ɬ�﷬ News - Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Patrick Cortbaoui Appointed UNAI Vice Chair

webfull — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:23:23 +0000

Patrick Cortbaoui, Senior Managing Director of ɬ�﷬’s Margaret A. Gilliam Institute for Global Food Security, has been appointed Vice Chair for Outreach and Partnership for the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) SDG 2 Hub for the 2025–2027 term. This appointment recognizes Patrick’s ongoing leadership in advancing SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through global academic collaboration.

Published: 5 November 2025

Experts: Food insecurity in Quebec

webfull — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:59:18 +0000

Food bank use in Quebec in 2025 has hit record numbers, surpassing 3 million assistance requests, according to Food Banks Canada's HungerCount 2025 recent report. Employed people and students are among the fastest growing user groups, with food banks struggling to keep up with demand.

ɬ�﷬ experts are available to comment on this topic:

Published: 30 October 2025

WELL-E: Rethinking Cow Care with AI

webfull — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:25:23 +0000

In Canada, researchers from ɬ�﷬’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.

Published: 22 October 2025

AES administrative appointments

webfull — 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.

Published: 1 October 2025

Canada wins bid to host the International Congress of Nutrition

webfull — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:09:42 +0000

The Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS) has proudly won the bid to host the International Congress of Nutrition (ICN) 2029 in Vancouver, Canada, marking a major milestone for Canada’s nutrition community.

Published: 26 September 2025

Cracking the Code of Pre-Harvest Sprouting

webfull — 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.

Published: 24 September 2025

Macdonald Campus welcomes new leadership

webfull — 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.

Published: 3 September 2025

Study raises red flags about BPA replacements

webfull — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:46:31 +0000

Chemicals used to replace bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging can trigger potentially harmful effects in human ovarian cells, according to ɬ�﷬ researchers.

A new study examined several chemicals commonly used in price stickers on packaged meat, fish, cheese and produce found early signs of potential toxicity.

Published: 26 August 2025

Ghana's Cocoa Price Surge: A Bitter Truth for Chocolate Lovers

webfull — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 19:26:53 +0000

Last week, La Presse reporters spoke to agronomist and economist Pascal Thériault about a recent price surge of 62.58% for Ghanaian cocoa, a move aimed at supporting its struggling farmers. This significant price hike is expected to affect not only other cocoa-producing countries but also global chocolate manufacturers and consumers.

Published: 12 August 2025

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

webfull — 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.

Published: 11 August 2025