ɬ�﷬ News - Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

CN’s use of glyphosate sparks health and safety concerns—comments from David Wees

webfull — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 19:40:17 +0000

Some residents in Montreal’s Mercier-Est neighbourhood were caught off guard after Canadian National (CN) Railway sprayed a herbicide near their homes this week, CTV News reports.

Glyphosate is a powerful weedkiller banned in Montreal since 2021, as part of the city’s precautionary approach to protecting human health and the environment. But CN operates under federal jurisdiction, which means it isn’t subject to municipal rules.

Published: 7 August 2025

Welcome message from the Dean / Message de bienvenue de la doyenne

webfull — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:30:14 +0000

Dear Macdonald Campus Community,

It is with great excitement and gratitude that I begin my journey as the new Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Associate Vice-President of the Macdonald Campus at ɬ�﷬. As I begin my term, I’m excited to connect with each of you - professors, lecturers, staff, learners, students, alumni, donors, and allies. Thank you for the trust you have placed in me.

Published: 7 August 2025

Quebec wine sales surge after U.S alcohol boycott—comments from Pascal Thériault

webfull — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 17:41:55 +0000

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.

Agronomist and economist Pascal Thériault, Director of ɬ�﷬'s Farm Management and Technology Program, told CTV News that producers shouldn’t bank on this boycott for long.

Published: 4 August 2025

Seeds of Innovation: GEFSES Symposium Bridges Continents Through Genome Editing

webfull — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:45:59 +0000

In March 2025, the GEFSES program hosted its annual international symposium, "Harnessing Genome Editing for Resilient Agriculture," in Ludhiana, India. The event was held in collaboration with Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU).

Published: 30 July 2025

Sacrifice Zones: Life along the fenceline between the land and industry

webfull — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 15:21:51 +0000

In a recent article exploring the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution on Indigenous fenceline communities in Canada—residential areas that sit next to facilities that emit pollutants like noise, light, odours, chemicals, and even traffic—Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) spoke to Kanien’kehá:ka environmental advocate Lynn Jacobs about how plastic waste and industrial pollution have turned Indigenous homelands into “sacrifice zones.” Jacobs, who is pursuing a Ph.D.

Published: 22 July 2025

Radio-Canada reports on 15 years of ɬ�﷬ Feeding ɬ�﷬

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

For 15 years, ɬ�﷬ 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 ɬ�﷬ Feeding ɬ�﷬ initiative.

Published: 21 July 2025

Bioresource Engineering Ph.D. candidate pitches biogas to turn farm waste into renewable energy

webfull — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 19:36:13 +0000

In her presentation at a scientific symposium hosted by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre in June, ɬ�﷬ Ph.D. candidate Anjaly Paul highlighted the potential for Canadian farms to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while generating renewable energy, by converting agricultural waste into biogas.

Published: 21 July 2025

Natural Resource Sciences postdoc wins prestigious Banting Fellowship

webfull — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:28:02 +0000

Anaïs Médieu, a ɬ�﷬ postdoctoral researcher working in Natural Resource Sciences Professor Kyle Elliott's lab, has been awarded a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship for her project on the interactive effects of climate change and plastic contamination on Arctic seabirds.

Published: 21 July 2025

Bridging worlds as the ice recedes

webfull — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:55:31 +0000

ɬ�﷬ PhD candidate Alexandra Langwieder works with James Bay Indigenous communities to better understand polar bears

Published: 17 July 2025

The first fully automated greenhouse in Canada—comments from Pascal Thériault

webfull — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:52:15 +0000

In Ontario, a fully automated greenhouse allows lettuce to be grown and harvested with virtually no human intervention—a first in Canada.

Haven Greens had to invest $50 million to make it happen. But the result is striking: the company can operate with just five employees in the greenhouse, whereas it would have required more than 100 pickers using the traditional method.

Published: 17 July 2025