The dry bean breeding program at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Morden Research Centre in Manitoba will continue for at least another five years under a new arrangement involving McGill University in Quebec and AAFC’s Harrow Research Centre in Ontario.

Classified as: McGill Pulse Breeding Program
Published on: 20 Feb 2024

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has announced $11 million in new funding for Pulse Canada.

$1.6 million of this investment will go to McGill Department of Plant Science Professor Valerio Hoyos-Villegas' Pulse Breeding and Genetics Lab.

Winnipeg South Centre MP Ben Carr made the announcement at the University of Manitoba on February 9 on behalf of federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay.

Classified as: Valerio Hoyos-Villegas
Published on: 14 Feb 2024

In a new article for The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, Javed Sidiqi, Eric Bishop Von Wettberg and McGill Plant Science Assistant Professor Valerio Hoyos Villegas dive into the potential of the humble chickpea, an increasingly popular legume known for high nutritional value and nitrogen-fixing properties. 

Classified as: Valerio Hoyos-Villegas
Published on: 31 Jan 2024

For the fourth year in a row, a McGill Plant Science student has won one of three annual Canadian Plant Breeding Innovation (CPBI) Innovation scholarships, which recognize up-and-coming young plant breeders.

Classified as: Valerio Hoyos-Villegas
Published on: 10 Jan 2024

As hostile weather intensifies, plant breeding focused on climate-adapted crops has taken on a sense of urgency. 

With cultivated crops often suffering from a lack of genetic diversity making them more susceptible to diseases and pests, scientists are now turning to wild varieties, which can offer valuable yet previously overlooked genetic traits. By crossing the wild tepary bean with a black bean or a pinto bean, for example, scientists may be able to breed a new variety that can better endure similar harsh environmental conditions that its relative thrived in.

Classified as: Martina Stromvik
Published on: 2 Jan 2024

At the Eastern Regional Meeting of the Canadian Society of Plant Biologists (CSPB-SCBV) earlier this month, three McGill Department of Plant Science students received CSPB-SCBV Director's Awards for their outstanding presentations. University students from all over Quebec and Ontario shared their research in poster and oral presentations. Congratulations to our winners:

Published on: 20 Dec 2023

On Wednesday November 29th, 2023, nine Macdonald Campus graduate students took on the challenge of presenting their thesis in just a few minutes at the Lister Family Engaged Science 3-Minute Thesis Competition.

With only one non-animated slide for visual support, competitors raced against the clock to explain the crucial components of their research and its importance.

Classified as: Lister Family Engaged Science Initiative, 3MT Competition
Published on: 6 Dec 2023

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently approved gene editing for use in breeding new crop varieties, meaning plant breeders can now apply the technology to their work. Gene editing has the potential to quickly develop new varieties with greater accuracy in targeting traits such as drought and disease resistance, with promising agronomic and trade implications for farmers.

Classified as: Jaswinder Singh
Published on: 28 Nov 2023

The apple is constantly being reinvented, changing with the times and cultures. The Malus domestica species comes in some 7,500 varieties.

"Today, people want crisp, sweet apples. Quebec used to import a lot of Granny Smiths; they're now much less popular because they're very acidic," explains David Wees, a McGill Plant Science lecturer and Associate Director of the university's Farm Management and Technology Program.

Classified as: david wees, Horticulture Research Centre
Published on: 11 Oct 2023

On August 30, Vice-Principal of Macdonald Campus and Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Anja Geitmann welcomed Member of Parliament for Lac-Saint-Louis Francis Scarpaleggia, on behalf of Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (AAFC) Lawrence MacAulay, to the Macdonald Campus. In the presence of industry partners AgroWorld and other invited guests, Scarpaleggia announced AAFC’s $5.3 million investment in BioFuelNet Canada as part of the Agri-Science Program.

Classified as: Don Smith, Anja Geitmann, Department of Plant Science
Published on: 4 Oct 2023

Across Quebec, we're already seeing leaves start to transition from bright summery greens to the burnished, coppery hues of Fall—but the changes aren’t happening because the days are chillier. As McGill Plant Science Lecturer David Wees told the Montreal Gazette last year, it's actually because the days are getting shorter.

Classified as: david wees, Department of Plant Science
Published on: 2 Oct 2023

With fall officially here, it's time for Lennoxville, Quebec's annual Giant Pumpkin Festival, where people can see pumpkins that weigh as much as 680 kilograms.

The festival — which is taking place at the Amédée Beaudoin community centre Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — is a family event with bouncy castles, a petting zoo, a farmers' market, music and even horse-drawn carriages.

Alexandre Lemire started growing giant pumpkins three years ago after being inspired by festival founder Mike Macdonald's crops. Last year, his biggest pumpkin weighed 704 kilograms.

Classified as: david wees, Department of Plant Science, Farm Management and Technology Program
Published on: 27 Sep 2023

Today, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, and the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced an investment of more than $960 million in support of research and innovation through a suite of programs. These programs include the John R.

Classified as: Anja Geitmann, Thavy Long, Viacheslav Adamchuk, Stephane Bayen, Idaresit Ekaette, Saji George, Salwa Karboune, Ebenezer Miezah Kwofie, Xiaonan Lu, Shiv Prasher, Denis Roy, lyle whyte, Jianguo Xia
Published on: 30 Aug 2023

A Canadian-led team has assembled the most extensive genetic roadmap of the potato to date, along with its closest relatives, in order to bolster the plant’s ability to cope with climate change and protect its future as a mainstay of global food security and sustainability.

Classified as: Martina Stromvik, Department of Plant Science
Published on: 26 Jul 2023

Si vous habitez les alentours de la ville de Windsor, peut-être avez-vous remarqué des substances blanches semblables à du pollen amassé sur les trottoirs, les pelouses ou les terrasses. Ce sont des semences de peupliers. À l'émission Matins sans frontières, David Wees, enseignant en horticulture à l'Université McGill, explique l'origine de ces semences, leur importance et comment se comporter vis-à-vis d'elles.

Classified as: david wees, Horticulture Research Centre
Published on: 3 Jul 2023

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