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.
CN’s use of glyphosate sparks health and safety concerns—comments from David Wees
Some residents in Montreal’s Mercier-Est neighbourhood were caught off guard after Canadian National (CN) Railway sprayed a herbicide near their homes this week, CTV News reports.
Seeds of Innovation: GEFSES Symposium Bridges Continents Through Genome Editing
In March 2025, the GEFSES program hosted its annual international symposium, "Harnessing Genome Editing for Resilient Agriculture," in Ludhiana, India. The event was held in collaboration with Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU).
McGill Joins Ghanaian Partners to Empower Youth and Transform Agrifood Systems
As part of the Nkabom Collaborative supported by the Mastercard Foundation, McGill University has joined forces with Ghanaian institutions in a bold initiative to foster youth leadership and transform the agrifood ecosystem in Ghana and beyond.
McGill Plant Science students win big for conference presentations
Congratulations to two plant science students in Professor Mehran Dastmalchi's lab, who received awards for their presentations at two recent conferences!
McGill students win top poster awards at National Association of Plant Breeding Conference
Congratulations to McGill Plant Science students Henry Cordoba Novoa and Mason Jackson, who were awarded top honours at the National Association of Plant Breeding Conference, which took place in Hawaii from May 19 to 23, 2025.
Professor Jaswinder Singh selected for Mary E. Spencer award by the Canadian Society of Plant Biologists
The Canadian Society of Plant Biologists has selected Jaswinder Singh, Professor at McGill University's Department of Plant Science, to receive the 2025 Mary E. Spencer award, which recognizes outstanding plant biology research contributions and active public service engagement in the plant biology community.