Թ News - Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences /channels/news_feeds/all/term/agr_env_sci_fac/rss en In polar regions, microbes are influencing climate change as frozen ecosystems thaw, Թ review finds  /channels/channels/news/polar-regions-microbes-are-influencing-climate-change-frozen-ecosystems-thaw-mcgill-review-finds-370584 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Microbes across Earth’s coldest regions are becoming more active as glaciers, permafrost and sea ice thaw, accelerating carbon release and potentially amplifying climate change, according to a new international review from Թ. </p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-primary-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="no-float" src="/channels/files/channels/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/channels/image/gettyimages-1708150164.jpg?itok=H_MHVP5K" width="160" height="90" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-published-date field-type-datestamp field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="custom-multi-date"><div class="multi-date first"><span class="label">Published: </span><span class="day">26 </span><span class="month">January </span><span class="year">2026</span></div></div></div></div></div> Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:35:08 +0000 webfull 215157 at /channels Թ researchers create shapeshifting materials that could power the next generation of soft robots /channels/channels/news/mcgill-researchers-create-shapeshifting-materials-could-power-next-generation-soft-robots-370543 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Թ engineers have developed new ultra-thin materials that can be programmed to move, fold and reshape themselves, much like animated origami. They open the door to softer, safer and more adaptable robots that could be used in medical tools that gently move inside the body, wearable devices that change shape on the skin or smart packaging that reacts to its environment.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-primary-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="no-float" src="/channels/files/channels/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/channels/image/gettyimages-1088129634.jpg?itok=RzyN135a" width="160" height="107" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-published-date field-type-datestamp field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="custom-multi-date"><div class="multi-date first"><span class="label">Published: </span><span class="day">23 </span><span class="month">January </span><span class="year">2026</span></div></div></div></div></div> Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:59:18 +0000 webfull 215107 at /channels Թ researchers identify a range of unexpected chemical contaminants in human milk /channels/channels/news/mcgill-researchers-identify-range-unexpected-chemical-contaminants-human-milk-370441 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>An interdisciplinary team including researchers at Թ has found a range of unexpected chemical contaminants in human milk samples from Canada and South Africa. The chemicals include traces of pesticides, antimicrobials and additives used in plastics and personal-care products. The findings were published across five papers.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-primary-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="no-float" src="/channels/files/channels/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/channels/image/BreastfeedingWithDoctor?itok=Nqnqi1R_" width="160" height="107" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-published-date field-type-datestamp field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="custom-multi-date"><div class="multi-date first"><span class="label">Published: </span><span class="day">20 </span><span class="month">January </span><span class="year">2026</span></div></div></div></div></div> Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:45:07 +0000 webfull 214951 at /channels Թ professor awarded one of the eight science diplomacy chairs newly created by the Fonds de recherche du Québec /channels/channels/news/mcgill-professor-awarded-one-eight-science-diplomacy-chairs-newly-created-fonds-de-recherche-du-369876 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div><em>Ebenezer Miezah Kwofie, based at Macdonald Campus, will work to advance food sustainability in Africa </em></div> <div> </div> <div> <p><a href="/bioeng/kwofie-ebenezer-miezah">Ebenezer Miezah Kwofie</a>, Assistant Professor in the Bioresource Engineering Department, has been awarded one of eight science diplomacy chairs newly created by the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ).</p></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-primary-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="no-float" src="/channels/files/channels/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/channels/image/kwofie_ebenezer_19_alextranphoto.jpg?itok=n_NvGeRQ" width="160" height="107" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-published-date field-type-datestamp field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="custom-multi-date"><div class="multi-date first"><span class="label">Published: </span><span class="day">16 </span><span class="month">December </span><span class="year">2025</span></div></div></div></div></div> Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:31:34 +0000 webfull 214320 at /channels Microencapsulated B-vitamins help dairy cows produce more milk with fewer emissions /channels/channels/news/microencapsulated-b-vitamins-help-dairy-cows-produce-more-milk-fewer-emissions-369734 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>A new international study led by Թ in collaboration with <a href="https://www.jefo.ca/">Jefo Nutrition</a> shows that supplementing dairy cow diets with microencapsulated B-vitamins can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing milk yield and quality. The use of the feed additive cut global warming potential, an internationally standardized measure of climate impact, by up to 18 per cent across seven countries.  </p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-primary-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="no-float" src="/channels/files/channels/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/channels/image/gettyimages-1160802367.jpg?itok=SHvMGDr-" width="160" height="102" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-published-date field-type-datestamp field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="custom-multi-date"><div class="multi-date first"><span class="label">Published: </span><span class="day">11 </span><span class="month">December </span><span class="year">2025</span></div></div></div></div></div> Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:38:40 +0000 webfull 214212 at /channels Scientists decode the full range of oat genomes, opening the door to more nutritious, climate-smart crops /channels/channels/news/scientists-decode-full-range-oat-genomes-opening-door-more-nutritious-climate-smart-crops-369327 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Researchers have cracked one of agriculture’s most complicated genomes, revealing long-hidden DNA rearrangements that could help scientists breed oats that are more resilient, nutritious and sustainable.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09676-7">study</a>, by an international consortium that included researchers from Թ and published in <i>Nature, </i>presents the first-ever “pangenome” and “pantranscriptome” of oats. These map all known oat genes and track how they behave across 33 varieties that grow around the world.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-primary-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="no-float" src="/channels/files/channels/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/channels/image/screenshot_2025-11-28_at_9.16.04_am.png?itok=Z2CARARI" width="160" height="123" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-published-date field-type-datestamp field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="custom-multi-date"><div class="multi-date first"><span class="label">Published: </span><span class="day">28 </span><span class="month">November </span><span class="year">2025</span></div></div></div></div></div> Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:16:51 +0000 webfull 213727 at /channels Patrick Cortbaoui Appointed UNAI Vice Chair /channels/channels/news/patrick-cortbaoui-appointed-unai-vice-chair-368759 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="/globalfoodsecurity/about/senior-managing-director">Patrick Cortbaoui</a>, Senior Managing Director of Թ’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.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-published-date field-type-datestamp field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="custom-multi-date"><div class="multi-date first"><span class="label">Published: </span><span class="day">5 </span><span class="month">November </span><span class="year">2025</span></div></div></div></div></div> Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:23:23 +0000 webfull 213076 at /channels Experts: Food insecurity in Quebec /channels/channels/news/experts-food-insecurity-quebec-368666 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Food bank use in Quebec in 2025 has hit record numbers, surpassing 3 million assistance requests, according to Food Banks Canada's <a href="http://foodbankscanada.ca/hunger-in-canada/hungercount/">HungerCount 2025</a> recent report. Employed people and students are among the fastest growing user groups, with food banks struggling to keep up with demand.  </p> <p>Թ experts are available to comment on this topic: </p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-primary-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="no-float" src="/channels/files/channels/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/channels/image/foodbank.jpg?itok=qGGorKwo" width="160" height="107" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-published-date field-type-datestamp field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="custom-multi-date"><div class="multi-date first"><span class="label">Published: </span><span class="day">30 </span><span class="month">October </span><span class="year">2025</span></div></div></div></div></div> Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:59:18 +0000 webfull 212973 at /channels WELL-E: Rethinking Cow Care with AI /channels/channels/news/well-e-rethinking-cow-care-ai-368517 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>In Canada, researchers from Թ’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></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-primary-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="no-float" src="/channels/files/channels/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/channels/image/32967040888_21904da9fe_c.jpg?itok=BCg_jYNF" width="160" height="89" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-published-date field-type-datestamp field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="custom-multi-date"><div class="multi-date first"><span class="label">Published: </span><span class="day">22 </span><span class="month">October </span><span class="year">2025</span></div></div></div></div></div> Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:25:23 +0000 webfull 212812 at /channels AES administrative appointments /channels/channels/news/aes-administrative-appointments-368116 <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Dean Salwa Karboune is please to announce the following appointments in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences:</p> <h2><a href="/nrs/head-jessica">Jessica Head</a></h2> <h3>Director of the Morgan Arboretum and Molson Nature Reserve</h3> <p>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.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-primary-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img class="no-float" src="/channels/files/channels/styles/wysiwyg_medium/public/channels/image/193.jpg?itok=5QSV2wNm" width="160" height="116" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-published-date field-type-datestamp field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="custom-multi-date"><div class="multi-date first"><span class="label">Published: </span><span class="day">1 </span><span class="month">October </span><span class="year">2025</span></div></div></div></div></div> Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:12:14 +0000 webfull 212360 at /channels