McGill opens state-of-the-art greenhouse and research platform
McGill University 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.
AES Welcomes a 2026 McCall MacBain Scholar
The Faculty is pleased to welcome Mark Virgil Jamer from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (BSc ’25) as a recipient of the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarship.
Macdonald Scholarship Reception
The most recent Macdonald Scholarship Reception was held with a shared sense of honour and pride on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The occasion brought together members of the Macdonald community to celebrate both the excellence of its student awardees and the generosity of its donors, whose commitment continues to shape meaningful academic pathways.
When Theory Meets the Real World: McGill Students Shine at the IFTSA Competition
Imagining, designing, and developing a food product just as it would be done in industry within the framework of a prestigious international competition, was the challenge taken on by Cole, Jackie, and Deniz, students in McGill University’s Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
NRS M.Sc. Linda Nong Wins McGill’s English 3MT Competition
McGill University’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.
Food Science Students Selected as Finalists in IFTSA Student Competitions
McGill’s Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry is celebrating an outstanding achievement by its students: all three McGill teams entered into this year’s Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) competitions have been selected as finalists. The teams will represent McGill 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
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.
McGill professor awarded one of the eight science diplomacy chairs newly created by the Fonds de recherche du Québec
Ebenezer Miezah Kwofie, based at Macdonald Campus, will work to advance food sustainability in AfricaEbenezer 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).
Remembrance ceremony brings generations together to honour Canadian veterans
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
Patrick Cortbaoui, Senior Managing Director of McGill’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.
WELL-E: Rethinking Cow Care with AI
In Canada, researchers from McGill University’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
Dean Salwa Karboune is please to announce the following appointments in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences:
Canada wins bid to host the International Congress of Nutrition
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
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.
Macdonald Campus welcomes new leadership
As we welcome the Fall semester, the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is pleased to announce the following appointments: