External /consortium-rita/taxonomy/term/4/all en Cracking the Code of Pre-Harvest Sprouting /consortium-rita/channels/news/cracking-code-pre-harvest-sprouting-367988 <p>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.</p> Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:44:13 +0000 admin 12919 at /consortium-rita Bridging worlds as the ice recedes /consortium-rita/channels/news/bridging-worlds-ice-recedes-366064 <p>51ԹPhD candidate Alexandra Langwieder works with James Bay Indigenous communities to better understand polar bears</p> Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:55:31 +0000 admin 12927 at /consortium-rita WELL-E: Rethinking Cow Care with AI /consortium-rita/channels/news/well-e-rethinking-cow-care-ai-368517 <p>In Canada, researchers from 51Թ’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> Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:25:23 +0000 admin 12916 at /consortium-rita Quebec wine sales surge after U.S alcohol boycott—comments from Pascal Thériault /consortium-rita/channels/news/quebec-wine-sales-surge-after-us-alcohol-boycott-comments-pascal-theriault-366238 <p>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.</p> <p>Agronomist and economist <a href="/macdonald/pascal-theriault">Pascal Thériault</a>, Director of 51Թ's Farm Management and Technology Program, <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/quebec-wine-sales-surge-after-us-alcohol-boycott/">told CTV News</a> that producers shouldn’t bank on this boycott for long.</p> Mon, 04 Aug 2025 17:41:55 +0000 admin 12922 at /consortium-rita Remembrance ceremony brings generations together to honour Canadian veterans /consortium-rita/channels/news/remembrance-ceremony-brings-generations-together-honour-canadian-veterans-368834 <p>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.</p> Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:57:15 +0000 admin 12914 at /consortium-rita What are those fluffy seeds floating in the air? David Wees explains /consortium-rita/channels/news/what-are-those-fluffy-seeds-floating-air-david-wees-explains-366060 <p>If you've been noticing white fluff floating around Montreal lately, you're not the only one. Those are seeds from the Eastern Cottonwood tree and it's the season that they're spreading through the air. </p> <p><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/audio/9.6812442">CBC News</a> spoke to <a href="/macdonald/david-wees">David Wees</a>, Faculty Lecturer and Assistant Director of the Farm Management and Technology Program at 51Թ, to find out more.</p> Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:12:25 +0000 admin 12931 at /consortium-rita Ghana's Cocoa Price Surge: A Bitter Truth for Chocolate Lovers /consortium-rita/channels/news/ghanas-cocoa-price-surge-bitter-truth-chocolate-lovers-366377 <p>Last week, La Presse reporters spoke to agronomist and economist <a href="/fmt/staff/theriault">Pascal Thériault</a> about a recent price surge of 62.58% for Ghanaian cocoa, a move aimed at supporting its struggling farmers. This significant price hike is expected to affect not only other cocoa-producing countries but also global chocolate manufacturers and consumers.</p> Tue, 12 Aug 2025 19:26:53 +0000 admin 12921 at /consortium-rita 51ԹJoins Ghanaian Partners to Empower Youth and Transform Agrifood Systems /consortium-rita/channels/news/mcgill-joins-ghanaian-partners-empower-youth-and-transform-agrifood-systems-366061 <p>As part of the Nkabom Collaborative supported by the Mastercard Foundation, 51Թ has joined forces with Ghanaian institutions in a bold initiative to foster youth leadership and transform the agrifood ecosystem in Ghana and beyond.</p> Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:18:38 +0000 admin 12930 at /consortium-rita Local goods shop is filling the grocery gap in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue—comments from Prof. Daiva Nielsen /consortium-rita/channels/news/local-goods-shop-filling-grocery-gap-ste-anne-de-bellevue-comments-prof-daiva-nielsen-366062 <p>Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., residents have a new spot to do their groceries. After the suburb's only grocery store closed for the second time, B Factory, a locally owned beeswax products shop that had been on the verge of bankruptcy, expanded its space to include a small grocery section called Mon Marché Local.</p> Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:35:43 +0000 admin 12929 at /consortium-rita Pascal Thériault warns consumers to be on the lookout for misleading Canadian labels /consortium-rita/channels/news/pascal-theriault-warns-consumers-be-lookout-misleading-canadian-labels-366300 <p>Canned soup giant Campbell's has come under fire for engaging in "maple washing" — a marketing tactic where foreign-made products are falsely associated with Canada through the use of maple leaves or vague labels like “Designed in Canada.” This misleading practice gives consumers the impression that products are Canadian when they are not.</p> Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:54:28 +0000 admin 12913 at /consortium-rita Study raises red flags about BPA replacements /consortium-rita/channels/news/study-raises-red-flags-about-bpa-replacements-366691 <p>Chemicals used to replace bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging can trigger potentially harmful effects in human ovarian cells, according to 51Թ researchers.</p> <p>A new study examined several chemicals commonly used in price stickers on packaged meat, fish, cheese and produce found early signs of potential toxicity.</p> Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:46:31 +0000 admin 12908 at /consortium-rita Lallemand Lecture Series - Gut Microbiota: Impact on Health, Disease and the Strategic Role of Biotics /consortium-rita/Lallemand%20Lecture%20Series%201 <p><strong>Registration is required.</strong></p> Wed, 16 Oct 2024 21:00:51 +0000 carolyne.dubreuil@mcgill.ca 2054 at /consortium-rita (re)FORMULATION - How can we expand the range of available protein ingredients? /consortium-rita/channels/event/reformulation-how-can-we-expand-range-available-protein-ingredients-356605 <p>Conference and webinar organized by 51Թ's Consortium for Research, Innovation, and Transformation of Agri-Food (RITA)</p> <p>International guest speaker: Dr. Christophe Blecker, Université de Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech</p> Thu, 04 Apr 2024 22:07:03 +0000 carolyne.dubreuil@mcgill.ca 698 at /consortium-rita