Features

Climate change profoundly affects Indigenous peoples in Canada and abroad, but their concerns continue to go unheard, according to a new University of Guelph study led by First Nations communities in Ontario.

Based on a landmark gathering of First Nations representatives from the Great Lakes region, the study urges decision makers to include Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in discussions about climate change impacts, said Dr. Ally Menzies, a post-doc in the School of Environmental Sciences (SES) within the Ontario Agricultural College, and first author of the paper.

For almost a year, the COVID-19 pandemic kept most researchers away from the Arctic, a region key to groundbreaking research on climate change and other pressing environmental concerns. Now, a $205,000 federal grant will enable University of Guelph researchers and their partners in Nunavut to begin an Inuit-led project to help strengthen multi-year science programs in the North.

Amber Zupan completed her undergraduate degree in animal biology at the University of Guelph. She is completing a master of science in animal biosciences focusing on animal nutrition. Her current research is looking at the minimum fibre requirement for feedlot cattle and improving the prediction of ruminal pH. Amber looks forward to working full-time with Grober Nutrition after graduation.

Annet Laan is a recent graduate of the Bachelor of Commerce, Food and Agriculture Business program. During her undergrad, she completed her co-op work terms with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and was offered a full-time position after graduation where she now works as a loans analyst. We recently chatted with her to learn more about her role and experience at the University of Guelph.

Serena Viola’s research on accessing culturally significant foods in rural Ontario provides some food for thought.

As a capacity development and extension student, her research is looking at how to make rural communities more inclusive. She believes that food is a crucial starting point.

“When people make and prepare food, it really translates to culture and that is home,” says Serena. “Food can be viewed as an opportunity to build on the importance of cultural representation and inclusivity in rural communities.”

Food prices have been on the rise since last year, and U of G food and agricultural economists say Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has only made the situation worse.

Drs. Mike von Massow and Alfons Weersink, both professors in the Ontario Agricultural College within the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, said the invasion will have short-term effects on the global food supply chain and possible long-term consequences, too. 

Food safety and mitigating foodborne illness is top priority for Brenda Zai, M.Sc. food science student. Her sense of curiosity, desire for critical thinking and inclination to be in a lab and research-based environment led her to pursue graduate studies at the University of Guelph (U of G).

“During my food science undergrad at U of G, I thoroughly enjoyed food microbiology, which is what I'm specializing in right now and it's really exciting,” says Brenda.

Oil and food prices are rising because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and so are the prices of fertilizer.  

Those increased prices could have dire effects including malnutrition, said a University of Guelph researcher.  

Dr. Manish Raizada is a professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture in the Ontario Agricultural College. His lab focuses on developing low-cost technologies that reduce the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides to grow corn and other crops, by replacing the products with more natural, biological resources. 

Felix Yip graduated from the bachelor of science, food science program in 2019. He now works as a Product Development Coordinator for Maple Lodge Farms based in Brampton, Ontario. We recently chatted with Felix to learn more about his role and University of Guelph experience.

While Canada and many other western nations are moving quickly to impose sanctions on Russia over its action in Ukraine, a University of Guelph trade and policy research says it is likely only average Russians the sanctions will hurt.

Dr. Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor is a professor in U of G’s Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics who researches international trade and globalization and has examined how trade sanctions have affected political outcomes.