External /consortium-rita/taxonomy/term/4/all en BÉNÉFIQ 2025 /consortium-rita/channels/event/benefiq-2025-368704 <p>International rendez-vous on health food and ingredients</p> Mon, 03 Nov 2025 19:48:34 +0000 carolyne.dubreuil@mcgill.ca 12711 at /consortium-rita Study raises red flags about BPA replacements /consortium-rita/channels/news/study-raises-red-flags-about-bpa-replacements-366691 <p>Chemicals used to replace bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging can trigger potentially harmful effects in human ovarian cells, according to º£½Ç¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ researchers.</p> <p>A new study examined several chemicals commonly used in price stickers on packaged meat, fish, cheese and produce found early signs of potential toxicity.</p> Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:46:31 +0000 admin 12709 at /consortium-rita º£½Ç¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ Joins Ghanaian Partners to Empower Youth and Transform Agrifood Systems /consortium-rita/channels/news/mcgill-joins-ghanaian-partners-empower-youth-and-transform-agrifood-systems-366061 <p>As part of the Nkabom Collaborative supported by the Mastercard Foundation, º£½Ç¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ has joined forces with Ghanaian institutions in a bold initiative to foster youth leadership and transform the agrifood ecosystem in Ghana and beyond.</p> Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:18:38 +0000 admin 12682 at /consortium-rita Will the new Canadian Grocery Code of Conduct work? /consortium-rita/channels/news/will-new-canadian-grocery-code-conduct-work-365514 <p>Canada's grocery sector code of conduct will finally come into effect on June 1, after years of discussion.</p> <p>The voluntary grocery code, which all major retailers have agreed to sign on to, aims to support smaller retailers by providing guidelines for fair negotiations with suppliers.</p> Mon, 26 May 2025 20:44:00 +0000 admin 12702 at /consortium-rita Local goods shop is filling the grocery gap in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue—comments from Prof. Daiva Nielsen /consortium-rita/channels/news/local-goods-shop-filling-grocery-gap-ste-anne-de-bellevue-comments-prof-daiva-nielsen-366062 <p>Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., residents have a new spot to do their groceries. After the suburb's only grocery store closed for the second time, B Factory, a locally owned beeswax products shop that had been on the verge of bankruptcy, expanded its space to include a small grocery section called Mon Marché Local.</p> Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:35:43 +0000 admin 12681 at /consortium-rita IGA and Metro slow to comply with new price display law—comments from Pascal Thériault /consortium-rita/channels/news/iga-and-metro-slow-comply-new-price-display-law-comments-pascal-theriault-365533 <p>In <a href="https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/05/24/iga-et-metro-bafouent-la-nouvelle-loi-sur-laffichage-des-prix">the IGA and Metro grocery stores visited this week by <em>Le Journal de Montréal</em></a>, the price per pound of discounted products appeared on signage, but the regular price per pound was still not indicated, contrary to a new regulation that came into effect on May 7 which requires that grocers to "indicate a single unit of measurement for all goods of the same type." This rule aims to allow consumers to easily compare prices.</p> Tue, 27 May 2025 19:59:37 +0000 admin 12700 at /consortium-rita Cracking the Code of Pre-Harvest Sprouting /consortium-rita/channels/news/cracking-code-pre-harvest-sprouting-367988 <p>Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a major global issue affecting cereal crops like wheat and barley. It occurs when grains begin to germinate on the plant before harvest due to environmental triggers like moisture and humidity, combined with genetic factors such as low seed dormancy. This premature sprouting degrades starch, reducing grain quality and leading to significant economic losses—estimated at $1 billion globally, and $100 million annually in Canada.</p> Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:44:13 +0000 admin 12671 at /consortium-rita Bridging worlds as the ice recedes /consortium-rita/channels/news/bridging-worlds-ice-recedes-366064 <p>º£½Ç¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ PhD candidate Alexandra Langwieder works with James Bay Indigenous communities to better understand polar bears</p> Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:55:31 +0000 admin 12679 at /consortium-rita Rising mercury levels in Arctic wildlife—Prof. Nil Basu comments on new Aarhus University study /consortium-rita/channels/news/rising-mercury-levels-arctic-wildlife-prof-nil-basu-comments-new-aarhus-university-study-365754 <p>A new study, led by researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark, suggests that levels of mercury in Arctic wildlife could continue to rise significantly even as countries curb their emissions. The researchers' analysis indicates that ocean currents are distributing large, century-old stores of mercury through marine ecosystems in the Arctic.</p> <p>Large predators end up ingesting the most mercury through their diet of contaminated prey. This poses a serious problem for communities that hunt marine mammals with high concentrations of mercury, like seals.</p> Mon, 16 Jun 2025 20:11:42 +0000 admin 12694 at /consortium-rita Quebec wine sales surge after U.S alcohol boycott—comments from Pascal Thériault /consortium-rita/channels/news/quebec-wine-sales-surge-after-us-alcohol-boycott-comments-pascal-theriault-366238 <p>Quebec wine sales have gone up since the removal of American alcohol products from the shelves of the SAQ last March and local producers are working hard to fill demand.</p> <p>Agronomist and economist <a href="/macdonald/pascal-theriault">Pascal Thériault</a>, Director of º£½Ç¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ's Farm Management and Technology Program, <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/quebec-wine-sales-surge-after-us-alcohol-boycott/">told CTV News</a> that producers shouldn’t bank on this boycott for long.</p> Mon, 04 Aug 2025 17:41:55 +0000 admin 12674 at /consortium-rita Should we fear cadmium? Comments from Mathieu Leduc /consortium-rita/channels/news/should-we-fear-cadmium-comments-mathieu-leduc-365919 <p>French doctors are raising the alarm about rising exposure to cadmium, a toxic heavy metal found in phosphate fertilizers. Cadmium is a known carcinogen linked to kidney damage, bone disease, and other long-term health issues, even at low doses. French doctors are urging France's government to tighten fertilizer regulations to reduce this public health risk.</p> Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:50:40 +0000 admin 12691 at /consortium-rita Prof. Xin Zhao named Fellow of the American Dairy Science Association /consortium-rita/channels/news/prof-xin-zhao-named-fellow-american-dairy-science-association-365435 <p>Congratulations to <a href="/animal/staff/zhao">Xin Zhao</a>, Distinguished James º£½Ç¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ Professor in the Department of Animal Science at º£½Ç¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ, on being named Fellow of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA). The ADSA will present Professor Zhao with this prestigious award on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at their annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.</p> Tue, 20 May 2025 19:05:48 +0000 admin 12706 at /consortium-rita WELL-E: Rethinking Cow Care with AI /consortium-rita/channels/news/well-e-rethinking-cow-care-ai-368517 <p>In Canada, researchers from º£½Ç¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ’s WELL-E Chair are using artificial intelligence to improve the welfare of dairy cows. At a farm in Montreal, high-definition cameras track cows’ movements, ear positions, and walking patterns to gather behavioral data. These subtle signals help assess the animals’ physical and mental health.</p> Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:25:23 +0000 admin 12668 at /consortium-rita What are those fluffy seeds floating in the air? David Wees explains /consortium-rita/channels/news/what-are-those-fluffy-seeds-floating-air-david-wees-explains-366060 <p>If you've been noticing white fluff floating around Montreal lately, you're not the only one. Those are seeds from the Eastern Cottonwood tree and it's the season that they're spreading through the air. </p> <p><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/audio/9.6812442">CBC News</a> spoke to <a href="/macdonald/david-wees">David Wees</a>, Faculty Lecturer and Assistant Director of the Farm Management and Technology Program at º£½Ç¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ, to find out more.</p> Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:12:25 +0000 admin 12683 at /consortium-rita Quebec's Exceldor to be sold to Ontario company Sofina Foods—Pascal Thériault comments /consortium-rita/channels/news/quebecs-exceldor-be-sold-ontario-company-sofina-foods-pascal-theriault-comments-365489 <p>The Quebec cooperative Exceldor, known for its chicken breasts, wings, and nuggets, has taken steps to sell its assets to the Ontario company Aliments Sofina.</p> <p>For the sale to be completed, it must be approved by two-thirds of the cooperative's members and two-thirds of the investment shareholders, as well as the Canadian Competition Bureau.</p> Thu, 22 May 2025 19:46:52 +0000 admin 12705 at /consortium-rita