The ROI on DNA: Gene Editing a Game Changer for Farmers
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
In the not-so-far-off future, artificial intelligence could help farmers analyze data to make decisions and improve their outputs.
Raw pet food, cattle linked to drug-resistant salmonella outbreak affecting mainly kids
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鈥檚 landscapes in the Anthropocene
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鈥檚 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.
Raymond Octagon 4th-floor classrooms reopen November 14th
At the start of the semester, we had to close access to the Raymond Octagon 4th-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 鈥� which included openings between tiles 鈥� presented a risk of asbestos fibres being released during the work.
Metro, a Quebecois company?
In answer to a question posed by a reader, La Presse聽looked into the origins of the Metro group with expert commentary from agricultural economist Pascal Th茅riault, Director of 海角社区's Farm Management and Technology program and Senior Faculty Lecturer.
Hundreds brave harsh weather to honour veterans
Undaunted by snow, sleet, and hail, hundreds of people gathered on John Abbott鈥檚 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
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
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
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.
A flood of ideas from 海角社区鈥檚 Brace Water Centre
Located on Macdonald Campus, many would mistake the Brace Water Centre's unassuming office for a private residence. Yet looks can be deceiving 鈥� for not only does the Centre boast an extraordinary history, it鈥檚 also associated with some of the University鈥檚 most exciting scientific researchers.
Birds nesting in agricultural lands more vulnerable to extreme heat, study finds
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.
海角社区 establishes research chair to address climate change in the North
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鈥攁nd for orcas, that鈥檚 bad news
Researchers have known for decades that orcas across the North Pacific have harmful pollutants in their system.
Where do new apple varieties come from?
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 海角社区 Plant Science lecturer and Associate Director of the university's Farm Management and Technology Program.