Alumni

Exploring the power of research at the 2025 Lister Science Chats

admin — Tue, 20 May 2025 13:23:28 +0000

On May 2, 2025, over 60 people gathered in the John Abbott College Library for the Lister Science Chats, where four Macdonald Campus graduate students presented their research and shared how past events as well as the discoveries, sometimes unintentional, and techniques of previous scientists made their work possible.

A passion for animal welfare

admin — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:37:18 +0000

Although Andrea Amado doesn’t come from an agricultural background, she was drawn to farms from a young age. Originally from Argentina, she moved to Sherbrooke, Quebec with her family when she was four. Some of her earliest memories are of visiting farms and connecting with the animals, especially cows and horses. This interest eventually led her to ��ϲ��, where she earned a B.Sc. in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in 2023 and is now in her second semester of the M.Sc.

Natural Resource Sciences grad students reduce lab plastic waste by nearly 50%

admin — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:24:58 +0000

Single-use plastics are everywhere—but two ��ϲ�� University researchers are redefining the norm and championing sustainability.

"Although plastic pollution wasn’t the main focus of our research, safeguarding water bodies is essential to our work, and we knew we had to address the disconnect between our values and laboratory practices."

Department of Bioresource Engineering welcomes astronaut David Saint-Jacques

admin — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 13:32:07 +0000

The Department of Bioresource Engineering (BREE) enjoyed a visit last month from David Saint-Jacques, astronaut and Deputy Director, Lunar Exploration at the Canadian Space Agency, and BREE graduate Chris Patterson. They met with BREE undergrad and grad students who presented their projects, highlighting links between their research and bioregenerative life support system goals for extended space missions on the lunar surface and beyond in the near future.

Live longer by swapping red meat for plant proteins: ��ϲ�� research on CBC's What on Earth

admin — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 19:21:31 +0000

Last year, a ��ϲ��-led study found that replacing half their red and processed meat would increase people's life expectancy an average of nine months, while cutting their diet-related carbon footprint by 25 per cent.

Inspired by Veganuary, a U.K.-based challenge to eat vegan for the month of January, the CBC News podcast What on Earth interviewed lead author and PhD graduate of ��ϲ��'s Department of Animal Science, Olivia Auclair, now a research fellow at the University of Oxford.

Evolution of Canadian agriculture and need for sustainable solutions

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 16:27:32 +0000

In the Hill Times, Saji George, Associate Professor in ��ϲ�� University's Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, argues that with the right investments in research, innovation, and farmer education, Canada can lead the global transition toward a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future.

Tariff trouble prompts Montrealers to prepare for price hikes—comments from Pascal Thériault

admin — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 20:08:55 +0000

Food including meat, vegetables, and fruits are on the long list of products from the U.S. subject to Canada’s 25% counter-tariffs.

It might take a few weeks, but most retailers will pass the cost on to Quebecers, ��ϲ�� University agricultural economist Pascal Thériault, Farm Management and Technology Program Director, told CTV News.

Bioresource Engineering Professor's company develops new technology to sex chicks before hatching

admin — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:49:28 +0000

A company founded by Department of Bioresource Engineering James ��ϲ�� Professor Michael Ngadi has succeeded in developing HyperEye, a new technology that uses hyperspectral imaging and AI to quickly and non-invasively identify the sex of a chick before it hatches.

Is eating Canadian better for your health?

admin — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 17:45:05 +0000

In a recent article, La Presse investigates whether boycotting American products could improve our health. Experts interviewed for the article said it's possible—but only if we change other eating habits in the process.

Pascal Thériault: For American farmers, it is impossible to do without Canadian potash

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 19:08:29 +0000

As the threat of impending tariffs and counter-tariffs loom, U.S. agricultural producers have very few options to substitute Canadian potash, an essential ingredient in fertilizer, ��ϲ�� agronomist and economist Pascal Thériault told TVA Nouvelles.

For this B.C. beekeeper and Mac Campus alumna, gathering groceries is sweet and sustainable

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 22:42:52 +0000

In a recent article for their What's In My Cart? series, the Globe and Mail profiles 72-year-old Julia Common, a beekeeper based in Delta, B.C. She says she was hooked on bees the first time her hands entered a hive, when she was only 21 and enrolled in agricultural studies at ��ϲ�� University’s Macdonald Campus, near her hometown of Montreal.

Addressing Canada's agricultural labour shortage—column by Pascal Thériault

admin — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 20:47:03 +0000

In 2019, RBC released an alarming report revealing a labour shortage in Canada's agricultural sector that could reach 123,000 vacant positions, a slowdown in exports compared to our competitors, a growing proportion of university and college graduates compared to those with a secondary education or less, a shortfall in GDP, and more.

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

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

Two new ��ϲ�� University graduates have won Pathy Fellowships, including one graduate from ��ϲ��'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.

��ϲ�� alumnus appointed head of the Royal Brinkman agronomy department

admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 18:05:18 +0000

Royal Brinkman Canada has appointed Mohammed Antar (PhD, P.Ag) as head of its agronomy department, noting in their announcement that he "will play a key role in helping growers enhance crop productivity and quality through innovative, science-based solutions."

Mohammed earned his Ph.D. in Plant Science (Agronomy) from ��ϲ�� University in 2024. His expertise spans agronomy, microbe-coated fertilizers, nutrient management, sustainable agriculture, and biological products.

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 ��ϲ�� University 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