Faculty

Quebec's Exceldor to be sold to Ontario company Sofina Foods—Pascal Thériault comments

admin — Thu, 22 May 2025 19:46:52 +0000

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.

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.

��Ǿ�Ʒ�� Joins Ghanaian Partners to Empower Youth and Transform Agrifood Systems

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:18:38 +0000

As part of the Nkabom Collaborative supported by the Mastercard Foundation, ��Ǿ�Ʒ�� has joined forces with Ghanaian institutions in a bold initiative to foster youth leadership and transform the agrifood ecosystem in Ghana and beyond.

Macdonald Campus welcomes new leadership

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 15:24:55 +0000

As we welcome the Fall semester, the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is pleased to announce the following appointments:

Sebastien Faucher Associate Dean (Research)

Dr. Faucher obtained his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the Université de Montréal in 2007 and joined our Faculty in July 2011. He has previously served as Acting Associate Dean (Research) in 2020.

Rising demand at food banks indicative of Canada's affordability crisis

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:35:47 +0000

Food banks across Canada set a new record for demand in 2024, with more than two million monthly visits—nearly double the rate seen five years prior, reports CBC News.

One reason for the spike in demand is the rising cost of food.

"What we're encountering right now is a problem where food inflation is bigger than general inflation," economist and agronomist Pascal Thériault, Senior Faculty Lecturer at ��Ǿ�Ʒ��, told CBC.

Nutrition students recognized at 2025 CNS Conference

admin — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 14:18:49 +0000

Recently, the Canadian Nutrition Society held its annual conference, where awards were distributed to winners of the society's poster presentations. Among them, two ��Ǿ�Ʒ�� grad students studying nutrition were recognized.

Ferial Hamdi, M.Sc. Thesis student with Prof. Brittany Jock (formerly of the School of Human Nutrition), won the George Beaton Award for Student Work in Public Health Nutrition and took second place in the Graduate Oral Competition

Radio-Canada reports on 15 years of ��Ǿ�Ʒ�� Feeding ��Ǿ�Ʒ��

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 21:50:45 +0000

For 15 years, ��Ǿ�Ʒ�� dining halls have been serving up fresh, local produce grown by students at Macdonald Campus as part of their agricultural and environmental sciences programs. Last year alone, 3.4 tons of tomatoes and almost 2 tons of onions ended up on students' plates thanks to the ��Ǿ�Ʒ�� Feeding ��Ǿ�Ʒ�� initiative.

AES administrative appointments

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:12:14 +0000

Dean Salwa Karboune is please to announce the following appointments in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences:

Jessica Head Director of the Morgan Arboretum and Molson Nature Reserve

Professor Jessica Head has been appointed as Director of the Morgan Arboretum and Molson Nature Reserve for a three-year term starting September 2025. Professor Head is an Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences.

New Pathy Fellow from ��Ǿ�Ʒ��'s Macdonald Campus will focus on sustainable farming with Élèves des champs

admin — Thu, 22 May 2025 19:50:36 +0000

Two new ��Ǿ�Ʒ�� graduates have won Pathy Fellowships, including one graduate from ��Ǿ�Ʒ��'s Macdonald Campus. The $50,000 award recognizes young leaders who have innovative approaches to creating change, enabling them to dedicate a year of their early career to a cause and community they are passionate about while engaging in hands-on and practical learning.

Local goods shop is filling the grocery gap in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue—comments from Prof. Daiva Nielsen

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:35:43 +0000

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.

Cracking the Code of Pre-Harvest Sprouting

admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:44:13 +0000

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.

How artificial food dyes are regulated in Canada

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:56:19 +0000

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced plans to phase out some food dyes, most of which remain allowed in Canada. CBC News spoke to experts about the safety of these dyes and how they are regulated in Canada.

Should we fear cadmium? Comments from Mathieu Leduc

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:50:40 +0000

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.

Pascal Thériault warns consumers to be on the lookout for misleading Canadian labels

admin — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:54:28 +0000

Canned soup giant Campbell's has come under fire for engaging in "maple washing" — a marketing tactic where foreign-made products are falsely associated with Canada through the use of maple leaves or vague labels like “Designed in Canada.” This misleading practice gives consumers the impression that products are Canadian when they are not.

Former ��Ǿ�Ʒ�� Professors awarded Society of Canadian Ornithologists' Jamie Smith Memorial Mentoring Award

admin — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:37:09 +0000

The Society of Canadian Ornithologists has selected Professor Emeritus David Bird and retired Associate Professor Rodger Titman, who both taught for many years in ��Ǿ�Ʒ��'s Department of Natural Resource Sciences, to receive the Jamie Smith Memorial Mentoring Award. This award recognizes exceptional contributions to the training and fostering of Canadian ornithologists.

How peer learning improved agricultural technology adoption in Tanzania

admin — Thu, 22 May 2025 20:08:14 +0000

As mobile phones proliferate across the developing world, digital delivery of agricultural advice is positioned to play a transformative role in increasing agricultural productivity and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers. Meanwhile, evidence shows that peer-to-peer learning, at least in person, can successfully promote technology adoption.