont inconnues de la population générale, mais causent de sérieux maux de tête aux agriculteurs.

Parmi celles-ci, la plus problématique semble être le phragmite, aussi appelé « roseau commun ». On le qualifie parfois de « véritable menace à la biodiversité des lieux humides ».

Mac Teams compete in Dobson Cup Finals (online)

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Congratulations to the Macdonald Teams who are competing in the 2020 Dobson Cup Finals, taking place online from July 27-30.

Social Enterprise Track 2020 Finalists

BioFem: is aimed at addressing the problem of organic waste management and disposal in Cameroon by using the waste to produce compost and biogas. Bioresource Engineering U3 student Maeve Che and teammates from the Faculty of Science.

Mieux mesurer la qualité des aliments

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Originaire du Nigeria, Jacob Tizhe Liberty a toujours cherché à développer des solutions aux problèmes locaux qu’il observait. C’est ce qui l’a amené, dans le cadre de ses études doctorales, à mettre au point de nouvelles techniques pour mieux évaluer la qualité des aliments et ainsi diminuer le gaspillage.

Lire...

Bioresource Engineering funding to support innovative research

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Congratulations to Professor Jan Adamowski (Bioresource Engineering) for receiving a $198,569 SSHRC Partnership Development Grant: #CitiSciWater – Exploring the potential of scalable, user-centric citizen science platforms and tools to co-create actionable knowledge and transform water governance. Read more.

Two McGill teams finalists in Institute of Food Technologists Competitions

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

| Caitlin MacDougall

During the 2020 edition of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) annual conference, held virtually on July 13-15, two Macdonald Campus Food Science teams representing McGill competed as finalists in the prestigious 2020 Smart Snacks for Kids Product Development Competition and the 2020 Developing Solutions for Developing Countries Competition.

E-newsletter: Message from the Dean

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

I hope this finds you well and enjoying our first month of summer. Although things are much quieter than usual on Macdonald campus and things are still far from “normal,” I am very proud of all the great work being accomplished in our Faculty and the plans developing for the upcoming Fall semester. I am pleased to share some highlights with you.

Future Ready: The Advocate for a Better Anthropocene

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

McGill’s Elena Bennett wants you to imagine a radical, inspiring, and realistic future for our planet

When you think of the Earth 50 years from now, what do you see? Do you imagine desolate cities, scorched forests, dead oceans, lost biodiversity? Elena Bennett wants you to know the future doesn’t have to be bleak.

Un portrait de la situation des éleveurs de porcs

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

« Les éleveurs produisent pour nourrir les gens et des normes sont mises en place pour s’assurer que cette production est adéquate, explique l’agronome et professeur à la Faculté des sciences de l’agriculture et de l’environnement de l’Université McGill, Pascal Thériault. Cependant, à partir du moment où on instaure une norme, cela crée un stress. »

Mort et résurrection de l’arbre parfait

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Depuis toujours, ils servent à bâtir autant qu’à rêver... Dans cette série estivale, Le Devoir tente de cerner de quel bois sont faits les arbres qui nous entourent. Aujourd’hui : le châtaignier américain.

L’entrevue est pratiquement terminée. Christie Lovat parle depuis une bonne heure du châtaignier d’Amérique auquel elle a récemment consacré sa thèse de doctorat en sciences des plantes à l’Université McGill.

Launch of AES Student Emergency Support Fund

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

The rapid evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused sudden and widespread changes for Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (AES) students, many of whom are now struggling to make ends meet.

Nouvelle technologie pour mesurer le CO2 du sol

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

« Il suffit d’installer notre système au champ et de pousser sur le bouton ON, et le tour est joué », indique Viacheslav Adamchuk, professeur en génie des bioressources à l’Université McGill, en parlant du nouvel outil prototype créé par son équipe pour mesurer les émissions de CO₂ provenant du sol. »

Lire plus...

New Canada Research Chair Tier II in Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Food Security

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Congratulations to Treena Wasonti:io Delormier, School of Human Nutrition and Associate Director of the Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment (CINE), who has been awarded a Canada Research Chair Tier II in Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Food Security.

Faculty use creative and innovative solutions for remote teaching

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

How do you ensure your students are really learning in your class when you can’t see them, they’re in different time zones, and they aren’t physically present in the labs where you would have been able to observe if they were understanding the objectives of your course? Faculty members across McGill – and indeed the world – are pondering those questions as they prepare to teach remotely for the first full semester next fall.

Professor Salavati appointed the next Director of the Institute of Parasitology

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Professor Reza Salavati has been appointed Director of the Institute of Parasitology for a 5-year term starting July 1, 2020. Professor Salavati is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Parasitology and an Associate Member of the Department of Biochemistry at �㽶��Ƶ. His research programs focus on the biology of the protozoan parasites of global importance and drug discovery. He has developed computational and experimental methods to determine the functions of the poorly annotated parasite genomes to target unique pathways for drug discovery.

Bieler Family Internship Program provides essential workers and experience

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

When �㽶��Ƶ announced its closure in mid-March to respect government social distancing and quarantine policies due to COVID-19, campus staff had to think fast to continue to provide high quality internship opportunities to undergraduates.

Éric Gosselin takes on the role of Chair of the Faculty Advisory Board

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

On May 1, 2020, Éric Gosselin, BScAgr’91, FAB member since 2017 and partner in the Business Law Group in Montreal for McCarthy Tetrault LLP, stepped into the role of FAB Chair for a three-year term. He took some time to answer a few questions about himself, his role as Chair and his vision for the future of the FAB.

E-newsletter: Message from the Dean

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Summer has officially begun! It is amazing what warmer weather, sunshine and time spent outdoors in the fresh air can do to lift the spirits. There is no doubt that the past few months have been challenging and full of ups and downs, but with the changing season comes renewed optimism and strength to continue moving forward. I am both grateful for and incredibly proud of the continued commitment, passion and support provided by our Macdonald community.

La pandémie relance le débat de l’autosuffisance alimentaire

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

« On va devoir changer nos habitudes alimentaires, pas seulement nous les consommateurs, mais l'ensemble de la chaîne de production. On est un peu victime de notre propre demande », estime Pascal Thériault, économiste et directeur des relations communautaires pour la faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'environnement de l'université McGill.

Lire...

Questions et réponses sur la COVID-19 : sécurité au supermarché, avec Jennifer Ronholm

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Jennifer Ronholm, professeure adjointe au Département des sciences animales et au Département des sciences de l’alimentation et de la chimie agricole, nous parle de sécurité au super marché et offre quelques conseils pratiques afin de se protéger du SARS-CoV-2 lorsque vous faites vos courses. Dans le cadre de ses recherches, elle utilise des techniques de séquençage de prochaine génération pour étudier l’effet du microbiome des animaux destinés à la consommation sur la qualité des aliments ainsi que l’effet du microbiome des aliments sur la santé humaine.

Alice Cherestes wins Best Practices and Pedagogical Innovation award

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Alice Cherestes, a senior lecturer at Bioresource Engineering in McGill’s faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Climate change challenges Nunavut’s thick-billed murres: researcher

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

There’s less ice, more capelin and lots of hungry polar bears

Climate change in the eastern Arctic has already altered the travel, diet and safety of some of the most numerous birds in the circumpolar world: thick-billed murres, known as akpait in Inuktitut.

These and other changes are likely to continue, says Allison Patterson, a �㽶��Ƶ graduate student [with Professor Kyle Elliott] who has tracked the habits of these black-and-white birds on Hudson Bay’s Coats Island, known as Akpatordjuark in Inuktitut.

Dean Geitmann recognized by the Microscopical Society of Canada

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Congratulations to Dean Anja Geitmann who is the 2020 recipient of the Frances W. Doane Award. The objective of the Frances W Doane award is to recognize the valuable service and contributions that an individual made to the Microscopical Society of Canada.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Survey Examines Grocery Shopping in the Time of COVID-19

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

McGill researcher launches online survey to study the food shopping experiences of Quebecers during COVID-19

A McGill human health expert [Daiva Nielsen, SHN] is looking for Quebecers to take her online survey to collect data about people’s food shopping experiences during the period of strict COVID-19 physical distancing measures.

OpEd: Food safety and OH&S matters during COVID-19

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

With this current pandemic, questions around manufacturing and food safety are becoming a bigger concern for those in the production and distribution chain, as well as consumers. Here are five of the biggest questions pertaining to food safety, and answers that may help. Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry Course Coordinator Eby Noroozi tackles some of the issues.

Read...

Survey of Eating Habits During the COVID-19 Pandemic

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

A group of nutrition researchers at �㽶��Ƶ is trying to understand how the eating habits of Canadians are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Your participation to the COVIDiet study will help researchers better understand how this pandemic is affecting the eating habits of Canadians to inform public health agencies in future economic crises and isolation measures.

Learn more...

Welcome to McGill Dobson Centre’s 2020 X-1 Accelerator Cohort Cannafish!

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Cannafish is very proud to announce that they are part of the 2020 McGill X-1 Accelerator, which will allow them to propel our project to investment! The team are very proud to realize that they are part of the 2020 McGill X-1 Accelerator cohort, getting ready for investments!

Follow Cannafish...

McGill researchers garner over $7M in SSHRC funding

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

20 McGill researchers receive funding from SSHRC through Partnership Program Grants, Partnership Development Grants, and Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) recently unveiled the recipients of its fall 2019 round of Partnership Grants, including two McGill-led projects, totalling $5 million. SSHRC also unveiled the recipients of the round’s Partnership Development Grants and Postdoctoral Fellowships, in which 18 McGill applicants received over $2 million in funding.

McGill-led training program receives $1.65M NSERC CREATE grant

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

McGill Prof. Mark Lefsrud and team awarded a $1.65 million research grant for their program, Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Cannabis Production, Products and Training

An inter-university collaboration led by Dr. Mark Lefsrud, Associate Professor in the Department of Bioresource Engineering, has received a $1.65 million research grant, to be distributed over six years, from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program.

Science leads the response to COVID-19. These 25 scientists are tackling the other global challenges

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

The World Economic Forum created the Young Scientists Community in 2008, to engage leaders with science and the role it plays in society. The class of 2020 represents 25 researchers at the forefront of scientific discovery from 14 countries across the world.

Indigenous Peoples around the globe are disproportionately affected by pollution

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Indigenous Peoples around the world are suffering disproportionately from the impacts of pollution. After surveying close to 700 articles covering different disciplines and regions of the world, a research team led by Helsinki University and involving McGill has highlighted key factors that contribute to this situation.

McGill researcher launches online survey to study the food shopping experiences of Quebecers during COVID-19

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

The COVID-19 Food Study aims to understand household experiences with food access in Quebec during the pandemic, lead by Principal Investigator Prof. Daiva Neilsen (SHN). The study is funded by a McGill SSHRC Institutional Grant and MI4 Emergency COVID-19 Research Funding (ECRF) Program.

ADSA elects new Vice Pesident and Board Members

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

The American Dairy Science Association® (ADSA®), the international organization of educators, scientists, and industry representatives who are committed to advancing the dairy industry, recently elected new leaders for the organization's 2020-2021 term that begins in late June.

COVID-19 Q&A: Pascal Thériault on Canadian food security during the pandemic

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

"Our food supply chain is a highly efficient mature system, but it has been knocked off balance by the crisis... In a way, we went from being on cruise control to hitting traffic."

In recent days, we’ve seen major meat processing plants shutting down because of COVID-19 outbreaks. Farmers are struggling because foreign workers can’t come into the country to plant or harvest crops. Are Canadians facing shortages and rising prices at the grocery store?

'Close to Zero': Why you shouldn't worry about catching COVID from meat-19

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

While meat packing plants have become virus hot spots, there have been no reported cases from food or food packaging. Experts explain why.

The odds of contracting COVID-19 by eating food processed in a slaughterhouse impacted by outbreaks are “close to zero,” food safety experts say. Food processing plants have been particularly hard hit by outbreaks of COVID-19, with many forced to temporarily shut down as the fast-moving virus spreads among workers. The Cargill plant south of Calgary has taken the toughest blows, with 921 cases of the virus recorded among 2,000 employees.

COVID-19 Q&A: Jennifer Ronholm on staying safe while shopping for groceries

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Can food transmit COVID-19? Should we wear masks and gloves while shopping? Should we wipe down groceries? Cash or credit? These questions and more are answered by McGill expert.

Jennifer Ronholm is an Assistant Professor cross-appointed to the Departments of Animal Science and Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry. Her research interests include using the latest next-generation sequencing techniques to study how the microbiome of food-producing animals affects food quality, as well as how the microbiome of the food we eat affects human health.

Des dizaines de chercheurs très inquiets de la santé des Autochtones

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Des dizaines de chercheurs de partout au Canada lancent un cri d'alarme au sujet de la santé des Autochtones dans cette lettre ouverte.

Nous sommes un groupe de scientifiques dans le domaine de la santé et de médecins qui écrivons pour exprimer notre préoccupation concernant les effets de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur la santé des communautés autochtones et pour souligner l'urgence d'un soutien proactif pour la sécurité alimentaire et le logement. Nous appelons à la solidarité et à une meilleure réconciliation en ces temps difficiles.

...Signé par (parmis autres)...

Experts weigh in on best handling of groceries during COVID-19 pandemic

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

A routine trip to the grocery store can be complicated by a boatload of questions in the age of COVID-19.

The pandemic has left many shoppers wondering whether they need to sanitize their cardboard cereal boxes or plastic yogurt containers before unloading their grocery bags.

But several experts say washing your hands is more important than wiping down every item you put in the fridge.

La neige, bonne pour la santé et le moral des vaches

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

...La chercheuse Elsa Vasseur, de l’Université McGill, travaille présentement sur un projet de recherche spécifiquement consacré à l’exercice des vaches à l’extérieur, même en hiver. Elle dit que l’industrie et les consommateurs font pression pour que les animaux puissent sortir faire de l’exercice. Il s’agit d’établir les bons paramètres pour le faire, dit-elle. Ses résultats paraîtront dans les prochains mois.

Lire...

Agriculture programs change with the times

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Agriculture faculties are becoming some of the most exciting hubs of interdisciplinary collaboration on Canadian campuses.

Founder’s Day brings together the tight-knit community of Macdonald campus

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends of Mac campus celebrate the past, present and future of Sir William's visionary creation

On February 6, members of Macdonald campus came together to take part in the annual Founder’s Day festivities. Chris Buddle, who taught at Mac for many years before moving to the administrative side downtown, summed up the tone for the day.

“Although I spend a lot of my time downtown now, a huge hunk of my heart is here. I love Mac campus and try to visit it regularly,” said the Associate Provost (Teaching and Academic Programs).

Eby Noroozi awarded Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Congratulations to Eby Noroozi, MSc'78 (Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry) for receiving the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers. The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers recognizes living Canadians who have made a significant, sustained and unpaid contribution to their community, in Canada or abroad. Non-Canadians are also eligible if their contribution brings benefit or honour to Canadians or to Canada.

The citation reads:

Des fermiers canadiens veulent rendre leur industrie carboneutre

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Une nouvelle coalition, Fermiers pour la transition climatique, voit le jour.

... Anja Geitmann, doyenne de la Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'environnement à l'Université McGill, estime qu'il faudra un sérieux coup de main financier du gouvernement.

"Ça c’est le problème. Tout changement est coûteux. Il faut établir des incitatifs pour convaincre les producteurs à faire ces changements."

The farmer and the philanthropist

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Finance titan André Desmarais teams up with rock-star farmer to invest in the future of small organic farming

In the first season of Les Fermiers, a hit French-Canadian TV show about vegetable farming in Hemmingford, Quebec, Dany Bouchard [FMT'08], a young trainee, tells his boss and the show’s star, Jean-Martin Fortier [BA’02, Major in Environment], that there won’t be enough turnips to bring to market that week. “We can’t fight the temperature,” Bouchard says. “We have to be patient.”

Opportunities for the curious

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Award funding gives students lab time, research experience and the chance to discover the right path

...Supported by a Schulich Graduate Fellowship, doctoral student Bikram Poudel is working to improve one of the world’s most important food crops.

Angus (Gus) Mackenzie 1932-2020

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Gus was born in Elrose, Saskatchewan and grew up on a farm where he acquired a life-long love for the land. He earned a BSc (Agr) and MSc at the University of Saskatchewan, and a PhD in soil chemistry from Cornell University. Gus spent the majority of his academic career at �㽶��Ƶ's Macdonald Campus where he pioneered fertility research in crop production, maximizing crop yield and the value of fertilizer management.

Pourquoi certains feuillus conservent leurs feuilles en hiver ?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Ils détonnent du reste du paysage hivernal : ces arbres, contrairement aux autres, gardent leurs feuilles même après leur mort. Ce phénomène, appelé marcescence, est observable chez certaines espèces d'arbres. MétéoMédia s'est entretenu avec David Wees, chargé de cours au Département des sciences végétales et directeur adjoint du programme Gestion et technologies d’entreprise agricole (GTEA) à l'université McGill.

The Australian wildfire anomaly

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Every year, patches of Australian forests are consumed by fire, an ecologically necessary process that releases soil nutrients and stimulates plant growth. When the fire season is exacerbated by drought and high temperature, however, the devastation is so great that some citizens are forced to flee their homes. In the most extreme circumstances, natural habitats are ruined completely, even to the point of species extirpation.

Guide de production en serre – Fines herbes

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Nouveau livre redacté par David Wees, Département des sciences végétales et Gestion et technologies d’enterprise agricole (FMT)

Les racines d’une économie écologique

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

« Je suis un gardien de la Terre, j’en prends soin. » C’est ainsi que Peter G. Brown, producteur forestier certifié et professeur à la Faculté des sciences de l’agriculture et de l’environnement de l’Université McGill, résume sa philosophie à l’égard de sa terre à bois d’environ 400 acres dans la municipalité de Franklin, en Montérégie.

Opinion: Impending fertility crisis requires urgent action

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Responses should include prioritizing funding for research on male infertility and making assisted reproductive treatment more accessible.

Despite headlines about the labour shortage and aging population, people remain strangely unaware of this impending fertility crisis. As well, infertility is wrongly perceived as a female-only health issue. It’s urgent that we move to ensure fair and equitable access to fertility treatment. Prof. Sarah Kimmins (AnSci) and Montreal attorney Joël Roy in the Montreal Gazette.

The American kestrel is in free fall, and no one knows why

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Once prevalent in Montreal, the littlest falcon's downfall is a bellwether for hard times. “The story of the kestrel is happening to other bird species.”

Throughout the 1900s, North America’s littlest falcon was also described as the continent’s most common and widespread. Small but fierce and marked with bright plumage rare in the raptor world, the American kestrel could be seen throughout the continent, diving and swooping in fallow fields or under the stadium lights at baseball games, hunting for plump moths or small mice.

West Island parks woo residents outdoors for winter activities

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Skiing, snowshoeing, stargazing and bird-watching are just a few items on the winter menu at local parks.

Winter in the West Island is a time when nature and leisure activities can dovetail beautifully.

Robert Prairie, a patrol leader at Morgan Arboretum, heads a team of volunteers that help to ensure a safe and fun experience for the many individuals and families who enjoy recreational destinations in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue.

Germination Audiomentary Series Ep 1: Changing the World Through Pulse Breeding

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

In 2019 — with the help of the Borlaug Training Foundation — [Germination] put out the call to plant breeders asking them what they would do if they had $10 million to make the world a better place. Valerio Hoyos-Villegas, pulse breeder at �㽶��Ƶ, answered the call. He tells his story about how growing up around the coffee farms of Colombia set him on the path to helping feed the planet. Hosted by Germination editor Marc Zienkiewicz.

Le bonheur des agriculteurs

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Les producteurs semblent plus heureux au travail que la majorité des Québécois. En effet, l’agriculture se positionne au 10e rang des 70 professions et métiers classés au palmarès de l’indice du bonheur au travail réalisé par la firme Léger. Les travailleurs agricoles ont très positivement évalué cinq des six facteurs principaux qui influencent le bonheur au travail : réalisation de soi, relations de travail, reconnaissance, responsabilisation et sentiment d’appartenance.

Appartenance et reconnaissance

Des légumes cultivés sur du béton

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Faire pousser des végétaux sur du béton? C’est possible, pratique et même très esthétique. Mark Lefsrud et son équipe, les chercheurs Sadie Moland et Intisar Syed Mahood, du Département de génie en bioressources de l’Université McGill, ont développé un mur végétal vertical nouveau genre : tomates, chou frisé, laitues et épinards poussent, non pas dans la terre, mais dans du béton poreux biocompatible. Ce substrat horticole original n’est pas encore commercialisé, mais il fait ses preuves depuis trois ans dans les serres de l’université.

L’essor des légumineuses

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Originaire des Andes en Colombie, Valerio Hoyos-Villegas a grandi en milieu agricole et a étudié l’agriculture partout dans le monde. Il comprend bien le défi que représente la production alimentaire.

L’Université McGill, chef de file dans la formation et la recherche sur le cannabis

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Le programme en production de cannabis commercial de l’Université McGill, qui accueillera sa première cohorte en juin 2020, sera un moteur pour la recherche et les collaborations entre l’Université et le secteur privé.

Le nouveau diplôme a reçu le feu vert de la direction de l’Université, ce qui fait de McGill l’une des premières universités canadiennes à offrir un programme d’études dans le domaine.

Reappointments of the Deans of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Management, Science

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

La version française suit.

From: Professor Christopher Manfredi, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)

Dear members of the McGill community:

It is my pleasure to announce the reappointments of Professors Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, Anja Geitmann and Bruce Lennox in their respective positions as Deans of the Desautels Faculty of Management, the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Science.

Un nouveau verger pour l’Université McGill

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

« Depuis 30 ans, je prends soin du verger de McGill, confie fièrement Michael Bleho, coordonnateur du Centre de recherche horticole de l’Université McGill. J’adore travailler avec les pommiers! » Débordant d’enthousiasme, il annonce ainsi l’aboutissement d’un projet colossal : planter un nouveau verger pour l’université.

McGill's diploma program will train expert pot growers for $24,000

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

There is a strong need for it because the cannabis industry is desperate for qualified personnel, professor Anja Geitmann says.

Call it a sign of the times: �㽶��Ƶ will teach students how to grow the perfect pot plant starting next year.

McGill’s Diploma in Commercial Cannabis program launches in June and it’s meant to train biologists to cultivate cannabis, design strains, protect them against contaminants and understand the legal framework of Canada’s burgeoning weed industry.

Lister Family Engaged Science 3MT Competition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Congratulations to all of the presenters in Wednesday’s Lister Family Engaged Science 3MT Competition!

Tracking forest fires from space

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Student researcher pieces together satellite data to help communities monitor wildfires

Morgan Crowley’s interest in sustainability took root early.

As a schoolchild in New Hampshire, she went to summer camp on Pine Mountain – so named for the stately evergreens that used to blanket the site. By the time Morgan started going there, “there were only two pines left” because the rest had fallen victim to a forest fire or to logging. As a result, “I grew up thinking very much about ecological sustainability.”

Cannafish at Coopérathon 2019

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Congratulations to Ph.D. candidate David Leroux (BRE-Lefsrud) and fellow Cannafish team members, who were awarded the Agricultural Scholarship from Sollio Agriculture at Coopérathon 2019 held at Montreal’s Olympia Theatre. Coopérathon “is the world’s largest open innovation challenge that connects citizens, communities, entrepreneurs, researchers, academics and large institutions to develop, together, a socially responsible future.”

Canada's Wild Rivers - 360 | Into Water

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

In the third installment of National Geographic’s “Into Water” 360 series, canoe through the sprawling Canadian wilderness with freshwater ecologist and National Geographic Explorer Dalal Hanna [Ph.D. candidate NRS (Bennett)]. She researches Quebec’s extensive freshwater systems, collecting samples from streams, rivers and lakes to assess ecosystem health, with the aim of protecting these precious resources. “Into Water: Canada” is the third stop on an around the world 360 tour that documents the work of female Explorers who’ve dedicated their careers to water related issues.

Training farmers for the 21st century

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Keesha Ness’s family certainly knows farming – they’ve been doing it for nearly 100 years and plan to celebrate when they reach that milestone next summer.

Ness is passionate about farming, loves her cows, and plans to follow the family’s tradition.

“I’m definitely hoping to help out with the management side,” says Ness of her family’s Ayrshire dairy farm in Howick, Quebec.

“I really love the management side of it.”

Vers des cultures plus résistantes

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Les conditions météorologiques, les grands vents et les parasites peuvent abîmer les cultures jusqu’à coucher les tiges au sol. On parle alors de la verse des plants. De la reproduction à la croissance en passant par la résistance aux intempéries ou aux chocs, c’est à l’échelle microscopique que se joue le développement des plantes et des produits agricoles.

Life could exist on Mars today, very close to the surface

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Scientists tackle the question of what kinds of life might reside now on the Red Planet, and how we might find it.

Last week NASA convened a visionary meeting in New Mexico to consider a topic critical to astrobiology—whether life currently exists on Mars, and if so, how to detect it. The site of the conference was near the world-renowned Carlsbad Caverns, which attendees got to visit during a mid-conference workshop.

A community turns out for Mac Remembrance Day ceremony

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Students from all levels – elementary, high school, CEGEP and university – take part in annual Remembrance Day ceremony at Macdonald Campus

At today’s Remembrance Day ceremony at Macdonald Campus, the crowd – mostly schoolchildren from Macdonald High School and three West Island elementary schools – huddled together against a cold, wet snow.

“Imagine the conditions faced by Canadian soldiers,” one observer commented.

Lutte contre le gaspillage alimentaire

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Le 27 septembre, Greta Thunberg était à Montréal pour parler de l’urgence climatique. Les questions environnementales sont en ce moment à l’avant-scène des enjeux sociaux. « Malheureusement, on parle peu des répercussions du gaspillage alimentaire sur l’état de la planète », rappelle Pascal Thériault, agronome et directeur des relations communautaires pour la Faculté des sciences de l’agriculture et de l’environnement de l’Université McGill.

Les boues d’épuration scrutées à la loupe

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Il faut parfois s’attarder aux petits détails pour avoir une vue d’ensemble. C’est ce que fait Subhasis Ghoshal, professeur de génie civil à l’Université McGill [et le Centre Brace pour la gestion des ressources de l'eau], qui s’intéresse à la présence de nanoparticules de métal dans les eaux usées. Il souhaite évaluer le risque de contamination des sols lorsque les boues issues du traitement des eaux municipales sont recyclées en milieu agricole.

Scientists identify key knowledge gaps in sustainability research

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Call for more relevant, solutions-focused research to address the social-ecological crisis

Greater local earthworm diversity in temperate regions than in the tropics

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Surprisingly, in any single location, there are typically more earthworms and more earthworm species found in temperate regions than in the tropics, according to a new study in Science. Global climate change could lead to significant shifts in earthworm communities worldwide, threatening the many vital functions they provide. Joann Whalen (NRS) is one of the co-authors on the study. McGill Reporter.

Martin Chaumont receives Principal’s Award for Administrative and Support Staff

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Congratulations to Mac Farm Staffer Martin Chaumont recipient of the Principal’s Award for Administrative and Support Staff (Technical Assistants, Library Assistants and Nurses Category)!

The McGill Research Centre for Cannabis holds inaugural Science and Research Day

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

The new McGill Research Centre for Cannabis held its inaugural Science and Research Day on Thursday, October 17, 2019, at the �㽶��Ƶ Hospital Centre (MUHC), Glen site.

Macdonald Campus of �㽶��Ƶ Named Canada’s 37th Fair Trade Campus!

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

PRESS RELEASE - October 22, 2019

Fair Trade Canada is pleased to announce that the Macdonald Campus of �㽶��Ƶ has become a Fair Trade Designated Campus!

Vers une certification d’ail québécois

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

« À la fruiterie du coin, je saute systématiquement sur l’ail du Québec », avoue Jean-Benoit Charron, chercheur à l’Université McGill. Avec la demande grandissante pour les produits du terroir, l’ail québécois est très prisé des consommateurs. Il se démarque par son goût, sa durée de conservation et sa faible teneur en pesticides. Pourtant, sa production demeure marginale. La raison : le manque de pureté des semences.

Climate Change threatens crops, water for billions around the globe

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Canadian research is part of an extensive global climate change study that has found billions of the world’s poorest people are at risk.

The results, published Thursday in the journal Science, raise troubling questions about who will be able to adapt in a shifting, less dependable world.

“There’s a great potential for the problems to occur where people have the least ability to cope with it,” said Elena Bennett [NRS], who studies ecological systems at �㽶��Ƶ and is one of the paper’s 21 co-authors.

Dr.Boakye Boatin named an Unsung Hero REACH Awards finalist

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Dr. Boatin [an Adjunct Professor in the Institute of Parasitology who teaches in the Parasitology graduate program] has played a transformative, frontline role in the field of disease.

“We applaud his tireless efforts in accelerating the pace towards Onchocerciasis disease elimination, and the elimination and control of other infectious diseases in Developing Countries. He has been for many years a frontline health worker driving global health and has been recognized by the Reach Awards program Reaching the Last Mile”, Dr. Roger Prichard.

Modern farming is the future: Experts

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

On the second day of the 8th Asian-Australasian conference on precision agriculture at PAU, the keynote speaker of the day, Prof Viacheslav Adamchuk, [BRE] shared his views on sensor systems in precision agriculture with special emphasis on development of proximal soil and plant sensing systems, geospatial data processing and management and practical implementation of precision agriculture.

Interactive map shows nature’s contributions to people

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Nature supports people in critical ways, often at a highly local level. A wild bee buzzes through a farm, pollinating vegetables as it goes. Nearby, wetlands remove chemicals from the farm’s runoff, protecting a community drinking water source. In communities all around the world, nature’s contributions are constantly flowing to people.

La mémoire des plantes

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

« Je suis un gars de l’Abitibi, donc je suis habitué au froid! » s’exclame Jean-Benoit Charron, chercheur à l’Université McGill. En raison des changements climatiques, le froid n’est toutefois plus ce qu’il était. Les plantes cultivées dans les champs doivent s’adapter à ces nouvelles conditions.

« Certains épisodes de froid arrivent très tôt, et d’autres beaucoup plus tard qu’avant », explique le scientifique. De plus, les redoux en plein hiver réduisent la couverture de neige, privant ainsi la plante d’une couche isolante.

Gare à la transmission de maladies par l’eau

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Lorsqu’une contamination bactérienne se déclare à proximité d’une ferme, il faut cibler le plus rapidement possible les élevages problématiques puisque certaines souches peuvent parfois infecter l’homme. L’objectif est de mettre en place des barrières naturelles qui empêcheront les ruissellements provenant de ces fermes de se retrouver dans l’eau potable environnante.

SPF provides seed money for fully autonomous, year-round vegetable production system

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Autonomous Controlled-Environment Chamber is "a growth system with minimal input and maximum crop yield"

When the Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) was established in 2009, it was an experiment.

So much to discover: Research in the era of legal cannabis

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Approximately a year after the legalization of marijuana in Canada last fall, the new McGill Research Centre for Cannabis is poised to examine the role that legal cannabis will be playing in our society on many fronts. The trans-disciplinary centre, a partnership between six McGill faculties (Medicine, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Law, Science, Education, and Management) and the �㽶��Ƶ Health Centre Research Institute (RI-MUHC), has already initiated a number of research projects in fundamental and applied science.

Two-stage exams: A strategy for reducing exam-related stress

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

OpEd by Dr Alice Cherestes, Director, Freshman Program

Students talk about the course as OChem or Orgo, otherwise known as Organic Chemistry, one of the most dreaded courses for any student doing a university science degree. The course, taken mostly in the early stage of a student’s undergraduate degree, requires that material taught during the first week of class be understood and applied many weeks later when students do the final exam.

The loss of three billion birds in North America is the canary in the coal mine

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

OpEd by Emeritus Professor David Bird:

David M. Bird is an emeritus professor of wildlife biology at �㽶��Ƶ who has studied birds for five decades.

When I read the recent headlines that North America has lost nearly three billion birds over just the past five decades, I was not surprised. But I must admit it did depress me to a degree. That’s a lot of birds!

Sustainability Projects Fund: Giving the green light to new ideas for 10 years

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Ten years, and $7 million in funding, later, it’s safe to say the Sustainability Projects Fund "experiment" has been a huge success

When the Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) was established in 2009, it was an experiment.

Alumni to be honoured at Homecoming Luncheon

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

The Macdonald Distinguished Alumni Award was created by the Macdonald Branch of the McGill Alumni Association to recognize distinguished graduates for their outstanding professional contributions, scholarly distinction and/or service to the community at large. The first Awards were presented at Homecoming 2006. In 2009, the Macdonald Distinguished Young Alumni Award was introduced, which recognizes the achievements and contributions of our younger alumni.

Opinion: Instead of flight shaming, let’s be thoughtful and selective about all travel

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Opinion: Instead of flight shaming, let’s be thoughtful and selective about all travel

A conversation [between Raman Navankutty and Lior Silberman, both professors at the University of British Columbia; and Elena Bennett, a professor at �㽶��Ƶ] about flying leads to some unexpected discoveries about how to minimize the climate impacts of getting around.

Read...

Le défi de nourrir la planète

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:34:48 +0000

Nourrir la planète : voilà, chers lecteurs et chères lectrices de La Terre de chez nous, le défi auquel vous travaillez sans relâche. Les chercheurs de la Faculté des sciences de l’agriculture et de l’environnement de l’Université McGill, que je représente, s’y dévouent chaque jour en proposant des pistes de solution aux obstacles que vous rencontrez sur le terrain.

Getting to know McGill’s Morgan Arboretum

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

On Sept. 14, McGill’s Morgan Arboretum forest reserve held its annual open house, giving students an opportunity to experience a unique part of the Macdonald campus. With activities including the monarch butterfly launch and a birds of prey flight show, visitors had the opportunity to learn more about the local flora and fauna found at the Arboretum.

GODAN Moves Headquarters to Montreal, Canada

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

GODAN NEWS RELEASE

Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN), the UN, UK and US government supported initiative driving global efforts to tackle food security and to end world hunger by propagating open data polices in agriculture and nutrition across the world, announces the relocation of its headquarters from Oxford, in the United Kingdom to �㽶��Ƶ in Montréal, Canada effective of 24 of September 2019.

Eby Noroozi recognized for safety excellence

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Congrats to Ebrahim Noroozi, Lab Manager (Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry) who was recognized for his excellence recently by both the Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (Individual Award) and the Iranian Food Science and Technology Association (Food Scientist of the Year-Academic Category).

She came, she sawed, she conquered

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

With a swing of her axe, Stéphanie Bélanger-Naud, FMT’14, BSc(AgEnvSc)’17, regularly bites out large chunks from totem-like wooden poles, and, handling a single buck saw, slices through pine logs the size of sewer pipes. She's no slouch when it comes to a chain saw, either. A professional female timbersports athlete, or lumberjill, she excels at an axe event called the underhand chop. It involves hacking at a log she stands on, and breaking it in two, which she is capable of completing in 31 seconds.

Urban beekeeping putting the sting on wild bee populations

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

McGill entomology researcher and PhD candidate Gail MacInnis presented her findings at the Apimondia International Apicultural Congress in Montreal earlier this week

McGill entomology researcher and PhD candidate Gail MacInnis says that when comparing pollination efficiency between wild bees native to Canada and the more numerous honey bees, there is no contest. Wild bees win, wings down.

Macdonald team heads for National Design Innovation Challenge for Agriculture

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Dalhousie University, Lethbridge College and �㽶��Ƶ are collaborating with Farm Credit Canada on a 2 year pilot project to bring Canadian post-secondary agriculture students together to create innovative solutions to Canadian agricultural challenges. Fifteen students will bring their diverse Canadian perspectives together in cross-institutional teams responding to a specific regional agricultural issue. The challenge tasks will take teams through a creative problem solving matrix as they meet with local producers to discover the full amplitude of the challenge question.

Chandra Madramootoo receives 2019 World Irrigation and Drainage Prize

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Professor Chandra Madramootoo is the recipient of the 2019 World Irrigation and Drainage Prize. During the Opening Ceremony of the World Irrigation Forum on September 02 in Bali, H.E. Minister Basuki Hadimulyono, Minister for Water Resources and Public Works of Indonesia, and H.E.

Montreal researchers probe muscle-loss disease in elderly

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

A team of Montreal researchers has devised a new set of criteria to better diagnose a disease that affects the elderly, sarcopenia, which causes loss of muscle mass.

The improved criteria raise hopes that physicians will be able to detect the disease in people earlier, and therefore, to recommend certain types of exercise and nutrition to stem the loss of muscle mass, say scientists at the Research Institute of the �㽶��Ƶ Health Centre.

Serge Lussier reçoit le Mérite du Conseil interprofessionnel du Québec (CIQ)

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

FMT's Serge Lussier recently received the Mérite du Conseil interprofessionnel du Québec (CIQ) from the Ordre des Agronomes du Québec, awarded for exceptional work in supporting promoting agriculture and its professional aspects. He is the fourth Macdonald staff member, and 3rd FMT staff member, to receive this award since its inception in 1990.

CITATION (https://oaq.qc.ca/membres/prix/merite-du-ciq/)

$5.5M support for new Canadian ecosystem service network

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) ensures Canada’s working landscapes remain biologically diverse, resilient, and adaptive

Urban agriculture gets boost in efforts to grow farming sector

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Urban agriculture is getting a $750,000 boost from the province and from Montreal to help develop the farming sector.

The goal is to spur innovation and growth in urban farming, agriculture and local greenhouses, ensuring the projects align with the needs in each part of town to add to the vitality of the area.

... These measures have been due for a long time, said �㽶��Ƶ Urban Agriculture Professor Mark Lefsrud.

Government of Canada funds collaborative research to clean Arctic oil spills

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Two McGill researchers developing solutions to clean marine oil spills in the Northwest Passage and in oceans surrounding Canada to receive $3.7 million in funding from the Multi-Partner Research Initiative (MPRI).

Murres dive deep on fishing missions

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Rappelling down a 650-foot cliff to catch seabirds on a remote island just below the Arctic Circle was scary enough.

“The first time you look over and you rappel over, it’s certainly not for the faint of heart,” said Kyle Elliott, a research chair in Arctic ecology at �㽶��Ƶ in Canada.

But for Elliott and fellow researcher Emile Brisson Curadeau, it was the hungry polar bears (Ursus maritimus) — usually one a day walking near their cabin — that raised real concerns, and devoured their research subjects.

Update on the Industrial Research Chair in the Sustainable Life of Dairy Cattle

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Improving the comfort and longevity of dairy cows can improve dairy farm sustainability and profitability. This is the premise of the Industrial Research Chair in the Sustainable Life of Dairy Cattle, launched in 2016 and led by Dr. Elsa Vasseur of �㽶��Ƶ. Preliminary results of multiple studies presented in May 2019 by the scientist and her team show promise for new and innovative approaches to cow comfort and longevity.

Un bateau-robot pour « scanner » la santé des lacs

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Imaginez un bateau robotisé équipé de capteurs qui sillonne les plans d’eau pour récolter des données sur la température, le pH, l’oxygène dissous et les contaminants. Grâce à la transmission d’un signal acoustique, ces données s’affichent en temps réel sur une carte qui permet de connaître la distribution et la dynamique des polluants, à des millions d’emplacements.

Urban or rural: Where to build a greenhouse

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

'You need political will, and it takes time' – urban greenhouses could benefit from more direct support from governments, experts say.

...Mark Lefsrud has studied different ways of growing food for more than 20 years. He is an associate professor at �㽶��Ƶ’s Macdonald Campus where he is a leader of the Biomass Production Laboratory and worked on the design of the Advanced Plant Habitat on the International Space Station.

Deep roots. Quebec's farmers are among the youngest in the country, and they're facing new challenges

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Peter Enright, director of �㽶��Ƶ's farm management and technology program, said regardless of the specialization, there has been one major shift between the generations of John and Matthew Burns — social networks that are completely transformed.

Read article

Des super patates découvertes en Colombie

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Entre 12 et 14 millions de Colombiens consomment depuis peu trois super variétés de pommes de terre à chair jaune provenant des terres reculées de la cordillère des Andes. Pourtant, rien ne prédestinait ces patates à se retrouver dans autant d’assiettes.

�㽶��Ƶ’s seed library

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Italian heirloom seeds for amateur gardeners

There is no one single accepted definition of an heirloom seed. “That’s a word that has a lot of different meanings to different people,” explains Dan Brisebois, a farmer at Ferme Tournesol, a cooperative based in Les Cèdres, Quebec, outside of Montreal.

Morphologie des cellules végétales : mystérieux puzzle

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Communication de presse, Université McGill - 8 août 2019

La pectine et la cellulose pourraient jouer un rôle dans le mécanisme moléculaire régissant la morphologie des cellules végétales

En découvrant la mécanique et le mécanisme moléculaire qui dictent la forme des cellules végétales, une équipe de chercheurs de l’Université McGill a partiellement levé le voile sur les processus fondamentaux qui régissent la formation des tissus dans les organismes multicellulaires.

Puzzling shapes: unlocking the mysteries of plant cell morphology

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

McGill Press Release - 8 August 2019

New study suggests pectin and cellulose involved in molecular mechanism defining plant cell morphology

The discovery of the mechanics and molecular mechanism that dictate cell shape formation in plants by a team of McGill researchers offers new clues about the fundamental processes governing tissue formation in multicellular organisms.

Plants are made of cells that come in a wide array of shapes and sizes, each of which is closely related and essential to the function of a specific tissue.

Stéphanie Bélanger-Naud, meilleure bûcheronne au pays

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Stéphanie Bélanger-Naud est devenue la meilleure bûcheronne au Canada, le 27 juillet dernier, en remportant le championnat canadien Stihl Timbersport à Mississauga, en Ontario.

Le championnat comporte trois épreuves qui consistent à couper de larges billots de bois avec des scies différentes ou à la hache, et ce, le plus rapidement possible. Le pointage cumulé à la fin de la compétition déterminait la grande gagnante parmi les six bûcheronnes participantes.

La vague végé: vers un retour du pois jaune?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Au début du XXe siècle, alors que la soupe aux pois faisait partie intégrante du menu des Québécois, on le cultivait beaucoup ici, raconte David Wees, chargé de cours et agronome à l'Université McGill. L'intérêt s'est ensuite perdu dans les années 70. « La source de protéine a été remplacée par une autre source de protéine : la production animale », ajoute M. Chalifour. Résultat : les producteurs se sont mis à cultiver de plus en plus de maïs servant à préparer la moulée des animaux.

Des aînés morts étouffés par leur grilled cheese

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Stéphanie Chevalier, professeure associée à l'École de nutrition humaine de l'Université McGill, souligne elle aussi que le grilled cheese présente des risques particuliers parce qu'il est collant. Il le sera d'autant s'il est servi froid, par exemple à cause d'un délai pour le découper en morceaux, a-t-elle dit.

Adjunct Professor Pierre Lacasse named a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Animal Science

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Congratulations to Dr. Pierre Lacasse, an Adjunct Professor in Animal Science, who has been made a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Animal Science (CSAS) in a recent annual meeting in Austin, Texas. The fellowship is awarded to CSAS members for truly outstanding contributions in any field of animal agriculture. Dr. Lacasse is a research scientist in Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, AAFC.

McGill researchers receive $3.3M from NSERC CREATE program funding

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Hanadi Sleiman and Jaswinder Singh have each received $1.65 million in research grants, to be distributed over six years.

Professor Joann Whalen named a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Congratulations to NRS professor Joann Whalen who has been made a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science (CSSS). The Award is for members with a distinguished record of accomplishment in soil science & service to the CSSS.

CITATION

Boil-water advisory remains in effect at Macdonald Campus

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Boil-water advisory remains in effect at Macdonald Campus

As we mentioned in an earlier message, a boil-water advisory is in effect across Macdonald and John Abbott Campus. It will remain in effect for at least another 48 hours.

The advisory does not apply to the staff residences located on Maple St., Macdonald High School nor the rest of Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, as these locations obtain their water from a different source.

Chandra Madramootoo inducted into Canadian Academy of Engineering

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Congratulations to Bioresource professor Chandra Madramootoo, who was recently made a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

CITATION:

Soil science specialist Joann Whalen awarded Auguste Scott Prize

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Congratulations to NRS professor Joann Whalen, who was recently awarded the Auguste Scott prize given by the Association quebecoise de specialistes en science du sol (AQSSS). Other professors who won it previously were Dr. Gus Mackenzie and Dr. Guy Mehuys. The prize is awarded for outstanding contributions to the field of soil science.

McGill Researchers Collaborate on Breakthrough Research Projects with the National Research Council

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Today [June 20], Iain Stewart, President of the National Research Council, Canada's largest federal research and development organization, announced the results of the inaugural round of the NRC’s New Beginnings Initiative. The New Beginnings Initiative is part of the NRC’s Ideation Fund, which was announced in Budget 2018 to encourage, test and validate transformative research ideas generated by NRC researchers working with external collaborators.

... The projects with McGill collaborators and associated funding amounts include:

Flesh flies invading the Laurentians, Eastern Townships

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

If you've been out in the Laurentians or the Eastern Townships lately, you may have noticed there've been a lot of flies - notably bigger varieties known as flesh flies.

They have been seen invading those communities to the point where some restaurants had to shut down their terrasses and residents can't enjoy their backyards.

"Flesh fly - the name is a little bit scary," said Stephanie Boucher, curator of the Lyman Entomological Museum and Research Laboratory at �㽶��Ƶ.

New and Renewed Canada Research Chairs for the Faculty

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

On June 14 in Victoria, British Columbia, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, announced an investment of over $275 million for 346 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs at 52 institutions across Canada. The Canada Foundation for Innovation also made an important investment towards these Chairs in providing more than $5.2 million in new funding for research infrastructure, supporting 30 Chairs at 18 institutions.

Consumers urged to buy local as frozen imported raspberries are recalled

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Concerns they might be contaminated with norovirus, a highly contagious virus that continues that causes gastroenteritis.

Quebec recalled frozen raspberries imported from Chile this week over concerns they might be contaminated with norovirus.

The norovirus is a highly contagious virus that continues to thrive when frozen and causes gastroenteritis, which manifests itself with diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. The symptoms develop between 12 and 24 hours after exposure.

Pour une meilleure gestion des fermes laitières

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Les recherches de Kevin Wade, chercheur et professeur agrégé au Département des sciences animales de l’Université McGill, ont comme objectif d’aider les producteurs laitiers à gérer leurs troupeaux et à rentabiliser leurs activités. Élevé dans une ferme laitière en Irlande, M. Wade rêvait de devenir vétérinaire avant de se tourner vers l’agronomie. Aujourd’hui, il se plaît à dire à ses étudiants : « C’est sans doute mieux ainsi, car je travaille avec des animaux en santé et non malades. »

Photo : Gabriel Dallago

Entomologists fear urban beekeeping could be putting wild bees at risk

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Some entomologists are sounding the alarm that native bees could be in danger of being wiped out, because of the popularity of urban beekeeping.

“The danger is that we’re probably losing species and don’t even know it,” says Gail MacInnis, a PhD entomology candidate at �㽶��Ƶ. Something needs to be done, she says, to control the number of honeybees being raised.

Alumnus named seventh President and Vice-Chancellor the University of Windsor

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

The University of Windsor’s Board of Governors announced Friday the appointment of Robert Gordon as seventh President and Vice-Chancellor, following a rigorous search led by a committee... Gordon earned bachelor and master’s degrees in [Agricultural] engineering from �㽶��Ƶ, and a PhD in Land Resource Science from the University of Guelph.

Read University of Windsor announcement

Il veut remuer le milieu des rince-bouche

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

D’après Sébastien Faucher, professeur au département des sciences des ressources naturelles à l’Université McGill, les rince-bouche ne sont qu’une goutte d’eau dans la pollution de nos cours d’eau.

Lire dans Le Journal de Montréal

Un outil pour mieux fertiliser

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Bien des agriculteurs ont de la difficulté à estimer la juste quantité de fertilisant à utiliser pour obtenir le meilleur rendement à moindre coût lors de l’épandage d’azote dans leurs champs de maïs. Un nouvel outil, développé par Viacheslav Adamchuk, professeur et chercheur au Département de génie des bioressources, en partenariat avec Agriculture Canada, pourrait bientôt leur prêter main-forte.

Lire dans La Terre de chez nous

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

EcoToxChip aims to slash cost and time for chemical toxicity tests, save lab animals

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

The EcoToxChip is expected to generate huge savings in time, money and live animals in testing thousands of chemicals for toxicity. The project is being led by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan, �㽶��Ƶ in Montreal and Environment and Climate Change Canada in Ottawa.

Bientôt, des serres plus productives et moins énergivores

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Dans une serre du campus Macdonald, Mark Lefsrud et ses étudiants sont à la recherche de la meilleure recette de lumière pour faire pousser des légumes et des fruits. « Il est en effet possible d’améliorer la production en serre en agençant les bonnes longueurs d’onde », explique le chercheur, qui rêve du jour où l’on pourra aussi produire des pêches en serre.

Améliorer les cultures fourragères au Québec

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

La luzerne et la fléole des prés trônent au sommet du palmarès des plantes fourragères les plus cultivées au Québec. Philippe Séguin, chercheur au Département des sciences végétales de l’Université McGill, étudie non seulement ces « espèces vedettes », mais plusieurs autres plantes fourragères de remplacement comme le trèfle d’Alexandrie et l’herbe du Soudan.

Du brocoli servi à la volaille ? Pourquoi pas!

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Au premier abord, l’initiative surprend : remplacer la moulée traditionnelle destinée à la volaille par une alimentation à base de brocoli ou de chou. Cette idée innovatrice a germé en 2011 dans l’esprit des chercheurs du Département des sciences animales de l’Université McGill, Shyam Bushansingh Baurhoo, professeur adjoint, et Arif Mustafa, professeur associé.

« Notre objectif était de réduire l’effarant gaspillage alimentaire en récupérant des brocolis et des choux invendus pour les convertir en aliments pour la moulée », explique M. Baurhoo.

Testing your food science trivia

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

By Laura Webb and Mandy Jian

If you are interested in expanding your professional network and experience in the food industry, please read this post to get more insight in getting involved with the Food Science Association, and/or apply your food science trivia by joining next year’s College Bowl team!

Les impacts des changements climatiques sur l’industrie du sirop d’érable

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

« Depuis le début des années 2000, plusieurs acériculteurs expriment leur inquiétude relativement aux conséquences des changements climatiques sur leur industrie. « Ils se demandent si ce secteur restera viable tant du point de vue économique que de celui du processus de la coulée de sève, relate Benoît Côté, professeur agrégé et directeur des études graduées au Département des sciences des ressources naturelles de l’Université McGill. Ça m’a incité à me pencher sur cette question au début des années 2010.

Gestion des sols et changements climatiques

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Lorsque des agriculteurs demandent à l’agronome Joann Whalen comment réduire leurs émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES), elle leur répond qu’il leur suffit de modifier certaines de leurs pratiques. « Il faut comprendre que les microorganismes du sol produisent naturellement des GES, explique-t-elle. Comme ces organismes ont besoin de carbone organique et d’azote (nitrates), on peut “jouer” sur la disponibilité de ces éléments pour diminuer leur activité et, par conséquent, sur les émissions de GES. »

Thanks for supporting #McGill24

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Thanks to all faculty, staff and students who participated in McGill24.

McGill’s fourth annual day of giving held on Wednesday, March 13, raised $2,294,360 from 5,244 donations for causes across the University.

Watch video

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Montreal couture at the Museum of Fine Arts

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

If you are looking for an after-hours activity, consider visiting the "Montreal Couture" exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Nathon Kong, BSc(AgEnvSc)’07 who graced our "stage" at Founder's Day (2016) and TedX Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (2018), is one of ten artists featured.

5 lessons for a non-linear scientific career

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Éliane Ubalijoro, BSc(Agr)'92, PhD'01 has an incredible story. As a Rwandan college student, she was studying in Canada at the outbreak of the Rwandan civil war. She returned to Rwanda during the conflict to pursue agricultural research, but ultimately decided that the country was too unsafe to make progress in her career.

FAES teams advance to Dobson finals

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

We extend best wishes to Startups involving FAES students who will compete for the Food and Agribusiness Convergent Innovation Prize in the Dobson Cup Finals on March 27.

Les vaches ont besoin de récréations

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Pendant son projet de doctorat, Elise Shepley [AnSci] analysait la santé des pattes des animaux en lien avec leur mode de logement, en stabulation libre ou entravée. « Je tente de démontrer l’impact positif de faire bouger les bovins, un aspect peu documenté scientifiquement et méconnu des producteurs », explique-t-elle.

Photo: Elise Shepley, doctorante dans le laboratoire de la chercheuse Elsa Vasseur au Département des sciences animales de l’Université McGill, en compagnie d’une vache nommée Hasta La Vista.

The BETTER Project

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Anne-Sophie Brazeau (SHN) is one of the Principal Investigators on the BETTER project. The team believes that it is essential to accurately define hypoglycemia, to understand the patient experience with therapy and treatment options, and to facilitate patient education.

Plein Soleil, Diabète Québec

Démystifier la météorologie agricole

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Les stations radars météorologiques recueillent des données d’une importance capitale pour les agriculteurs. « La station qui appartient à l’Université McGill, située à Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, était responsable de la surveillance météo pour la région de Montréal de 1968 à octobre 2018 », explique Frédéric Fabry, directeur de l’observatoire radar de l’Université McGill.

Communicating Science in the Public Domain

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

NRS students and staff receive "Principal's Prize for Public Engagement" recognition

Kudos to FAES Science Communicators Allyson Menzies (PhD Candidate-NRS-Humphries), Marianne Falardeau-Côté (PhD Candidate-NRS-Bennett) and Emeritus Professor David M. Bird (NRS), who recently received well-deserved recognition from the Principal’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media.

The Nature of Things: Aging in the Wild

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

What is the secret to longevity? Kyle Elliott (NRS) and Anne Mouillier (MSE) share clues to the aging process in the black-winged kittiwake in the debut of Aging in the Wild on this week's Nature of Things.

Watch CBC's The Nature of Things

Gérer la ferme du Campus Macdonald, un défi motivant

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

[Paul Meldrum, Macdonald Campus Farm Manager, is a familiar and friendly face to many staff and students on campus - He describes his experience working with students at the farm: "I am very proud of our students. They inspire me and give me confidence in the future."]

Paul Meldrum est un vrai passionné. Après avoir mené de front, pendant 22 ans, le métier d’éleveur de vaches laitières et de journaliste spécialisé en agriculture, il a été engagé par la ferme du Campus Macdonald en 2004. Et il en assure la direction – avec un enthousiasme évident – depuis 11 ans.

Opinion : Nutrition adapter le guide alimentaire aux besoins des aînés

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Stéphanie Chevalier et Nancy Presse, Diététistes-Nutritionnistes, et quatre autres signataires

Nous saluons la parution du nouveau Guide alimentaire canadien pour son virage résolument moderne et son approche davantage axée sur la qualité et les comportements alimentaires sains.

Nous sommes cependant préoccupées par certaines recommandations aux aînés et ce faisant, ajoutons notre voix à celle de Louise Lambert-Lagacé qui s’est exprimée récemment dans vos pages.

An out of the world experience for BRE student Christopher Patterson

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

During a summer internship in California’s Lava Beds National Monument, Christopher Patterson, a second- year student in Bioresource Engineering, worked as a Research Assistant for ATiLT (Astrobiology Training in Lava Tubes).

“By studying naturally protective formations like lava tubes and other potentially habitable locations, I have become aware of the incredible opportunities that lie beyond our world not only for myself, but for humanity as a whole,” says Patterson.

Congratulations to Founder's Day honourees

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Founder's Day, our annual celebration of the life and generosity of our benefactor, Sir William Christopher Macdonald. is held on the Thursday closest to the anniversary of his birth - February 10, 1831. Founder’s Day festivities are an occasion to celebrate our history, our strengths and our promise for the future.

La Ferme Macdonald College de Sainte-Anne-De-Bellevue s’illustre pour la qualité de son lait

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

La Ferme Macdonald College fait partie des seize fermes laitières qui ont reçu les grands honneurs à l’occasion du 30e Gala du Club de l’Excellence d’Agropur, tenu à Québec le 25 janvier dernier. Cet événement a rendu hommage aux fermes laitières, membres d’Agropur, ayant enregistré les meilleurs résultats en matière de qualité. Lors de l’évènement, la Ferme Macdonald College a été intronisée au Club de l’Excellence d’Agropur.

Success in Genome Canada competition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Congratulations to Jianguo (Jeff) Xia ( AnSci/Para), Guillaume Bourque (Director of Bioinformatics at the �㽶��Ƶ & Genome Quebec Innovation Center) and Pierre-Étienne Jacques (Sherbrooke) who were awarded $1.1 by Genome Canada earlier this week.

The Government of Canada invests in innovation to help grow Canada's bioeconomy

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

From: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

News release

February 11, 2019 – Montreal, Quebec – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The bioeconomy sector holds tremendous potential for Canada, helping to reduce our carbon footprint while creating opportunities to grow our economy.

Stellar pitches by Mac 3MT competitors

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

There was stiff competition at last week's Lister Family Engaged Science 3MT Competition. In the end, eleven stellar graduate students delivered riveting pitches to a packed room of supporters, that included Honours Science students from John Abbott College.

Congratulations are extended to all "Mac" 3MT participants.

View photos on our Flickr site.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

In the Winner's Circle this year:

D’où proviennent les motifs dans la nature?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Anja Geitmann adore les casse-têtes. Mais oubliez les après-midis à chercher les bons morceaux en buvant une tisane : ce sont les cellules en forme de puzzle à la surface des feuilles de certaines plantes qui intéressent la biologiste. « Cette configuration se crée à partir de cellules assez simples. Regardez la différence sur 18 heures », dit la doyenne de la Faculté des sciences de l’agriculture et de l’environnement de l’Université McGill en montrant des images captées au microscope dans son laboratoire.

Four Burning Questions for Professor Emerita Harriet V.Kuhnlein, Commissioner, Lancet Report on Obesity

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

The Lancet commission on Obesity published a report today on the joint pandemics of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change. In the report, the commissioners point to the fact that malnutrition in all its forms, including undernutrition and obesity, is by far the biggest cause of ill-health and premature death globally. Excess body weight affects 2 billion people worldwide, 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiency, and both are expected to be made significantly worse by climate change.

À la chasse aux contaminants alimentaires

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

La population est de plus en plus préoccupée par la présence de contaminants chimiques dans les aliments et l’eau potable. « Et pour cause, car l’humain est exposé à un cocktail de milliers de substances chimiques », affirme Stéphane Bayen, professeur adjoint au département des sciences de l’alimentation et de chimie agricole de l’Université McGill.

Améliorer la sélection génétique du bétail

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Une fois son doctorat terminé, le jeune agronome Bernard Ato Hagan retournera au Ghana avec un prototype de logiciel qui pourra aider les producteurs agricoles de son pays à faire une meilleure sélection génétique de leurs troupeaux.

La Terre de Chez Nous

Les effets bénéfiques des aliments fonctionnels

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Mais comment développe-t-on de nouveaux ingrédients fonctionnels? Avec énormément de rigueur scientifique et de patience, comme en font foi les travaux de recherche de Salwa Karboune, professeure adjointe et doyenne à la recherche au département des sciences des aliments et d’agriculture à l’Université McGill. « Nous savons aujourd’hui que le microbiote intestinal est, en quelque sorte, le cerveau de notre santé », affirme Mme Karboune. C’est pourquoi il est si important d’étudier les composés qui favorisent la santé intestinale.

Student entrepreneurs go up against the Dragons

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Dietetics and Nutrition students Jamie Lee and Isabelle Lam pitched their startup snack business on the popular CBC television show Dragons' Den.

Seeking – and securing – an investment in their fledgling startup from six high-powered entrepreneurs on the popular CBC TV show Dragons’ Den was the last thing that Jamie Lee and Isabelle Lam could have imagined less than a year earlier, when they came up with their business idea: a nutritious chocolate-based snack.

reMIXed to present on Dragon's Den

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Jamie Lee and Isabelle Lam are two newly graduated Dietetics students from �㽶��Ƶ and the proud co-founders of reMIXed.

L’irrigation et le drainage contre le réchauffement climatique

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Les changements climatiques ont une incidence sur l’agriculture, mais l’inverse est aussi vrai. "L’agriculture produit environ 10 % des émissions de gaz à effet de serre," signale Chandra Madramootoo, professeur au Département de génie des bioressources de l’Université McGill. "Cette contribution est certes moins importante que celle des secteurs de l’exploitation pétrolière et gazière et des transports, mais il est essentiel de bien comprendre d’où viennent ces gaz afin de pouvoir mieux les gérer."

Food crisis imminent in Nigeria without innovation – Scientists

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

…Speaking on the theme of the conference, titled:“Innovations in Food Science and Technology for Sustainable Economic Growth”, Director, Department of Bioresources Engineering, �㽶��Ƶ, Montreal, Canada, Prof. Michael Ngadi said Nigeria must be adequately prepared against any possible outbreak of food crisis through innovative and creative ideas.

All Africa

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Un scanneur 3D pour évaluer les blessures chez les vaches

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

À 24 ans, Jessica St-Pierre est formelle : « Le fait d’avoir grandi dans une ferme laitière m’a poussée à choisir l’agronomie comme domaine d’études. J’y ai développé une véritable passion! Pour moi, le bien-être des vaches est une priorité. »

Guide de production - Patate douce

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

David Wees, Associate Director of the Farm Management and Technology Program and Faculty Lecturer, has published a new book on sweet potato production.

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue bike path users can snack on the go thanks to public 'food forest'

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Runners, cyclists and walkers in a West Island suburb are now able to snack on the go — plucking fruit from trees, berries from bushes and herbs from the ground in what has been dubbed a "food forest."

The project also has an educational component because it involves students from �㽶��Ƶ at Macdonald Campus who are taking a landscape design course. The suburban municipality will encourage residents to take cuttings so they can grow edible plants of their own on.

L'agroalimentaire, un secteur porteur au Québec

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

La Belle Province peut également s'enorgueillir de disposer de nombreux centres de recherche, d'expertise et d'innovation spécialisés tels que le Cintech agroalimentaire, l'Institut de technologie des emballages et du génie alimentaire (ITEGA) ou encore le Consortium de Recherche et d'Innovation sur la Transformation Alimentaire de l'Université McGill [Professor Salwa Karboune], qui est une plateforme de collaboration entre les établissements de recherche et l'industrie de la transformation alimentaire.

Des aliments locaux à l’université McGill

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Le locavorisme est une tendance lourde en alimentation. Tout juste derrière l’Université Guelph en Ontario et l’Université de Colombie-Britannique, l’Université McGill de Montréal fait partie d’un petit peloton en avance sur les autres universités canadiennes en matière de politique alimentaire. Voici une université qui a pris le virage local de façon organisée.

Radio-Canada (L’Épicerie)

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Près de 10 000 ha en cultures bio dans Lanaudière

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Inspirés par leurs voisins qui obtiennent de bons rendements et des prix plus élevés avec leurs cultures sous régie biologique, plusieurs producteurs de Lanaudière convertissent un nombre impressionnant d’hectares de terres au bio (…) Le bio, plus rentable pour la relève : L’agriculteur Daniel Adam a décidé de convertir ses 420 hectares de grandes cultures au bio pour différentes raisons, dont la plus importante : ses enfants. Sa fille et ses deux garçons, tous trois diplômés en agronomie à l’Université McGill ou en voie de l’être, veulent prendre la relève de la ferme.

De retour de l’Arctique

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Que nous dit le Grand Nord sur notre climat, présent et passé? Isabelle Burgun s’entretient avec deux chercheurs : Marianne Falardeau-Côté, candidate au doctorat au département des sciences des ressources naturelles à l'Université McGill. Elle avait précédemment voyagé sur l’Amundsen dans le cadre de sa maîtrise.

Agence Science-Presse

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Les beaux défis de l’agriculture urbaine

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Chaque année, à la rentrée scolaire, David Wees propose un petit défi à ses étudiants inscrits au cours d’agriculture urbaine de l’Université McGill : calculer dans quelle mesure les terres agricoles de l’île de Montréal peuvent nourrir ses habitants. « En se basant sur une superficie de 2 000 hectares et sur un rendement moyen de 26 tonnes/hectare [de légumes cultivés au jardin], on obtient un résultat assez impressionnant : ces terres pourraient combler environ 15 % des besoins en légumes des Montréalais », explique l’agronome.

$5-million gift to McGill’s global food security institute supports efforts to understand and reverse world hunger and malnutrition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Every night, some 800 million people – one in nine people on earth – go to bed hungry. And projections suggest that unless creative solutions are found, the world will need to increase food production by an additional 50% in the next 30 years, when the planet’s population is expected to exceed 9 billion.

Une professeure passionnée des fraises du Québec

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Depuis huit ans, l’agronome et professeure Valérie Gravel travaille « main dans la main » avec des producteurs de fraises. Une collaboration qu’elle juge essentielle.

« Ces agriculteurs me permettent d’installer des parcelles de recherche dans leurs champs et se chargent d’entretenir les plants et de prendre des données quotidiennement. Ils participent à mes recherches avec beaucoup d’enthousiasme et je les en remercie, car rien ne peut remplacer leur expertise sur le terrain », explique Mme Gravel.

Sex in plants requires thrust

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Plant sex relies on a combination of prodding and a lot of communication and guidance suggests a study published in the September 2018 issue of Technology.

La reproduction chez les plantes exige un petit coup de « pousse »

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

McGill Press Release

Selon une étude publiée dans le numéro de septembre2018 de la revue Technology, la reproduction chez les plantes reposerait sur une poussée énergique et une bonne dose de communication.

Agents de conservation du futur

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

In a recent episode of La Semaine Verte, Professor Salwa Karboune gaves viewers a birds-eye view of her work to define the antimicrobial activity of certain natural ingredients and better understand how they interact with each other. “The more we understand this, the more we will be able to modulate the ingredients in such a way that they function appropriately in our food products”.

Un nouveau centre pour démystifier les sciences agricoles

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Le campus Macdonald de l’Université McGill disposera bientôt d’un nouvel espace pour faire connaître au grand public la vraie nature de l’agriculture moderne. ...

Kyle Elliott 2017 World Economic Forum New Champion on Global Collaboration in the 4th Industrial Revolution

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Kyle Elliott (NRS), Canada Research Chair in Arctic Ecology is in Tianjin, China to participate in the Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF). In 2017, Kyle was named by the WEF one of the best scientists in the world under the age of 40. The theme of this year’s meeting is the need for global collaboration in the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Pot jobs are 'legion' but Canadian cannabis companies struggling to find workers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

The weed industry is booming but cannabis companies are struggling with a growing problem: finding the right employees in the run-up to Canada legalizing recreational marijuana in October.

As Canada becomes only the second country to legalize recreational use, the cannabis industry could add 150,000 jobs over the next several years, according to an estimate from Deloitte.

An expert says the number of jobs available are “legion” and that “it’s a great time to come into this new marketplace” but companies have lots of job vacancies they’re anxious to fill....

Lutte contre la faim: Découverte de super patates plus nutritives

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Des chercheurs montréalais et colombiens ont découvert trois super pommes de terre capables de lutter contre la faim et la malnutrition. « Ce sont des pommes de terre plus nutritives que les autres, une véritable innovation », se réjouit Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez, directeur de l’Institut pour la sécurité alimentaire globale, à l’Université McGill.

TVA Nouvelles

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Cannabis PhD takes higher education to a new level

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

There will doubtless be more and more postgraduate degrees based on cannabis production after it has been legalized, says Anja Geitmann, dean of agriculture at Montreal’s �㽶��Ƶ. “I’m pretty sure it’s going to change the research landscape in the sense that researchers now have access or can do research on the plant much easier,” she says.

SPF Spotlight: Autonomous Controlled-Environment Growth Chamber Display

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Like a high-tech vending machine, but with lettuce!

A group of McGill Bioresource Engineering students have developed a project, funded by the Sustainability Projects Fund, that has installed the first autonomous controlled-environment growth chamber display on the Macdonald campus. Pierce Dias Carlson, Rachael Warner, Leo McGuire and Connor Miller each offer a unique skill-set in successfully creating a productive autonomous growth chamber.

SPF Spotlight: The Macdonald Campus Orchards

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

McGill’s Very Own Circular Micro-Economy

Pour plus d’Autochtones dans le milieu de la santé

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Les universités canadiennes accueillent encore bien peu d'étudiants autochtones, encore moins dans le domaine de la santé.

When treating and researching infertility, let’s not forget the men

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

By Vardit Ravitsky, Associate Professor of Bioethics at the University of Montreal and Sarah Kimmins, Associate Professor at �㽶��Ƶ and Canada Research Chair in Epigenetics, Reproduction and Development.

Citizen scientists show Black Widows creeping north in Canada

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

To humans, 31 miles may not seem like a very long distance to travel, but for a spider, it’s a long, long way to go. Emily Chung at the CBC reports on a new study that shows that since the 1960s, the northern black widow spider, Latrodectus variolus, has crawled that much further into Canada and may continue skittering northward as the climate changes.

Martine Bourgeois, deux fois Agricultrice de l’année

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Martine Bourgeois [BSc(Agr)'82] gagne pour une deuxième année consécutive le prix de l’Agricultrice de l’année de la Montérégie-Est. … « Quand je faisais mes études [au baccalauréat en agriculture à l’Université McGill], il y avait peu d’accès pour les filles. J’ai été chanceuse d’avoir eu un emploi, mais il a vraiment fallu que je fasse ma place. J’ai osé faire des changements et sortir de ma zone de confort, ce que je ne regrette pas.

Optimiser le confort des vaches en stabulation entravée

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Peut-on aménager une étable pour offrir un plus grand bien-être aux animaux qui y passent leur vie ? Des chercheurs se penchent sur la question.

Environ 90 % des fermes laitières au Québec recourent à la stabulation entravée. Selon cette formule, les vaches mènent toutes leurs activités dans la stalle : elles y mangent, y dorment et s’y font traire. D’où l’importance de leur fournir un espace favorable au bien-être.

Une deuxième vie pour les plumes de poulets

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Les fermes du Québec génèrent chaque année 75 millions de tonnes de plumes de poulets! Une partie est réduite en farine et ajoutée à la nourriture animale, mais le reste finit souvent dans les poubelles. Marie-Josée Dumont, professeure au Département de génie des bioressources à l’Université McGill, ne pouvait imaginer laisser une telle ressource gratuite et disponible en aussi grande quantité finir sa vie aux ordures.

Lire l'article ...

Left turn ban from Boulevard des Anciens-Combattants (northbound) onto Hwy 20W from 16h-18h effective September 17

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

The Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue City Council has voted in favor of banning left turns on boulevard des Anciens-Combattants northbound at the intersection of the ramp for Highway 20 West between 16h00 and 18h00. The changes will go into effect on September 17, 2018.

Rest assured that officials from Macdonald and John Abbott College did make a representation to the Town about the potential impact of this decision on the campus community prior to the decision being taken.

To learn more about this Pilot Project, please read the notice below.

Portes ouvertes sur les fermes : à la rencontre de notre agriculture!

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:14:32 +0000

Le dimanche 9 septembre , de 10 h à 16 h, c’est un rendez-vous sur plus de 100 fermes partout au Québec et au Parc olympique de Montréal pour la 16e édition des Portes ouvertes sur les fermes du Québec....Présenté par l’UPA depuis 2003, cet événement familial gratuit permet de visiter des fermes qui en plus de leur accueil offrent des dégustations de produits régionaux, démonstrations agricoles, rencontres avec des experts tels que vétérinaires et agronomes et, surtout, un contact privilégié avec les gens de passion qui se cachent derrière nos bons produits d’ici.

New network bringing together Indigenous students and health professionals

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Based in Kahnawake, Quebec Indigenous Mentorship Network seeks to support and encourage Indigenous students. (...) "We do need more representation in all health-related fields. There's a growing number, but we're all very stretched with demands," said Treena Delormier, an associate professor in the School of Human Nutrition at �㽶��Ƶ.

Improving milk production – the Buffalo Edition. A Canadian first!

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

NOVEL REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AIM TO BUILD CAPACITY IN THE CANADIAN BUFFALO MILK INDUSTRY

Keenoa aims to transform Dietetics Practice

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

It’s one more feather in the cap for Keenoa co-founders, Registered Dietitian and PhD candidate ANNE-JULIE TESSIER, BSc(NutrSc)’16 (right), ANTONY GARANT, and business partner ANGEL ONG, RD, BSc(NutrSc)’09, MSc’11, PhD Candidate in the School of Human Nutrition. Not only was Keenoa a finalist in McGill’s 2017 Dobson Cup (Innovation Track) Competition, but Anne-Julie won the “Sight and Life Elevator Pitch” competition at the recent American Society of Nutrition conference.

Tango médiatique

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Les milieux universitaire et de la recherche gagnent à cultiver leurs relations avec les médias. Mais attention … à l’ère des vérités parallèles et des nouvelles factices, la tâche peut se révéler complexe.

...Anja Geitmann, doyenne de la Faculté des sciences de l’agriculture et de l’environnement de l’Université McGill, lance un message non équivoque sur ce point. « Comme doyenne, je valorise beaucoup la communication. Je suis à même de la juger et de la reconnaître dans l'évaluation annuelle. »

A step forward for sustainability

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

McGill’s Sustainability experts [including Elena Bennett and Nil Basu] are involved in examining the effects of everything from locust swarms to urban heat islands to mountains of toxic e-waste. The new McGill Sustainability Systems Initiative hopes to play a crucial role in those efforts. #McGillNewsMag

Kajou captures Audience Prize at World Vision Food Security Social Innovation challenge

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Congratulations to PhD candidate Emmanuella Ellis (BRE-Supervisor Michael Ngadi) and Kajou teammates for capturing the “Audience Prize” at the recent 2018 World Vision Food Security Social Innovation challenge. Kajou is an agri-food venture that seeks to transform the cashew value chain in Côte d'Ivoire. By processing the cashew nut and fruit with local cooperatives, Kajou aims to offer a socially sourced product to key markets while providing sustainable opportunities to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

NutriPulse captures 3rd place at World Vision Food Security Social Innovation challenge

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

NutriPulse has captured 3rd place in the 2018 World Vision Food Security Social Innovation challenge! Co-Founders and PhD candidates Josephine Ampofo (FdSci), Adeyemi Adegbenjo (BRE) and Zeyan Zhong (FdSci) will spend the next year building their project.

Closure of Hwy 20 overpass August 9 night

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

The Hwy 20 overpass/Rue Poultry Cottages will be reduced to one lane traffic during the night of Thursday, Aug 9, from 21:00 to 5:00, for infrastructure inspection.

The southbound lane of the Hwy 20 overpass will be closed, with alternating traffic on the northbound lane.

NRS Postdoctoral Researcher receives Bantng Fellowship

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Congratulations to Karina Benessaiah, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences, who received a prestigious Banting Fellowship.

Vijaya Raghavan recognized for his international work

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Congratulations to James McGill Professor Vijaya Raghavan, Bioresource Engineering, who is the 2018 recipient of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers' (ASABE) International Food Engineering Award. This award recognizes Raghavan's dedication to promoting agricultural and biological engineering internationally.

Part of the citation reads:

Plant Science researcher recognized by Canadian Society of Plant Biologists

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Congratulations to Professor Jaswinder Singh, Plant Science, who received the 2018 Canadian Society of Plant Biologists C.D. Nelson Award.

This award recognizes Professor Singh's outstanding research contributions in plant biology, which show exceptional promise for the improvement of crop plants through genetic engineering, molecular breeding and genomics.

Québec crée le Pôle d’expertise multidisciplinaire en gestion durable du littoral du lac Saint-Pierre

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Le gouvernement du Québec poursuit ses efforts en faveur de la conservation du lac Saint-Pierre et annonce le second volet de son plan qui vise à définir et à promouvoir une agriculture durable compatible avec l’écosystème du lac Saint-Pierre. À cette fin, il accorde à l’Université McGill, à l’Université Laval et à l’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) des subventions d’un montant de 4,66 M$ sur quatre ans.

Reinventing the meal

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Two undergraduate teams from the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences will put their food creations to the test in student competitions.

Every summer, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) attracts the cream of the global food science crop to Chicago for four days of exhibitions, presentations and competitions. At IFT18, held July 15-18, two undergraduate teams from McGill’s Faculty of Agricultur[al] and Environmental Sciences will put their food creations to the test in student competitions.

McGill Summer Camp hopes to recruit young Indigenous youth to health care jobs

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Teens from Indigenous communities across Canada are taking part in a summer camp at McGill. The university wants to inspire them to consider careers in Health Science – and it’s taking a unique approach. As part of McGill’s Indigenous Health Professions Program, the camp takes inspiration from everyday stories, and incorporates it into science labs.

Five McGill students rewarded for stellar Arctic research

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

While much of Quebec has been struggling under a withering heatwave, five McGill students have been recognized for their research based in cooler climes, namely the Arctic.

Our food-safety regulations need a technological boost

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

(Op-ed by Lawrence Goodridge, Associate Professor and Director of the Food Safety and Quality Program in the Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry Department at �㽶��Ƶ)

Growing a good idea: McGill Seed Library helps would-be gardners

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

An unconventional library at McGill is allowing students and faculty to borrow seeds.

Reading books might help you grow ideas, but McGill’s [Macdonald] Library is giving out something that sprouts way more literally. The library is offering 130 varieties of seeds, free of charge, as part of a new program.

“We’re providing seeds that are more rare, more unusual, and ones that are adapted specifically for our climate,” said librarian Dana Ingalls.

Canada’s first “Calves from Calves” (Buffalo edition)

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Some unique buffalo calves were born at the Ontario Buffalo Company in Stirling, ON. Their genetic mothers were only 4 months of age at the time their oocytes were collected by laparoscopy, fertilized and cultured in vitro and implanted one week later in adult recipients that carried the pregnancies to term. All procedures except the transfer to the recipient cows were conducted at the Large Animal Research Unit (LARU) in Macdonald Campus, under supervision of Drs.

$3-million CIHR grant to support research towards an interactive tool to prevent hypoglycemia – the BETTER study

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

The BETTER study (BEhaviors, Therapies, TEchnologies and hypoglycemic Risk in Type 1 diabetes), co-led by Professor Anne-Sophie Brazeau, RD, PhD (�㽶��Ƶ School of Human Nutrition) and Dr Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret (Institut de Recherches Clinique de Montréal), is a 4-year project co-funded by CIHR, through the strategies for patient-oriented research (SPOR), and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (total funding $3,000,000).

Professor Raj Duggavathi appointed next Chair of Animal Science

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Professor Raj Duggavathi has been appointed Chair of the Department of Animal Science for the period June 1, 2018 through May 31, 2023.

Montreal to offer residets up to $4K to treat ash trees against bug infestation

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Tiny but destructive emerald ash borer beetles have infected thousands of trees across Montreal.... Jim Fyles, a �㽶��Ƶ professor of forest ecology and director of the Morgan Arboretum, said it's difficult to detect the tiny bugs.

Agricultural land on the Island must be nurtured, farmers say

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Ramzy Kassouf recently appeared in two videos produced by the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) which spoke to the importance of preserving and nurturing the 2047 hectares of remaining agricultural land on Montreal Island - the majority of which are found in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Senneville and Île-Bizard.

Top undergraduate academic advisors celebrated

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Alice Cherestes, interim Director of the Freshman Program in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; and Teresa Zatylny, Administrative Student Affairs Coordinator in the Faculty of Engineering, were recently presented with the Dean of Students Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising.

Meet the 2018 Food and Agribusiness Convergent Innovation Prize Winner

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

The McGill Centre for the Convergence of Health and Economics (MCCHE) at the Desautels Faculty of Management, together with the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (FAES) and Trussbridge, are proud to announce the winner of the 2018 Food and Agribusiness Convergent Innovation Prize.

Jitender Dubey to receive Honorary Doctorate at Macdonald Convocation

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Wednesday, June 6, 2:30 p.m.

Doctor of Science, honoris causa
JITENDER DUBEY, F.A.A.M
B.V.Sc. (Veterinary College Mhow), M.V.Sc. (Veterinary College Mathura), Ph.D. (University of Sheffield)

Anna Lartey to receive Honorary Doctorate at Macdonald Convocation

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Wednesday, June 6, 10 a.m.

Doctor of Science, honoris causa
ANNA LARTEY
B.Sc. (University of Ottawa), M.Sc. (University of Guelph), Ph.D. (University of California, Davis)

FMT students competing in the Dairy Challenge

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

McGill has sent four of its top students in the Farm Management and Technology (FMT) program at Macdonald Campus to compete in the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC), from April 12–14 in Visalia, California. Visalia is in the San Joaquin Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the US, about 310 km north of Los Angeles.

Martha Mackinnon, Craig Waddell, Thomas MacDougall and Véronique Brisson are members of the Macdonald Dairy Challenge Club of the Macdonald Campus Student Society (MCSS) representing McGill at the Dairy Challenge.

Emeritus Professor Bruce Downey, 1939 - 2018

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

DOWNEY, Bruce R.

October 15, 1939 - April 4, 2018

The Department of Animal Science is saddened to announce the passing of Emeritus Professor Bruce Downey.

Communicating science through podcasts

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

LISTEN NOW to 4 Mac campus student podcasts created at the Lister Family Engaged Science Broad Science Podcast Workshop Series this March.

Québec's legal maple syrup cartel dictates prices for Vermont maple producers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

“The system that's in place, the supply management system, is good for Québec producers and U.S. producers because it guarantees good prices and that allowed U.S. producers to actually expand rapidly in the last few years,” explains Pascal Thériault, an economist at �㽶��Ƶ's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in Montréal.

Vermont Public Radio

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Canadian researchers open a new front in the fight against MS

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Discovery of calnexin protein’s role in the blood-brain barrier could lead to new MS treatments.

A discovery led by scientists at the University of Alberta and �㽶��Ƶ is providing hope of a new therapeutic target in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients, which could one day be used to prevent the symptoms and progression of the disease.

Are we ready for the cannabis industry?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Global News

Watch video...

CTV News Montreal

March 6. Dean Anja Geitmann was interviewed by CTV News Anchor Mutsumi Takahashi about what will be needed to meet the demands of the cannabis industry once legalization occurs, and how the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is responding to this need for trained professionals.

Les vaches préfèrent-elles le pâturage ?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

[...] « Dans l'essai, la grande majorité des vaches sont allées et sont restées au pâturage », observe Elsa Vasseur, de l'université de McGill. Cela a représenté entre 90 à 98 % de l'effectif en semaine 1, 2 et 4. En semaine 3, seulement 40 % des vaches ont choisi le pâturage, « probablement en raison des températures plus froides associées à des conditions pluvieuses et venteuses ».

Plein Champ

L'industrie des légumineuses reçoit un coup de « pousse »

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

De plus en plus de consommateurs se tournent vers des substituts aux protéines provenant de la viande, entre autres les protéines de sources végétales. [...] Pascal Thériault, agroéconomiste à l'Université McGill, nous parle des changements à prévoir dans le monde agricole en matière de cultures et aussi en matière d'élevages.

Radio-Canada

Food and Nutrition Lab hosts inter-university Iron Chef competition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

From the McGill Reporter...

On Saturday, Feb. 24, the cilantro flew and the paring knives flashed as talented student chefs from five North American universities took part in the hotly-contested Inter-University Iron Chef Competition.

After the final succulent morsel had been devoured, the panel of judges named the University of Massachusetts Amherst as this year’s champion. The win was UMASS Amherst’s fourth in five years, sparking whispers of a Dine-esty in the making.

The search for life on Mars begins at McGill's Macdonald Campus

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

It’s a question that has long plagued humanity: are we alone in the universe?

Scientists at McGill’s Macdonald campus are venturing towards a definitive answer with the development of a biosignature or life-detection platform.

...“There are some indications that Mars, many billions of years ago, was much warmer – and much wetter,” explained Lyle Whyte, a McGill professor. “Where it would have been an environment that we can envision it would have hosted life as we know on Earth.”

Why drones are counting thousands of decoy ducks

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Conducting a bird census by foot can also be disruptive, David Bird, an emeritus professor of wildlife biology at �㽶��Ƶ, told Popular Science. “While you’re doing that, you’re disturbing the hell out of the birds,” Bird said.

Atlas Obscura

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

McGill joins 'superclusters under Ottawa initiative

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Dozens of McGill researchers will participate in two of the five “superclusters” announced Thursday, Feb. 15, by the federal government and funded under its Innovation Superclusters Initiative.

124 millet porridge vendors from eight states trained in food safety, hygiene

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Participants, including scientists from �㽶��Ƶ, Canada, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, NGOs, representatives from processing machineries industry, small and micro level food enterprises, push cart vendors and farmers took part in the workshop.

Times of India

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Holistic policy needed to promote small millets

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Vijaya Raghavan, Professor, �㽶��Ƶ, which is one of the collaborators of the project, said that promoting the consumption of small millets was not only key for addressing malnutrition related issues, but also to address climate change.

The Hindu

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Videos of Founder's Day talks now available

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Macdonald Founder's Day, brought together more than 500 members of the Mac Community to celebrate the birth of Sir William Macdonald, to recognize outstanding staff and students, and to listen to three very timely talks on the medical, legal and entrepreneurial aspects of medical Cannibis, in light of its imminent legalization.

Nutritionally speaking, soy milk is best plant-based milk

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Closest to cow’s milk in range of nutrients it offers

Faculty announces two new workshops on medical Cannabis production and quality control

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Two new workshops on medical Cannabis production and quality control

The Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, in conjunction with the School of Continuing Studies, is pleased to offer two one-day professional workshops on the industrial production and quality control of medical Cannabis.

The imminent legalization of Cannabis in Canada will result in an immediate need for highly-qualified personnel with knowledge in Cannabis production.

School of Human Nutrition welcomes four new Faculty

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

The School of Human Nutrition is excited to welcome four new Faculty members:

McGill Woodsmen chopped down the competition at the 58th annual Macdonald College Woodsmen event

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

McGill’s men and women’s teams won top honours at the 58th annual Macdonald College Woodsmen competition, held January 27 at the Macdonald Campus in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Qc. Nineteen teams representing seven schools, Dalhousie, UNB, Fleming College, Algonquin College, Dartmouth and Maritime College of Forest Technology, competed in team, double and individual chopping and sawing events showcasing skills reminiscent of traditional lumberjacking.

L'igname pourpre, légume "Pantone" de l'année

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Puissant influenceur des tendances en matière de décoration, l'Institut Pantone dictera-t-il maintenant le contenu de notre assiette? La couleur 2018 - l'ultraviolet - est aussi celle de l'igname pourpre, un légume hautement photogénique, candidat idéal pour ravir les comptes Instagram des foodies cette année (à défaut de séduire à coup sûr leurs papilles).

McGill's Woodsmen celebrate the history and culture of lumberjacks

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

University set to host opposing teams for third tournament of the season

It almost feels like a cabin you might find in Northern Quebec country. It’s warm and intimate, a welcoming feeling on a cold day.

At McGill’s Macdonald campus, located in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, the shed is filled with giant saws, axes of all kinds and huge stacks of wood that certainly aren’t there to be someone’s kindling.

The shed, along with a snowy field of throwing axe targets and climbing poles serve as home base for the McGill Woodsmen.

Mount Royal to lose 4,000 trees in Montreal's emerald ash borer cull

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

City of Montreal will plant 40,000 saplings to replace trees that must be cut down

Thousands of ash trees infested by the tiny but destructive emerald ash borer will be cut down in Mount Royal Park by March 2019.

There are more than 10,000 ash trees in the park, and two-thirds have been treated against the invasive bug. The rest are getting axed.

Major companies get behind Smart Ag Super Cluster

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

The average Canadian might hold a romanticized view of agriculture in this country, but for a group of nearly 100 industry, academic, government folks, big data is key to the sector’s future.

The $250 million Smart Agri-Food Super Cluster (SASC) is one of nine industry-led projects, and one of two that focuses on agriculture, to be shortlisted for up to $950 million in federal innovation funding earmarked in last year’s budget.

New technique for finding life on Mars

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Researchers demonstrate for the first time the potential of existing technology to directly detect and characterize life on Mars and other planets. The study, published in Frontiers in Microbiology, used miniaturized scientific instruments and new microbiology techniques to identify and examine microorganisms in the Canadian high Arctic - one of the closest analogs to Mars on Earth. By avoiding delays that come with having to return samples to a laboratory for analysis, the methodology could also be used on Earth to detect and identify pathogens during epidemics in remote areas.

More than $59 million awarded by the CFI and the Government of Quebec to six McGill research projects

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

New labs and equipment through the CFI’s Innovation Fund will help six transformative McGill research projects to collaborate, innovate and train the next generation of scientists for the jobs of tomorrow.

...Professors Timothy Geary (Institute of Parasitology) and Anja Geitmann (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) were each awarded funding in this round.

Macdonald 3-Minute Thesis Winners

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Congratulations to the winners of the Lister Family Engaged Science 3-Minute Thesis® Competition - Véronique Boyer, Marcus Kaji, and Karolin Dietrich - pictured here with Dean Anja Geitmann and Geoffrey Kelley, MNA for Jacques-Cartier and Minister responsible for Native Affairs.

First place winner, Mark Kaji is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Parasitology. His presentation was entitled "Real life vampires and how to kill them"

E. coli outbreak has some Quebec restaurants pulling romaine lettuce

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

However, Lawrence Goodridge, the director of �㽶��Ƶ's food safety and quality program, said the practice of thoroughly washing infected lettuce won't make it safe for consumption.

"That is actually untrue, that is not the case," he said. "Washing lettuce or any fresh produce that may be contaminated with bacteria is a not a way to ensure its safety."

"The number of bacteria that one must consume to become sick is so low — and when you wash a lettuce or any fresh produce, you cannot wash away 100 per cent of the bacteria."

The discovery that could shake up the beer industry

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Jaswinder Singh can hardly contain his excitement when talking about TLP8, a useful protein he discovered in barley. “It could revolutionize the brewing industry,” said the associate professor at �㽶��Ƶ’s plant science department.

...Singh and his research team identified 22 genes in barley that were related to the germination process.

Maintaining momentum in forages

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

It takes a long time to develop a new variety from scratch. Dr. Bruce Coulman of the University of Saskatchewan recently recalled the start of his forage breeding career at �㽶��Ƶ. McGill had allowed its forage breeding program to collapse, and had no breeding lines under development when Coulman started. Starting from scratch in 1976, Coulman registered his first forage variety in 1993.

[Bruce Coulman is a former professor from the Department of Plant Science and served as Departmental Chair]

Keep the animal agriculture industry out of the new food guide

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Researchers from �㽶��Ƶ (Paul Thomassin) found that if Canadians ate less meat, and more fruits and vegetables, Canada's GDP would benefit. The authors recommended the government subsidize fruits and vegetables, and tax meat, in an effort to reduce chronic disease.

Huffington Post

Read research article

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Réflexion sur l'agriculture avec la doyenne de la Faculté de l'agriculture de l'Université McGill

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

En cette fin d'année, nous vous proposons une réflexion sur l'agriculture avec une femme qui a consacré sa vie aux enjeux agricoles. Anja Geitmann est doyenne de la faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'environnement à l'Université McGill.

Radio-Canada

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Alum recipient of Canada’s Volunteer Awards’ Emerging Leader Award (Quebec Region)

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Congratulations to alum Valérie Toupin-Dubé, BSc (AgEnvSci)’16, recipient of the Canada’s Volunteer Awards’ Emerging Leader Award for the Quebec region!

“My village, Oka, has left a deep agricultural imprint on me. It formed my desire to bridge the gap between consumers and the hard-working farmers who provide us with three meals a day. As an agronomist, my commitment to children and families is to teach them where their food comes from so that they can consume better and live in a community that is more tightly knit and respectful of the environment.”

Professor Jeff Xia named CRC Chair (Tier 2)

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Congratulations to Professor Jianguo (Jeff) Xia, Department of Animal Science and Institute of Parasitology, who has been named a Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Bioinformatics and Big Data Analytics.

Watch video

Professors inducted into Royal Society of Canada

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Congratulations to Jan Adamowski (Bioresource Engineering) and Elena Bennett (Natural Resource Sciences) on their induction into the Royal Society of Canada. The announcement was made in September, and the induction ceremony was held in late November.

CITATIONS:

Plant trees to control climate change

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Scientists at an international conference said on [November 30] that climate change was a global phenomenon that could only be controlled by planting more and more trees. This was stated in the concluding session of the first international conference on Conventional and Modern Approaches in Plant Sciences (CMAPS 17), organised by the Punjab University Department of Botany at Faisal Auditorium. [...] Dr Danielle Donnelly from �㽶��Ƶ Canada, [...] Dr Jaswinder Singh from �㽶��Ƶ Canada, [...] attended the event.

Mercury decline in seabirds due to diet, not emission controls

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

For 47 years, biologists have plucked eggs from seabird nests along the British Columbia coast. Many of the eggs were collected from remote rocky islands surrounded by some of the world’s roughest seas.

In all, they collected 537 eggs from six species, including ancient murrelets, rhinoceros auklets and double-crested cormorants. Now these eggs are revealing new information about the way mercury finds its way into the ecosystem.

Master blender behind world famous Northern Harvest rye

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Some might see it as a quirky career path, to be sure, that leads one to an occupation in which their job — essentially — is to sip on whisky.

Joanna Zanin Scandella’s job title is an enviable one.

The �㽶��Ƶ-educated Zanin Scandella is, officially, a master blender, an elite standing in the nomenclature of the alcohol industry. One does not just seek the wanted ads for a job as a master blender — they aspire to it.

Health experts raise concerns over cannabis drinks and lack of details from Ottawa

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Unlike alcohol, which kills bacteria and toxins, Lawrence Goodridge argues, integrating cannabis in the place of alcohol may require a very different production process. “Because cannabis is a plant, there are certain concerns -- like the possibility of pesticides used in production, or the type of fertilizer used, or the potential presence of heavy metals that could be toxic to humans,” the �㽶��Ƶ food safety expert explained to BNN in a telephone interview.

La pollution est une tueuse en série

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Un décès sur six lui est attribuable chaque année […] « C’est la première fois que l’on conclut que la pollution environnementale est une cause si importante de décès », souligne le professeur Niladri Basu, chercheur à l’Université McGill, qui a participé à l’étude publiée hier par la revue Lancet en partenariat avec l’Organisation des Nations Unies (ONU).

Journal de Québec

The taste of the wines of California will be affected by the fire

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Although it does not destroy the vineyards, the smoke may well make the grapes unusable, warns David Wees, professor at the faculty of Agriculture of �㽶��Ƶ. “The biggest problem, it is the fine particles that settle on the fruits and stick on the skin,” he says.

Siver Times

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Le goût des vins de Californie sera affecté par les incendies

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Après plus d’une semaine de brasiers, les flammes continuent de dévorer les vallées de Napa et Sonoma, sur la côte nord de la Californie, d’où sont issus les meilleurs crus américains. Plusieurs exploitations, parfois centenaires, ont été totalement ou partiellement détruites. D’autres sont toujours couvertes d’un épais nuage de fumée. Bien qu’elle ne détruise pas les vignes, cette fumée pourrait bien rendre les raisins inutilisables, prévient David Wees, professeur à la faculté d’Agriculture de l’Université McGill.

Why are the leaves on Montreal's trees so green in October?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Unseasonably warm September could be cause of slight delay in leaves changing colour, McGill professor says. According to Jim Fyles, a forest ecology professor and director of the Morgan Arboretum, our city's trees have remained green a bit longer due to higher-than-average temperatures.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Mac Community comes together to bake pies

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

by Kathy MacLean

Over the summer a group of Mac staff members got together to kick around ideas for an activity that would bring the Macdonald community together at the start of the school year and would tie to Macdonald’s motto “Mastery for Service.” Once the seed was planted, it didn’t take long for the theme to emerge - #MacShares. The first #MacShares event – Apple Pies – was held on Monday, September 25th. The 80 available spots for the event were filled in a matter of days.

Brain food: Kindergarteners get head start with nutrition education at EMSB

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Heartening to see the good work Macdonald grads Sylvie Beaudry (FdSci'88), Giuliana Di Quinzio (Nutr'00) and Pamela Yiptong (Nutr'09) are undertaking at EMSB to help children develop healthy eating habits.

...During her 29 years in the public school system, dietitian Sylvie Beaudry [(FdSci'88)] has played a role in encouraging thousands of students to develop healthy eating habits.

La viande qui saigne notre budget

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Matthieu est chef cuisinier dans un restaurant montréalais, et sa famille en est la preuve vivante. Dans ce foyer où il y a 5 bouches à nourrir, voilà près de 4 ans que la viande ne s’invite plus dans les assiettes qu’une fois par semaine. […]

«Nous pouvons pratiquement nourrir 4 personnes avec des œufs pour ce qu’il en coute de donner une portion de contre-filet de bœuf!», observe Pascal Thériault, agronome et économiste à l’Université McGill.

L'Arboretum Morgan propose une foule d'activités sur l'écosystème forestier à Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Situé sur le campus MacDonald de l'Université McGill à Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, à la pointe ouest de l'île de Montréal, l'arboretum Morgan, une réserve arboricole et écologique de 245 hectares, propose une panoplie d'activités pour régénérer le corps, éveiller les esprits fatigués et intéresser les néophytes curieux tout autant que les connaisseurs à l'écosystème de la forêt et à son formidable réseau d'échange.

Tree removal near the John Abbott College Memorial Field

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Some of you may have noticed trees being felled near the John Abbott College Memorial Field. While we never want to cut trees down, nature sometimes leaves us no choice. Four of the trees being taken down this week are rotten oak trees, which pose a safety hazard, and another four are ash trees infected with the emerald ash borer that has been wreaking havoc on Montreal Island in recent years. All the trees being removed are being replaced. Other trees will get a significant pruning. It is likely that more oak trees will need to be felled in future years for the same reasons.

CFI grants to boost research projects

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, announced a total investment of $52 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund for 220 new infrastructure projects nationally. Among the 51 universities across the country with funded projects, McGill leads the pack with an impressive number — 23 projects totaling $4.2 million — in this latest round of the funding competition.

Congratulations to Faculty members Valérie Gravel (Plant Science) and Salwa Karboune (Food Science) who were among the recipients.

Des pistes pour optimiser la production de petits fruits

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

(Une collaboration de Valérie Gravel, agronome et professeure adjointe en horticulture durable, Université McGill)

« L’été au Québec est, pour plusieurs, synonyme d’abondance de petits fruits. La production locale de ces « super fruits », de plus en plus reconnus pour leurs bienfaits sur la santé humaine, fait face à une demande croissante. »

Terre de chez nous

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

OBIT: Former McGillian and NHL administrator Bryan Murray was 74

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

It is with sadness that we note the passing of Bryan Murray, DipEd(PE)'64, recipient of the 2016 Macdonald Distinguished Alumni Award.

"A native of Shawville, Que., Murray was a student-athlete at �㽶��Ƶ's Macdonald College campus in the 1960s and went on to develop his coaching and administrative skills by guiding the Macdonald Aggies football team and the Macdonald Clansmen hockey squad while serving four years as director of athletics."

Opinion: Clean water for First Nations must be a national priority

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Anja Geitmann is dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at �㽶��Ƶ, Jan Adamowski is a professor and director of McGill’s Integrated Water Resources Management Program and Julien Malard is a PhD student in Bioresource Engineering at McGill.

Mac grad finds his niche with medical marijuana

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Every day after work, David Bernard-Perron, BSc(AgEnvSc)’12, MSc’15, heads out for a few laps “down the hill” on his mountain bike.

The hill in question is majestic Whistler Mountain, a short distance from his job as head agrologist at Whistler Medical Marijuana Corporation.

Professor Emerita receives Fulbright Specialist Grant

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Professor Emerita Harriet Kuhnlein (School of Human Nutrition) received a 2017 Fulbright Specialist Grant that was undertaken with Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand. The award was in the category of Public/Global Health for a term of 5 weeks during February and March, 2017. The grant was administered through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State with the cooperation of World Learning.

In Memory - Terry A. Wheeler

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Terry Wheeler, Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences.

Professor Wheeler was an expert in entomology and Director of the Lyman Entomological Museum. He had been a faculty member since January 1, 1995.

He lost his battle with cancer which he had taken in stride and fought with amazing optimism. Professor Wheeler will be terribly missed.

Waste Management Squad promotes good composting habits in Pointe-Claire

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Judith Largy-Nadeau (BRE) and Dainava Blayney (NRS) and students from the Université de Sherbrooke are going door-to-door in Pointe-Claire to promote good waste habits this summer.

UAlberta and McGill scientists uncover a hidden calcium cholesterol connection

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Scientists at the University of Alberta and �㽶��Ƶ have discovered a direct link between calcium and cholesterol, a discovery that could pave the way for new ways of treating high blood cholesterol.

Read more in the McGill Newsroom

How fear alone can cause animal extinction

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

“It has been something of a mystery why predators are so important in animal extinctions,” says Kyle Elliott, an assistant professor in �㽶��Ƶ’s Dept. of Natural Resource Sciences and the first author of a recent study on the subject published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. “As prey populations decline, predators should simply switch to other prey.

Mac Paddle Shack opens for paddlers of all ages

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

The new Paddle Shack at the Macdonald Campus makes McGill the only Canadian university with an on-campus boat house.

The “Mac Paddle Shack,” which opened July 15, gives paddlers and would-be paddlers a chance to enjoy the waters of Lac St. Louis on a kayak, paddle board (SUP) or in a canoe. Hourly rentals, paddling instruction and paddle board yoga classes are available to the general public, and McGill and John Abbott College communities.

McGill Prof wins prestigious award--and says that the economic system is a major factor in the decline of the Earth's ability to support complex life

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Professor Peter G. Brown (Natural Resource Sciences) has been selected as the recipient of the US Society for Ecological Economics 2017 Herman Daly Award for outstanding contributions to the field of ecological economics.

Live from Scandinavia: News from our Laure Waridel Laureate!

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Marianne Falardeau-Côté, a PHD candidate in Natural Resource Sciences with Professor Elena Bennett and the recipient of the 2017 Laure Waridel Bursary, shares her experiences in Scandinavia.

Deux joueurs de l’agriculture urbaine actuelle

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

L’un offre un service clé en main pour des projets d’agriculture urbaine, l’autre a développé un modèle de production agricole intensive en conteneur. Le premier s’adresse aux particuliers, aux restaurateurs et aux écoles, et le second aux épiceries, aux agriculteurs et aux entreprises. Ces deux jeunes entreprises, MicroHabitat et La Boîte maraîchère misent sur la production locale sans pesticide à des échelles toutefois bien différentes.

World Economic Forum Young Scientists Class of 2017 celebrates breakthrough talent from across the globe

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

The World Economic Forum announced its 2017 class of 55 Young Scientists, assembling a distinguished cohort of top talent making an impact on research as diverse as quantum and computer science, physics and materials science, biology and bio-engineering, medical and neuroscience, and energy and environment. Collectively, their research is at the core of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Among the honorees is Natural Resource Science professor and Canada Research Chair in Arctic Ecology Kyle Elliott.

Crafting better beer

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

In a study published recently in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, �㽶��Ƶ researcher Jaswinder Singh and co-authors describe a new protein that could greatly improve brewing.

Closure of Highway 20 - Macdonald Bridge repairs

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Repairs on the Macdonald Bridge (overpass of Poultry Cottages Street, over railway tracks and Highway 20) will last until the end of August 2017.

Closure of Highway 20 (A-20)

Monday June 26 and Tuesday June 27

Closure of A-20 eastbound: Between exit 39 Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue / Boulevard des Anciens-Combattants and exit 48 Boulevard St-Charles, from 10 pm to 5 am

Mac Paddle Shack to open soon

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

We are excited to announce the opening this summer of the Mac Paddle Shack. Operated by Athletics and Recreation and servicing the McGill community as well as John Abbott, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue and the general public, the Mac Paddle Shack will offer hourly kayak, stand up paddle board (SUP) and canoe rentals, paddling instruction and paddle board yoga classes.

Canning at Home? Brush up on your science to avoid dangerous pathogens

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

The list of “bad things” could range from gross but harmless spoilage to dangerous pathogens such as Clostridium botulinum. In the case of botulism, it’s the toxin produced from the bacteria that is harmful, not the bacteria itself, says Brigitte Cadieux, a postdoctoral fellow in �㽶��Ƶ’s Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry.

McGill gets $3M to fund research into cutting greenhouse gases

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

�㽶��Ƶ researchers [Grant Clark & Chandra Madramootoo] at Macdonald campus in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue got some welcome news Monday when the federal government announced nearly $3 million in funding for research projects that will help farmers cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Félix Bertrand: From the classroom to the farm

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Every graduating student has their own way of getting ready the day of their Convocation. Some get haircuts, others go for a latté with friends and family or buy a new pair of shoes for the event. You can be pretty sure that very few do what Félix Bertrand did the morning of his Convocation ceremony on June 2. “I was at home helping my father with the pigs,” he says.

Read article by Neale McDevitt in the McGill Reporter

Il faut boire huit verres d'eau par jour. Vraiment?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Les besoins quotidiens en eau varient en fonction de la masse corporelle (30 ml d'eau par kilogramme), explique la nutritionniste Louise Thibault, professeure à l'École de nutrition humaine de l'Université McGill. « Et par boissons, on entend l'eau, mais aussi le jus, le lait, le thé, le café… », énumère Louise Thibault, qui souligne qu'en général, les gens obtiennent toute l'eau dont ils ont besoin en écoutant ce que leur corps leur dit.

La Presse+

Macdonald Farm closed to visitors this summer due to construction of new Community Engagement Centre

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

�㽶��Ƶ’s Macdonald Campus Farm is embarking on an ambitious project to renovate the century old dairy barn into a new centre to welcome visitors to the world of food production. The only operating dairy farm on the island of Montreal, the Macdonald Campus Farm, welcomes school visits during the months of May and June only.

The Kohlrabi Collective: Creating a Connected Local Food System

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

McGill students are champions of the local and sustainable food movement. The McGill Farmers’ Market, the Macdonald Student-Run Ecological Gardens (MSEG), and Organic Campus are student-run projects, independently established to produce, promote, and distribute local food at McGill.

Classes and exams cancelled Monday, May 8th

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Because of flooding issues, day and evening summer classes and exams are cancelled on Monday, May 8, 2017, at both McGill’s Macdonald Campus and its downtown campus.

McGill Newsroom.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Highway 20 overpass construction to begin May 8

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Updated May 5, 2017

The Quebec Ministry of Transport has confirmed the resumption of the Macdonald Campus Hwy 20 overpass renovation project on May 8 until August 15.

Légalisation de la marijuana: deux québécois dans la filière verte

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:11:41 +0000

Vincent Marissal
La Presse

Intitative to fund scholars at McGill and the University of Ghana

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Dr. Grace Marquis, School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, has received $500,000 CAD from the Queen Elizabeth Scholars initiative to fund researchers and scholars at McGill and the University of Ghana.

The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships aim to activate a dynamic community of young global leaders across the Commonwealth to create lasting impacts both at home and abroad through inter-cultural exchanges encompassing international education, discovery and inquiry, and professional experiences.

Gestion des eaux de ruissellement - Montréal annonce un nouveau partenariat avec l'Université McGill afin d'identifier les meilleures pratiques de plantation d'arbres

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Bioresource Engineering professors Grant Clark and Shiv Prasher, along with colleagues Dr. Maryam Kargar (Postdoctoral Fellow and Project Manager), Masters student Marcelo Frosi, Dr.

Campus Highway 20 overpass construction to resume

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

The Quebec Ministry of Transport has advised that it will recommence major repairs to the campus Highway 20 overpass as of May 1, 2017. The project is projected to end on August 15, 2017. Click on the maps above to see an enlarged views of the construction and detour zones.

McGill's Macdonald Campus in Ste-Anne gets funding boost

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

�㽶��Ƶ’s Macdonald campus in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue received some good news last Friday when the Quebec government made two funding announcements that will help boost the Faculty of Agricultural Environmental Sciences.

Student captures 2nd place in NSERC - Science, action! competition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Congratulations to M.Sc. candidate Émile Brisson-Curadeau (Supervisor: Prof. Kyle Elliott, NRS) for capturing second place in "NSERC -" Science, action!" competition contest for "La sentinelle des mers".

ABOUT ÉMILE

Macdonald Campus Seed Library Launch

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

There were happy faces all around at Monday's launch of the Macdonald Campus Seed Library. The project, initiated by Liaison Librarian Dana Ingalls, offers seeds and gardening resources to members of the McGill community. According to Ingalls, "many public and academic libraries are expanding services to meet community needs. They are lending tools, artwork, exercise equipment, and more.

Elena Bennett @Davos

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

For those of you who missed it, take a few minutes to watch Elena Bennett's presentation @Davos. "By dwelling on the possibility of a dystopian environmental future, we run the risk of making the prediction self-fulfilling. We need more inspirational visions – but which are realistic and believable."

Watch on McGillMacCampus Youtube

Interview with Nathalie Haddad

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Nathalie Haddad, MSc(A) '02 (Human Nutrition), was a pioneer in the UAE healthy meal delivery market when she founded her company, Right Bite, in 2004. Since then, the nutritional consultation and meal delivery service has helped its clients lose [...] 250,000 kg excess weight, she tells Caterer Middle East. And these are just the people who subscribe to Right Bite’s customized meal plan packages — this figure doesn’t take into account the customers who use the delivery arm of the company, Right Bite Express.

Classes cancelled Wednesday March 15

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Because of the difficult weather and transportation issues caused by the blizzard, classes on both our campuses will be cancelled for the remainder of today, March 15, including evening courses. Tests and exams will be rescheduled as necessary. Managers are asked to understand that some staff who managed to get into work today might have to leave earlier than normal. The shuttle bus to and from Macdonald Campus will be operating as of 11:30 a.m., but understandably, will face challenges adhering to its normal schedule. We thank everyone for their understanding. Stay safe!

McGill tries to chop down competition at lumberjack event

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

More than 140 competitors from six Canadian universities and colleges competed in the 57th annual McGill intercollegiate woodsmen competition Saturday at McGill’s Macdonald campus in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. The Mac lumberjills left the competition in the sawdust came by winning the women’s division with 1170.03 points, edging out Dalhousie, with 1124.37. The win allowed the Mac women to solidify their hold in first place in the six-team Canadian Intercollegiate Lumberjack Association (CILA). The Mac lumberjacks placed fourth on the men’s side with 927.82 points. Montreal Gazette.

Professor Murray Humphries honoured by Alma Mater

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Congratulations to Professor Murray Humphries, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, who on Thursday, January 26, 2017, received the [University of Manitoba] Faculty of Science 2017 Honoured Alumni Award for exceptional achievement in Biological Sciences.

The World Outdoors: Researchers flock to drones

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Drone technology has been applied in support of bird science for more than a decade now. With the cost of this technology continuing to drop, the use of it is broadening across North America.

In the same way that retail, military, and hobby sectors have embraced drones, bird scientists have realized drones can be deployed to do some bird census work and gather data in remote or otherwise inaccessible locations.

Shaping Stories McGill/Macdonald @ Davos

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Discover new ideas and insights with leading researchers Elena Bennett (NRS), Graham MacDonald (Geog) and Andrew Gonzalez (Biology) in the IdeasLab at the World Economic Forum being held this week in Davos.

Watch

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Lister Family Engaged Science Initiative 3MT Competition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

All of the participants in the inaugural Lister Family Engaged Science Initiative 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition are to be congratulated on a job well done! Finalists (left to right) include PhD candidate Salam Habib from the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition ( Second place; Supervisor: L.

Bacteria control levels of dangerous pollutant in seabirds

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Despite ongoing global pollution, researchers Kyle Elliott (Natural Resource Sciences) and John Elliott (Environment Canada) have discovered that levels of mercury in seabirds off the coast of B.C. have remained relatively stable over the past 50 years. Surprisingly, mercury in seabirds is now actually slightly lower.

What training is needed for the next generation of water operators?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

In generations past, most water operators gained employment straight out of high school; however, these days, operators are required to have a strong foundation in science, engineering, and technology.

Not so loony: Why the grey jay soared to victory as Canada's would-be national bird

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society recently stunned many Canadians by choosing the grey jay over the common loon as the organization’s candidate to become Canada’s national bird. The announcement was made on Nov. 16, 2016, at the College of Fellows’ Annual Dinner in the Canadian War Museum. Op-ed by David M. Bird, Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Biology, Montreal Gazette.

Macdonald Hwy 20 Bridge completely closed Friday night to Saturday morning

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

The Transport Ministry has advised that the Macdonald Hwy 20 Bridge will be completely closed overnight, from Friday, Nov 25 -11:00 pm to Saturday, Nov 26 - 4:30 am, in order to continue the repair work on the bridge.

Road users are invited to take a marked detour (via the Boulevard des Anciens-Combattants).

Note that this closure may be delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions or operational constraints.

Healthy options are a package deal at Oatbox and Yumibox

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

“Instead of being another resource for knowledge, we’re actually delivering something practical to people,” said Li. “We’re combining nutrition and gourmet flavours to motivate behaviour change. It’s time dietitians became a key leader in the food industry, having a direct impact on putting good food into consumer homes. Dietitians don’t have to be the food police.” Yumibox Co-Founders and McGill Macdonald Campus students, Mengyin Hong, and Zoey Li. Montreal Gazette.

Hundreds gather at Mac Campus to remember

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

People prone to viewing the world in symbolic terms would have enjoyed yesterday’s Remembrance Day ceremony at Macdonald Campus. Hundreds of people stood in a tight circle around the permanent War Memorial in front of the Raymond Building. This human circle was itself ringed by the 44 oak trees that line Memorial Field. These oak trees were planted in 1931 to honour the supreme sacrifice of 34 young men from Macdonald College and Macdonald College High School who lost their lives in World War I.

Two McGill students use company to raise awareness for diabetes

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Two students from �㽶��Ƶ, Zoey Li and Yin Hong, have founded a company to help raise awareness about diabetes and to help those coping with it.

Yumi Box is a whole grain subscription box that delivers preportioned and preseasoned whole grains to your front door.

Campus to Farm shuttle now available during the overpass construction

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

The MTQ has made available a shuttle to take staff and students to and from the campus and the Farm for the duration of Phase 1 of the Macdonald Campus overpass construction.

The shuttle will run continuously from 08h00 – 12h00 and 12h30 – 17h00 and is equipped for bicycle transport. Each circuit takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

Stop locations include:

Commuting to, from or through the Macdonald Campus? What you need to know.

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

The Quebec Ministry of Transport will commence major repairs to the campus Highway 20 overpass (Pont Poultry Cottages) as of November 4, 2016. Phase 1 of the project is expected to last until the end of the year and Phase 2 will take place in the spring.

This weekend – November 4, 5 and 6

Repair work under the campus Highway 20 overpass will begin Friday evening, and as a result, there will be closures on Highway 20 over the weekend.

Monday, November 7th until end of project

Overpass traffic:

Caroline Begg awarded Principal's Prize for Teaching Excellence

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Congratulations to Dr. Caroline Begg (Plant Science, FMT), the recipient of the Principal's Prize for Excellence in Teaching (Faculty Lecturer). Principal Fortier presented the award at McGill's Fall Convocation held earlier this week. Dr. Begg has long been a supporter of student-led initiatives beyond the classroom and empowers students to be involved in their own learning process. She received the Macdonald Campus Award for Teaching Excellence earlier this year.

Humphries named McGill Northern Research Chair

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Today at a press conference in Quebec City, the Institut Nordique du Quebec (INQ) announced three Northern Research Chairs, as well as a newly recruited Science and Innovation Director, Louis Fortier.

Marianne Falardeau-Côté named Top 30 under 30 in sustainability by Corporate Knights

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Marianne Falardeau-Côté, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences (Supervisor Elena Bennett), "is investigating how climate change is affecting Arctic marine food webs, ecosystem services and the well-being of Inuit communities. Through her research, Marianne hopes to provide knowledge that will help governments sustainably manage ecosystems. Her research was featured in the June 2016 issue of Canadian Geographic".

Table Talk: A Montrealer's Little Book of Gluten-free Comfort Food

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Breakfast pancakes, a hot cheese muffin or a succulent brownie can become only a memory to those who live with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, says Judy Campbell, a Montreal dietitian and gluten-free diet specialist... this culinary specialist who taught dietetic students nutritional and quantity food preparation for 18 years at �㽶��Ƶ’s School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition.

Growing industrial hemp in Eastern Canada: a new frontier

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Coming to the aid of eastern Canadian hemp producers is Philippe Seguin, associate professor at �㽶��Ƶ, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Seguin wants to help farmers in eastern Canada learn more about which hemp cultivars work best in their environment. He and his team of researchers selected 11 cultivars and planted them in seven different environments in Quebec. Seguin kept detailed records of when the seeds were planted and how much fertilizer was used.

Jane Goodall met l’élevage animal intensif au pilori

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

De passage à Montréal, la primatologue Jane Goodall a dénoncé l’élevage animal intensif qui est pratiqué dans les pays riches. S’adressant à une assemblée de vétérinaires, elle a toutefois avoué ne pas savoir comment s’attaquer à ce problème. Les travaux d’une chercheuse de l’Université McGill s’intéressant à l’élevage des vaches laitières devraient apporter certains éléments de réponse à cette vaste problématique.

Seeds of a Good Anthropocene

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Elena M. Bennett of the Department of Natural Resource Sciences is the lead author of Bright Spots: seeds of a good Anthropocene. "The paper describes an effort to identify and propagate social and environmental projects that could reverse a centuries-long pattern in which human prosperity has come at the cost of substantial harm to ecosystems and excluded communities. "

Read more in NYTimes

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Brian Driscoll named as Chair of Natural Resource Sciences

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Microbiologist Brian Driscoll took over the helm of the Department of Natural Resource Sciences (NRS) on September 1st.

Growing up in Dundas, ON, Driscoll discovered his love science and agriculture at a young age, thanks to the influence of two uncles - one an organic chemistry professor and the other an apple grower. Through stints as a lifeguard and swimming instructor, he discovered that teaching was something he excelled at and enjoyed.

Organic pot grower living the dream in Whistler

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

29-year-old the lead agronomist for a Whistler marijuana company

As a 14-year-old loading soil at a Quebec poinsettia greenhouse, David Bernard-Perron [BSc (AES)'12, MSc'15] never would have expected he'd grow up to be the lead agronomist for a marijuana company in Whistler.

But at 29, that's exactly what he's doing, and the company he works for is at the forefront of quickly growing industry.

Discovering new fish species is 'lagniappe,' LSU researcher says

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

[Former Macdonald student] Prosanta Chakrabarty travels the world searching for fish that few humans have ever seen. The LSU researcher wants to learn what these underwater unknowns can teach about evolution and the history of the earth.

He's a modern-day explorer, swimming through murky waters and diving into caves in search of seldom-seen species.

How do you measure hunger?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

How do you measure hunger? If anyone can tell you, it’s Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez, Margaret Gilliam Faculty Scholar in Food Security and Director of the McGill Institute for Global Food Security.

“Hunger and food insecurity are very complex phenomena affecting people and countries in different ways,” says Melgar-Quiñonez. “In order to estimate how many people are undernourished or food insecure, we needed diverse methods of quantifying hunger.”

Food security and access to land resources

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Margaret A. Gilliam Fellowship recipient June Po is a PhD candidate in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences; June works on food security, focusing on the relationships between food security and women’s access to land resources in dryland Kenya. In early 2015, she returned to the rural communities in Kenya to report her research findings to smallholder farmers. This effort has so far been extremely valuable, as she learned multiple ways of translating research into practice.

Making science communication possible

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Summer scholarship student research a cut above

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Fifteen of the Faculty's brightest students, all holding either NSERC or CIHR Summer Scholarships, or Alumni Donor-supported awards, competed in the 10th Annual USRA poster presentation which featuring projects they undertook over the summer. Says Philippe Seguin, Acting Associate Dean (Research), "It is incredible to see the research skills that these students have developed and the progress they have made in such a short time."

Food Science researcher named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Congratulations to Hoshahalli S. Ramaswamy of the Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry who will be inducted into the Royal Society of Canada on November 18, in Kingston, Ontario. The Royal Society of Canada announced the 2016 Fellows on September 7; Professor Ramaswamy is one of ten McGill researchers this year to receive this honour.

Professor Jim Fyles appointed as Macdonald's Associate Dean (Student Affairs)

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Please join the Mac Community in congratulating Professor Jim Fyles on his new appointment as Macdonald's Associate Dean ( Students Affairs).

Students develop a vegan burger that tastes like meat but contains your daily vegetable requirement

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Press Release: Maintaining a healthy heart through bile acids

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Canadian discovery may soon lead to the prevention of cardiac fibrosis

Groundbreaking research from the University of Alberta and �㽶��Ƶ has opened the door towards the future prevention of cardiac fibrosis—a condition leading to heart failure for which there is currently no treatment.

Mac Food Science students on a winning streak

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

For the second consecutive year, Macdonald Food Science teams have won big, Two teams — Rephyll and Fitamin Multimeal — took first place in their categories at the annual New Product Development Competitions, held as part of the 2016 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Conference.

Animal Science Professor honoured by American Dairy Science Association

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Congratulations to James McGill Professor Xin Zhao who received the 2016 West Agro Inc. Award from the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA).

The award is given to one individual each year "to recognize outstanding research of milk quality as affected by control of mastitis, management of milking, and practices in production of milk."

The award was presented at a ceremony during the annual meeting of the ADSA in Salt Lake City, Utah.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Professor Chris Buddle appointed as the new Dean of Students of McGill

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Please join the Mac Community in congratulating Professor Chris Buddle on his new appointment as Dean of Students, �㽶��Ƶ.

Since 2014, Professor Buddle has served the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences as Associate Dean of Student Affairs. In this role, he oversaw recruitment activities for the Faculty, promoted academic integrity, was a champion of student rights, and worked extensively on supporting the overall wellbeing of the Macdonald Campus community.

ALASKA'S SHOREBIRDS EXPOSED TO MERCURY

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Shorebirds breeding in Alaska are being exposed to mercury at levels that could put their populations at risk, according to new research from The Condor: Ornithological Applications.

STÉPHANIE BÉLANGER-NAUD À L'ASSAUT DU CHAMPIONNAT CANADIEN

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Ayant grandi sur une ferme, Stéphanie Bélanger-Naud a tailladé ses premières pièces de bois après son arrivée au campus Macdonald de l'Université McGill, à Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. «C'est un sport qui m'était inconnu avant d'arriver à McGill, raconte-t-elle. Ça m'a beaucoup intriguée et j'ai rapidement eu la piqûre.»

Read more in L’Avenir et des rivières

FARMING CAMP AT MACDONALD CAMPUS COULD CULTIVATE LOVE OF AGRICULTURE

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

A friend realized his life’s dream through one of the generous programs offered by the [Macdonald] campus of �㽶��Ƶ in Saint Anne-de-Bellevue…

Macdonald campus, therefore, is a God-send.

EXPLORING THE BIOFUELS OPPORTUNITY

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

(Interview with Dr. Donald L. Smith Professor, �㽶��Ƶ; Director and CEO, BioFuelNet Canada)

"It is exciting to see a growing concern around the need to reduce GHGemissions.At McGill, there has been, and continues to be, some very good work around green chemistry, which is part of a greater sustainability approach. McGill has developed the use of micro beto-plant signal compounds as a wayto improve plant productivity, making more biomass available for both food and fuel."

MALE CHICK CULLING IN EGG INDUSTRY COULD END, THANKS TO CANADIAN TECHNOLOGY

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Harry Pelissero is the general manager of Egg Farmers of Ontario, which has been working with Michael Ngadi, a professor of bioresource engineering at �㽶��Ƶ, to develop a machine that selects female eggs before they're hatched.

Eurofins Food Safety Systems Partners with �㽶��Ƶ for Public Food Safety Training for Canadian Food Manufacturers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Eurofins Food Safety Systems (EFSS) and the Food Safety and Quality Program (FSQP) at �㽶��Ƶ are excited to announce a signed agreement to provide co-branded public training for the Canadian food manufacturing industry. The courses include the highly sought-after FSMA Preventive Controls Qualified Individual Training as well as GFSI benchmarked standard training to SQF and BRC. The partnership is an exceptional pairing as Eurofins and �㽶��Ƶ share a common interest in the success of the Canadian food manufacturing industry.

La chaire de recherche sur le bien-être des vaches laitières est déjà en activité

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

La chaire de recherche sur le bien-être des vaches laitières est déjà en activité.

La titulaire de la nouvelle chaire de recherche sur la Vie durable des bovins laitiers de l’Université McGill, Elsa Vasseur, n’a pas chômé. La nouvelle chaire a été officiellement inaugurée le 26 mai dernier, mais Elsa Vasseur est déjà au travail depuis janvier dernier. Déjà huit étudiants gradués sont engagés pour mener à bien les futurs projets de recherche.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Determining the effect of environmental factors on men's health

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

WHY DON'T WE JUST GET RID OF MOSQUITOES ALTOGETHER?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

With peak biting season for mosquitoes just around the corner, many of us might be tempted to wonder why don't we just get rid of the darn things altogether.Mosquitoes, after all, are attracted to many of the same things that attract humans during the summer months. "If you're outside having a barbecue with a bunch of friends, that's just a welcome sign for mosquitoes," said Chris Cloutier, a naturalist at the Morgan Aboretum.

Erik Kudelka's heroic struggle not just to graduate from McGill, but to survive

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

It has taken Erik Kudelka 11 years to graduate from �㽶��Ƶ, so the Macdonald Campus convocation Friday will be momentous day for him.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Read Erik's story in The Montreal Gazette.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

McGill Alumni Association launches McGillConnect

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Are you interested in connecting with other McGill alumni, sharing experiences and opportunities, or accessing the McGill network to reach career goals? If so, come check out #McGillConnect, an exclusive career network created for the McGill community.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

WITH THIS NEW PLATFORM YOU CAN:

Macdonald start-ups win big at McGill’s Dobson Cup entrepreneurship competition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

| EDUARDO GANEM CUENCA and KATHY MACLEAN

Students from McGill’s Macdonald Campus seem to have figured out the winning combination of talent, skills, risk –and above all, the unwavering determination it takes to convert an idea into a viable business venture.

When the cows come home, how long will they stay?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

In the barn with McGill’s new NSERC Industrial Research Chair on Sustainable Life of Dairy Cattle

Valérie Toupin-Dubé awarded Equiterre's Laure Waridel Bursary

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Congratulations to Valérie Toupin-Dubé, BSc(AgEnvSc) '16, winner of Equiterre’s Laure Waridel Bursary. The bursary was established in 2008 by Equiterre and the Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins for students committed to pursuing and disseminating research on environmental and social action.

Less body fat for toddlers taking vitamin D

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Supplement given during first year of life critical for muscle-mass development

A healthy intake of vitamin D in the first year of life appears to set children up to have more muscle mass and less body fat as toddlers, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatric Obesity.

The findings emerged from research initially aimed at confirming the importance of vitamin D for bone density. The additional benefit in terms of body composition came as a surprise for the research team.

« L’HONORIS CAUSA, JE LE PRENDS POUR TOUTES LES FAMILLES AGRICOLES »

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

« L’HONORIS CAUSA, JE LE PRENDS POUR TOUTES LES FAMILLES AGRICOLES » La nouvelle a été divulguée sur Facebook : Maria Labrecque Ducheneau sera récipiendaire d’un doctorat honorifique (honoris causa) le 3 juin prochain. Le doctorat lui sera décerné par la rectrice de l’Université McGill, Suzanne Fortier, lors de la collation des grades des étudiants en sciences de l’agriculture et de l’environnement.

Lawrence Goodridge interviewed on Hepatitis A outbreak linked to berries

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

LAWRENCE GOODRIDGE, DEPT. OF FOOD SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY, WAS INTERVIEWED ON CBC RADIO’S HOMERUN AT 5:40 PM ABOUT AN OUTBREAK OF HEPATITIS A LINKED TO BERRIES SOLD AT COSTCO.

LISTEN: CBC Homerun

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

WANTED: PLAIN TALK FROM THE LAB

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Excitement was in the air last May at a glitzy Toronto reception for “rockstar” professionals not accustomed to glitz: research scientists from six Canadian universities... At �㽶��Ƶ, insect scientist Chris Buddle submitted one study to a journal in “more of a casual, non-jargony language, (trying) to write it in a way that’s a bit more engaging, and not the typical dry scientific writing.”

The Ottawa Citizen

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Minoring in entrepreneurship, majoring in success

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Popular culture loves the mythology of the self-made success, the boot-strapping individual who eschews formal education to blaze a path to success. But, while superstar dropouts can capture our imaginations – think Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg – they are the exceptions, not the rule. Especially in Canada: a study by the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity, for example, found that nearly 90 per cent of the founders of Canada’s top 250 tech companies are university graduates.

PROJECT LAUNCHED TO ENHANCE MILLET PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

The Indo-Canada research project on small millets aims at enhancing its production and consumption. Millets are a must to tackle the increasing number of diabetic and lifestyle deceases in the community... This project on small millet production, processing and consumption was launched by Dhan Foundation, supported by Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF) and by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) with the partnership of scientists from �㽶��Ƶ [Prof. Vijaya Raghavan], Canada and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

Government of Canada invests $27 million to extend the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program for another five years

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Minister Lawrence MacAulay was on campus to participate in the Symposium and Wrap-Up meeting for the “Effects of Agricultural Water Management Systems on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Eastern Canada” project led by Chandra Madramootoo (Bioresource Engineering). The project was funded by the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases program.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Announcement by The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food Macdonald Campus of �㽶��Ƶ, March 30, 2016

Province to boost agrifood competitiveness and industrial innovation

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

|KATHY MACLEAN, COMMUNICATIONS, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

There was good news all around for the Quebec agri-food sector in the recent provincial budget.

BioFuelNet conçoit les biocarburants de l’avenir

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Dans l’édifice qui accueillait autrefois la brasserie Dow, angle Peel et Notre-Dame, rebaptisé Carrefour d’innovation INGO, est installé un groupe de recherche qui se consacre au développement des carburants de l’avenir. BioFuelNet regroupe 75 chercheurs de 27 universités canadiennes et travaille avec 90 partenaires industriels. Sa mission : développer une industrie de biocarburants avancés prospère et durable. ...

EXOMARS OUTBOUND IN SEARCH FOR LIFE SIGNS

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Professor Lyle White, Natural Resource Sciences, is interviewed on his role in Mars exploration and the Exomars Space Probe.

Listen to the interview

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Two New Food Security Projects Announced

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Global Affairs Canada have announced six new projects to be supported under the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF). The projects will develop, test and apply ways to scale up innovations in food security and nutrition. These projects will scale up effective, pilot-tested innovations so that they reach poor rural populations, particularly women and small-holder farmers. Two projects have been awarded to Macdonald professors.

IN THE ARCTIC, EVEN CLIMATE CHANGE'S TINIEST VICTIMS HAVE BIG IMPACTS

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Pour contrer le gaspillage alimentaire

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

On estime que la moitié de ce que l'on produit comme aliments dans les pays industrialisés serait gaspillée. Au Canada, on jetterait, selon Statistique Canada, 183 kilogrammes de nourriture par an, par personne. À qui la faute? À l'industrie alimentaire, ou au consommateur? Pour en discuter, nous recevons Pascal Thériault, agroéconomiste et professeur à l'Université McGill. Il enseigne aussi le marketing alimentaire.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

The lack of women in science: 'A wicked problem,' McGill's Elena Bennett says

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

"The discussion started at my book club, but it might as well have started with Adam and Eve. We read The Awakening, a 1899 novel by Kate Chopin that describes the fight by a young woman, Edna Pontellier, for independence against the conventions of the time. We are all married working mothers. No matter how far society has come from Edna’s, most of us find the bulk of child care and the more banal duties of running a household fall to us. We felt for Edna.

Hot off the press! Macdonald Professor Recipient of Prestigious Steacie Fellowship

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Professor Elena Bennett, of the Department of Natural Resource Sciences and the McGill School of Environment, is the recipient of a E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship! The Fellowships are awarded by NSERC to enhance the career development of outstanding and highly promising university faculty who are earning a strong international reputation for original research.

Dr. Sarah Kimmins recipient of 2016 SSR Young Investigator Award

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

McGill Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development (CRRD) Associate Director Dr. Sarah Kimmins (Animal Science Department) is recipient of the 2016 SSR Young Investigator Award.

This award recognizes an active Regular Member of the Society for outstanding research completed and published within 12 years after receiving the Ph.D. or other equivalent professional degree.

LE SIROP D’ÉRABLE : UN SYSTÈME COMPLEXE

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

« Le système a permis d’assurer une stabilité dans les prix. Les producteurs savent combien ils vont recevoir pour leur sirop », estime Pascal Thériault, professeur à la faculté des sciences de l’agriculture et de l’environnement de l’Université McGill. Il y a actuellement 62 millions de livres de sirop dans le principal entrepôt, situé à Laurierville. « La réserve stratégique mondiale permettrait de couvrir une mauvaise saison », précise l’économiste Pascal Thériault.

Mosquitoes: What Works, What is Used.

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Worried about Zika? CTV Montreal talked to the Morgan Arboretum's Christopher Cloutier, mosquito expert from �㽶��Ƶ.

CTV News video

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Rolling whole grains into chewy business success

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Businesses start in many ways, and Andrea Courey didn’t know that she was going to have a business of her own. In 1997, Andrea lost her job and was raising three children as a single mother. In the face of this adversity Andrea asked herself how she was going to provide for her family – what was she “good at and what did she know how to do?”

Mac women chop down the competition at the 56th annual Macdonald College Woodsmen Competition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

The sun was out, the saws were out and our Woodsmen teams performed fabulously over the weekend. Thanks to all on campus and the many alumni who helped make the 56th annual Woodsmen Competition a success.

Antarctic permafrost may not be habitable for microbes – So is Mars?

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

"It doesn't mean there's no life on Mars, but what it does mean is it's going to be harder to find," said Jacqueline Goordial, the �㽶��Ƶ researcher who led the study, in an interview with Rachelle Solomon on CBC's Breakaway.

Nearing the limits of life on Earth

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Failure to find active microbes in coldest Antarctic soils has implications for search for life on Mars

Natural Resource Sciences professor Lyle Whyte and postdoctoral fellow Jackie Goordial talk about their research which suggests that it is unlikely that it is unlikely that there is any microbial life to be found on Mars.

A New Geological Epoch, The Anthropocene

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Scientists say it's time to declare a new geological epoch, one defined by human activity and the permanent mark it has left on the earth.

McGill Professor Peter Brown, director of Economics for the Anthropocene, is featured on CBC Radio News.

LISTEN

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Refining the Search for Life on Mars

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

The results of a recent experiment at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron in Saskatoon could be a key piece in the quest to discover if there was ever life on Mars.

Lyle Whyte, an environmental microbiologist at �㽶��Ƶ who is originally from Saskatchewan, specializes in organisms that can survive in extreme cold.

Read article in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Cooking up the Future

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Maple syrup that’s good for you? A frozen dessert that you can store at room temperature? A falafel-type mix made with insects? Salwa Karboune and her students are dreaming up tomorrow’s foods today.

Researchers Turn Fish Waste Into A Coffee-Scented Biofuel

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Before that beautiful salmon filet lands on your plate, a lot of less appetizing stuff gets stripped away: By one estimate, the global seafood industry produces 64 million metric tons of waste each year. A new study suggests a potentially sweeter fate for all those heads and guts: They can be turned into a coal-like substance called hydrochar, which could be used as fuel or added to soil to improve fertility and sequester carbon (Energy Fuels 2015, DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5b01671).

Macdonald Grad behind "Whisky of the Year"

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye has been selected as the 2016 Whisky of the Year by Jim Murray, author of Whisky Bible. Northern Harvest Rye's inventor turns out to be Joanna Zanin Scandella, a Macdonald graduate who has spent her whole career in blending and production planning at Diageo's lab (formerly Seagram's) in Lasalle, QC.

Read article in Financial Post/watch videos

How to choose the perfect Christmas tree

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Christmas is just under two weeks away, so if you haven't picked out a tree yet, the clock is ticking. [CTV News Montreal] asked David Wees from the Plant Science Department of �㽶��Ƶ for some tips on what to look for.

Read article/watch video

Air Canada Backs Effort to Build Homegrown ‘Green’ Jet Fuel Infrasructure

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

The University of Toronto, �㽶��Ƶ [BioFuelNet - Don Smith] and the International Air Transport Association are also part of the project as members of the BioFuelNet Aviation Task Force. Funding is coming from the Green Aviation Research and Development Network, which gets its support from the federal government and Canada’s aerospace sector.

Le carnage des poussins mâles pourrait bientôt prendre fin

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Chaque année, des millions de poussins mâles, jugés sans valeur par l'industrie des poules pondeuses, sont euthanasiés dès leur sortie de l'oeuf. Une pratique que l'Allemagne veut cesser d'ici 2017, et à laquelle une mystérieuse invention de l'Université McGill pourrait mettre fin....Au Québec, l'Université McGill planche aussi secrètement sur une technologie semblable.

What if the only way to save the planet is to dramatically slow our economies

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

“The ultimate objective is not to establish a degrowth economy—the goal is to establish an economic system which is in line with biological limits,” Dr. Nicolas Kosoy, a professor in Ecological Economics at �㽶��Ƶ, tells Quartz. “It would be achieved through small-scale practices on a community level.”

Read article

Life lessons on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur with Peter McAuslan

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

| EDUARDO GANEM CUENCA

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

It’s a tough job market out there, and students can no longer rely on getting a job right out of university. Students from McGill’s Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences longing to start business ventures of their own now have a new toolkit to help them reach their goals—the Entrepreneurship and Innovation program.

Growing Young Farmers at the Macdonald Student Gardens

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

It was nearing eleven and the late September sun was beating down on the rolling cornfields surrounding the quiet town of Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue as I toured the MacDonald Student Run-Ecological Gardens (MSEG). On the two-acre plot of land situated on �㽶��Ƶ’s MacDonald Campus Farm, a small but passionate team of student farmers is growing over sixty different crop species.

Read the article

Lest We Forget - Remembrance Day Ceremonies at Macdonald

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

| November 6 2015

Faculty, staff and students from McGill's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences joined with their campus partners - John Abbott College and Macdonald High School - as well as with Veterans from the Veterans' Hosital in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and invited guests from the local community to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy the freedoms and privileges we have today.

Dean Anja Geitman shared her personal experience:

Study finds plants need active social lives to stay healthy

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

STUDY FINDS PLANTS NEED ACTIVE SOCIAL LIVES TO STAY HEALTHY

Speaker challenges Conference participants to "take action"

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

| KATHY MACLEAN, October 27, 2015

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Why do we wait for a crisis to hit before we take action? Has "prevention is better than a cure" lost all its meaning? Two important questions, Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, put to attendees at the Public Lecture launching the 8th McGill Conference on Global Food Security: Current and Future Challenges for Sustainable Food Security.

Honorary Degree Recipient Receives Nobel Prize in Medicine

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Dr. William C. Campbell, D.Sc.'07, is among the three scientists awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, announced October 5, 2015, by the Nobel Prize Committee. William Campbell received his Honorary Doctorate at the Macdonald Campus convocation in 2007.

Breakfast Television visits the Mac Campus Farm

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

City TV's morning show, Breakfast Television, spent an early morning on the Macdonald Campus Farm to hear about McGill's agriculture programs and try to learn some farm skills. Visits were made to the Dairy Barn, the Horticulture Centre, and the high tunnels; reporter Wilder Weir talked with Farm Director Paul Meldrum and Mike Bleho about the various programs offered at Macdonald and the "McGill Feeding McGill" program.

Watch the broadcast

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��; &��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Farming of the future

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Bioresource Engineering professor Mark Lefsrud and PhD candidate Débora Parrine were featured on CBC's The National on Tuesday, September 22.

Mark spoke about his work with Urban Barns, and how the new growth systems that he is developing are changing the face of agriculture.

Laptops in classrooms distracting students

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Associate Dean (Student Affairs) Chris Buddle was interviewed on CBC's The Current about the use of laptops in the classroom. A new study suggests that taking notes on a laptop leads to poorer marks citing distraction. Buddle says that "laptops and technology can play a pretty powerful role in the classroom..."

Listen to the entire program or to Professor Buddle's comments that begin at approximately 16:00 mins into the episode.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

Interview with Lawrence Goodridge, Professor and Salmonella Researcher

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Professor Lawrence Goodridge, Ian and Jayne Munro Chair in Food Safety and Food Science professor, was interviewed by Food Safety News about his $9.8 M Salmonella research project while attending recent International Association for Food Protection meetings in Portland, Oregon.

&��;��&��;��&��;/��&��;

$1 Million donation to Macdonald College Campus

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:09:29 +0000

Gift from graduate William Ritchie forms centrepiece of $2.5-million plan to educate the public, open campus to more visitors

A $1-million gift from Macdonald College of �㽶��Ƶ alumnus J. William Ritchie, BSc(Agr)'51, will provide major support for McGill’s Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in its efforts to open its Macdonald campus to more visitors and provide a unique, hands-on education into the critical role of agriculture in the food supply chain.