Animal Science - NEWS

�� researchers optimize process for converting human urine into clean energy

�� — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:07:32 +0000

Researchers at �� have improved the efficiency of a method for converting human urine into clean energy.

The method employs microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which use bacteria to turn organic waste into electricity, providing a sustainable and low-cost means of treating wastewater while generating energy from an abundant source. The �� research provides insights into which urine concentrations are optimal for this process.

In polar regions, microbes are influencing climate change as frozen ecosystems thaw, �� review finds

�� — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:35:08 +0000

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 ��.

�� researchers create shapeshifting materials that could power the next generation of soft robots

�� — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:59:18 +0000

�� 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.

�� researchers identify a range of unexpected chemical contaminants in human milk

�� — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:45:07 +0000

An interdisciplinary team including researchers at �� 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.

�� professor awarded one of the eight science diplomacy chairs newly created by the Fonds de recherche du Québec

�� — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:31:34 +0000

Ebenezer Miezah Kwofie, based at Macdonald Campus, will work to advance food sustainability in Africa

Ebenezer Miezah Kwofie, 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).

Microencapsulated B-vitamins help dairy cows produce more milk with fewer emissions

�� — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:38:40 +0000

A new international study led by �� in collaboration with Jefo Nutrition 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.

Scientists decode the full range of oat genomes, opening the door to more nutritious, climate-smart crops

�� — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:16:51 +0000

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.

The study, by an international consortium that included researchers from �� and published in Nature, 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.

Remembrance ceremony brings generations together to honour Canadian veterans

�� — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:57:15 +0000

On November 6, the John Abbott–Macdonald Remembrance Day Ceremony united students, veterans, and community members in tribute to Canada’s armed forces. Held on the John Abbott College football field, the event featured moving speeches and a solemn wreath-laying at Macdonald Campus’s War Memorial.

Patrick Cortbaoui Appointed UNAI Vice Chair

�� — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:23:23 +0000

Patrick Cortbaoui, Senior Managing Director of ��’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.

Experts: Food insecurity in Quebec

�� — 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.

�� experts are available to comment on this topic:

WELL-E: Rethinking Cow Care with AI

�� — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:25:23 +0000

In Canada, researchers from ��’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.

AES administrative appointments

�� — 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.

Canada wins bid to host the International Congress of Nutrition

�� — 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.

Cracking the Code of Pre-Harvest Sprouting

�� — 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.

Des abbatoirs qui vont de ferme en ferme

�� — Thu, 24 May 2018 14:53:53 +0000

Animaux transportés sur de longues distances et stressés, cadence d'abattage élevée… Devant les désavantages de l'abattage industriel, une autre solution est possible : l'abattoir mobile, qui se déplace directement à la ferme. […] Kevin Wade, directeur du département des sciences animales de l'Université �� : Légalement, il est possible d'exploiter un abattoir mobile au Québec, à condition de respecter les exigences prévues par la réglementation (loi et règlements).

Father's lasting influence: Molecular foundations of intergenerational transmission of the paternal environment

�� — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 18:02:46 +0000

Laval and �� researchers team up with Health Canada and international researchers from Africa, Italy, Copenhagen and Greenland to investigate the impact of environmental exposures on the hertibale information coded in the fathers sperm and the health of offspring. The research team includes Professor Sarah Kimmins of the Department of Animal Science and is funded for $1.5 million by the Institute of Aboriginal Health, and the Institute of Gender and Health.