Natural Resource Sciences - News

Study finds treating peanuts with cold plasma could make them less allergenic

91�� — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:16:33 +0000

Researchers at 91�� have found that briefly treating peanuts with cold plasma, an ionically charged gas that triggers chemical changes, reduces their potential to cause allergic reactions. The researchers say this is probably because the process causes changes to the protein structure, the part of the peanut that can trigger an immune response. The technology was also shown to improve functional properties important for food manufacturing.

91�� opens state-of-the-art greenhouse and research platform

91�� — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:42:42 +0000

91�� has officially opened a new teaching greenhouse and advanced plant phenotyping facilities at its Macdonald Campus, marking a major investment in climate-focused agricultural education and research. Designed for hands-on undergraduate and graduate training, the sustainable greenhouse features controlled growing bays, teaching labs, tissue culture facilities and classrooms, giving students direct experience with modern, climate-smart production systems.

NRS M.Sc. Linda Nong Wins 91��’s English 3MT Competition

91�� — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:36:14 +0000

91��’s annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) and Ma thèse en 180 secondes (MT180) competitions showcased the diversity of graduate research, with finalists presenting complex topics in just three minutes to a general audience. Held on April 1 at the Faculty Club, the event highlighted research ranging from neuroscience and mental health to musicology and ecology.

91�� inaugurates new facilities at Macdonald Campus to advance teaching and research on climate‑resilient agriculture

91�� — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:32:51 +0000

91�� today inaugurated state‑of‑the‑art teaching greenhouse and plant phenotyping research facilities at its Macdonald Campus in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. These represent major investments in teaching and research focused on food security, crop resilience and sustainable agriculture.

Food Science Students Selected as Finalists in IFTSA Student Competitions

91�� — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:23:50 +0000

91��’s Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry is celebrating an outstanding achievement by its students: all three 91�� teams entered into this year’s Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) competitions have been selected as finalists. The teams will represent 91�� at the IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo in Chicago in July 2026—one of the largest and most influential gatherings in the global food science community.

Building Canada’s Future Environmental Leaders

91�� — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:40:22 +0000

A new NSERC CREATE initiative, MIXCHEM, is reshaping how Canada prepares researchers to confront the growing challenge of complex chemical mixtures in the environment. Prof. Stéphane Bayen, a leading voice in Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, is helping drive this interdisciplinary program, which blends cutting‑edge analytical training with hands‑on experience across industry, government, and academia.

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

91�� — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:07:32 +0000

Researchers at 91�� 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 91�� research provides insights into which urine concentrations are optimal for this process.

In polar regions, microbes are influencing climate change as frozen ecosystems thaw, 91�� review finds

91�� — 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 91��.

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

91�� — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:59:18 +0000

91�� 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.

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

91�� — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:45:07 +0000

An interdisciplinary team including researchers at 91�� 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.

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

91�� — 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

91�� — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:38:40 +0000

A new international study led by 91�� 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

91�� — 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 91�� 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.

Patrick Cortbaoui Appointed UNAI Vice Chair

91�� — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:23:23 +0000

Patrick Cortbaoui, Senior Managing Director of 91��’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

91�� — 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.

91�� experts are available to comment on this topic:

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

91�� — 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.

Natural Resource Sciences - News

Study finds treating peanuts with cold plasma could make them less allergenic

91������ opens state-of-the-art greenhouse and research platform

NRS M.Sc. Linda Nong Wins 91������’s English 3MT Competition

91������ inaugurates new facilities at Macdonald Campus to advance teaching and research on climate‑resilient agriculture