Statement about Flooding and Climate Change Events in B.C.
By Jacqueline Chan on November 18, 2021
Statement about Flooding and Climate Change Events in B.C.
Response to Flooding and Climate Change Events
November 18, 2021
In just a few short weeks we have experienced an unprecedented tornado at UBC, torrential rains, mudslides and flooding that have wreaked untold damage in the Fraser Valley, Pemberton and beyond. Highways and supply lines have been cut. Hectares of foodlands have been inundated by water, mud or completely swept away. Farmers are being told to abandon their animals and save themselves. It is heartbreaking.
Further east, BC farmers are cut off from their critical supply chains into the Lower Mainland, unable to get their products to market whether they be to retailers, restaurants or community farmers markets. As a result, food will perish and farmers will lose important income – an unwelcome impact in a year of cumulative disasters.
Indigenous foodlands have also been irreparably damaged by flooding and landslides which have wiped out traditional sources of food and will have long-term effects on food sources such as salmon-bearing streams.
We are reaching out to farmers and Indigenous communities to offer support and acknowledge their ongoing resilience in the face of very challenging times.
Minister Lana Popham committed to emergency financial support for farmers impacted by the catastrophic events of the past few days. At the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (CSFS) and UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems, we applaud this commitment and encourage the government to include farmers whose crops, livestock and market access have been impacted. We hope there is additional support for Indigenous communities, their food systems and infrastructure.
This is climate change in action. These are the more intense and frequent storms that scientists have been warning us about. At CSFS, we are reflecting on how we can do more, and where to pour our energies. We will be sharing reactions to COP26 and ideas from our CSFS Associates and staff. We also want to hear from you. Please send us your thoughts on social media or email us at farm.team@ubc.ca, letting us know if you would like us to post your thoughts publicly.
Rickey Yada
Dean and Professor
UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Interim Academic Director, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm
Clare Cullen
Director of Operations
Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm
Parm Bains
Chair, Faculty Advisory Board
UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems
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By melanie kuxdorf on November 17, 2021
Growing a Farm: The 20-year Journey of the UBC Farm
Teaser
How a group of dedicated students started, and beat the odds to save, the UBC Farm.
Show notes:
To further your knowledge of Musqueam Territory upon which the UBC Farm is situated, check out Land Beneath Our Feet, a Musqueam guide brought to you by the UBC Library.
Credits:
- Hosted by Anisha Sandhu (LFS Student and former CSFS Knowledge Mobilization Assistant, CSFS at UBC Farm).
- Produced by Melanie Kuxdorf (Communications and Marketing Manager, CSFS at UBC Farm) and Anisha Sandhu, with special production thanks to Duncan McHugh (Digital & Instructional Media Producer, Faculty of Land and Food Systems).
Music:
- “Denali at Dawn (feat. RIVER LUME)” by SPEARFISHER
- “Beyond” by Ian Post
Special Thanks:
Thanks to the staff at the UBC Farm and LFS who provided feedback and support, and a very special thanks to everyone who was interviewed for this project and especially to all those who started, supported and helped save the Farm:
Thank you for your vision and perseverance – we wouldn’t be here without you.
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By melanie kuxdorf on November 17, 2021
Growing a Farm: The 20-year Journey of the UBC Farm
Episode 1: Planting the Seeds
Twenty years ago, a group of dedicated students resurrected a derelict research site and turned it into a thriving educational farm. But there were other plans for that land, and growing food wasn’t one of them.
Show notes:
To further your knowledge of Musqueam Territory upon which the UBC Farm is situated, check out Land Beneath Our Feet, a Musqueam guide brought to you by the UBC Library.
Credits:
- Hosted by Anisha Sandhu (LFS Student and former CSFS Knowledge Mobilization Assistant, CSFS at UBC Farm).
- Produced by Melanie Kuxdorf (Communications and Marketing Manager, CSFS at UBC Farm) and Anisha Sandhu, with special production thanks to Duncan McHugh (Digital & Instructional Media Producer, Faculty of Land and Food Systems).
Music:
- “Denali at Dawn (feat. RIVER LUME)” by SPEARFISHER
- “Beyond” by Ian Post
Special Thanks:
Thanks to the staff at the UBC Farm and LFS who provided feedback and support, and a very special thanks to everyone who was interviewed for this project and especially to all those who started, supported and helped save the Farm:
Thank you for your vision and perseverance – we wouldn’t be here without you.
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By Jacqueline Chan on November 16, 2021
Artificial Intelligence Can Predict New Designer Drugs With 90% Accuracy
November 16, 2021
“We wondered whether we could use this probability to determine what an unknown drug is — based solely on its mass — which is easy for a chemist to measure for any pill or powder using mass spectrometry.”
CSFS Associate and UBC Biochemistry professor Dr. Leonard Foster gave comments on his study, training computers to predict the next designer drugs — before they are even on the market! Researchers at the University of British Columbia and the University of Alberta devised an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to determine the structure of a given drug’s molecular makeup.
Check out the original article here.
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By Jacqueline Chan on November 15, 2021
The Biennial BC Seed Gathering is Virtual for 2021
The BC Biennial Seed gathering is a place for farmers, gardeners, students, and seed
community activists to come together to learn and share ideas on a number of different issues
as they relate to seed security.
Speakers and sessions include a keynote from Indigenous food systems groups, ask a seed
saver panel, integrating seed crops into vegetable production, running a seed library, increasing
community engagement, and much more!
Other activities include virtual farm tours, a virtual seed swap, movie night featuring WalkingWith Plants and HA NII TOKXW: Our Food Table, an open mic night, and a taste + tell.
Funds raised from these events support our work to cultivate local, sustainable, and resilient
food systems across British Columbia.
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Taste and Tell: A chef-guided and crowdsourced exploration of radicchio and rutabaga!
By Jacqueline Chan on November 10, 2021
Taste and Tell: A chef-guided and crowdsourced exploration of radicchio and rutabaga!
From 4pm-6pm on Saturday, November 20, we’ll explore radicchio and rutabaga with a community of tasters! We’ll start with a cooking demonstration from chef Rob Cleland and his culinary team at Legacy Senior Living in Vancouver, and then Rob will be available for questions and discussion. Then we’ll look to YOUR memories, experiences, and palates for more flavour insights. If you’re in the Vancouver area, you can choose to pick up a *free* radicchio and rutabaga tasting kit and contribute flavour feedback via an online survey.
Wherever you’re located, we’ll trade recipe ideas, memories of radicchio and rutabaga, and tips for making these uncommon vegetables a friendly part of your home cooking. So come with favorite recipes, tips, questions, and curiosity! After the session, you’ll receive a list of the recipes and preparation ideas mentioned in our discussion!
This event is part of the BC Seed Gathering, but you are welcome to sign up for a tasting kit and the Taste and Tell event without needing to register for the full gathering.
Register for Taste & Tell here.
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At UBC’s Wine Library, Every Bottle Tells a Story
By Jacqueline Chan on November 8, 2021
Montecristo Magazine: At UBC’s Wine Library, Every Bottle Tells a Story
News Source: Montecristo Magazine
November 5, 2021
“What happened here? I was just here yesterday.”
Dr. Simone Castellarin, CSFS Associate and Associate Director of the Wine Research Centre, was featured in an article detailing UBC’s Wine Library. One thing’s for sure: it’s not as tame as its bookish counterpart. Learn more about the university’s collection of research-focused bottles by exploring the link below!
Check out the original article on Montecristo Magazine.
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UBC Forestry Experts to Attend UN Climate Conference
By madison pinder on October 29, 2021
CTV News: UBC forestry experts to attend UN Climate Change Conference
News Source: CTV News Vancouver
October 25, 2021
Dr. Terry Sunderland wants to emphasize the role of Canadian forests beyond the timber industry and advocates for maintaining forest biodiversity as a best defence against climate change.
CSFS Associate and UBC Forestry professor Dr. Terry Sunderland will be speaking alongside forestry experts from around the world at the Global Landscapes Forum, following attendance at the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. He will be addressing Canada’s role in forest management and how things have changed in the last 18 months. He says the government needs to look at better ways of maintaining the biodiversity of our forests so they can be more resilient to economic and environmental changes.
Watch the full clip on CTV News Vancouver.
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Feeding Growth Celebration
By Jacqueline Chan on October 14, 2021
Feeding Growth Celebration
An Evening to Celebrate Progressive Food Entrepreneurs
Feeding Growth: We’re about growing a resilient, socially just, and globally significant community of progressive food businesses, right here in BC! Join us on
November 18, 2021 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at the
Lost & Found Café to celebrate the graduation of a new cohort of fierce food entrepreneurs and to connect with Feeding Growth friends, old and new.
What to expect?
- Engaging conversations with local leaders equipped to change the food business landscape.
- Inspiring keynote from a food entrepreneurship trailblazer, Ian Walker, owner of Left Coast Naturals.
- A unique chance to connect with Feeding Growth friends, old and new.
- Local brews and bites (food includes tasty vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options).
How Much?
Tickets are $29 and include canapés. Feeding Growth Workshop Series alumni can access a 30% discount by sending an email to
info@feedinggrowth.com.
Do I need to have proof of vaccination to attend?
Everyone 12 and over must show a valid BC Vaccine Passport to attend the event. Please arrive with government issued photo ID and proof of two doses of vaccination ready to display. You can get your BC Vaccine Card
here.
The event is open to all!
Learn More and Register
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CANOVI Participants: Fill Out the Season Exit Survey
By melanie kuxdorf on October 7, 2021
UBC CANOVI Season Exit Survey
Survey open from November 15 to December 15, 2021
Data interpretability, usefulness, and trustworthiness
In addition to carrying out participatory variety trials, we seek to understand how trial participants use trial data and how this is influenced by dynamics of trust. Specifically, we are investigating the relative usefulness and trustworthiness of personal observation, peer knowledge exchange, and aggregated data from participatory variety trials. Finally, we are exploring ways to increase the usefulness of trial data by increasing data quality, data interpretability, or trust among trial network members.
If you’re a CANOVI participant, thank you for sharing your experiences and ideas on this topic! Informed consent forms are below; feel free to contact Solveig Hanson with any questions.
Informed consent for CANOVI 2021 Season Exit Survey
ENQUÊTE DE FIN DE SAISON DU PROGRAMME ALÉBIO DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DE LA COLOMBIE BRITANNIQUE (UBC)
Enquête ouverte du 15 novembre au 15 décembre 2021
Interprétabilité, utilité et fiabilité des données
Nous cherchons à comprendre comment les participant·e·s aux réseaux d’essais variétaux utilisent les données des essais et comment cela est influencé par la dynamique de confiance. Plus précisément, nous étudions l’utilité relative et la fiabilité perçue de l’observation personnelle, de l’échange de connaissances entre pairs et des données agrégées des essais de variétés participatifs. Enfin, nous explorons des moyens d’accroître l’utilité des données d’essais agrégées en augmentant la qualité des données, l’interprétabilité des données ou la confiance entre les membres du réseau d’essais.
Si vous êtes un·e participant·e d’ALÉBIO, merci de partager vos expériences et vos idées sur ce sujet! Les formulaires de consentement éclairé sont ci-dessous ; n’hésitez pas à contacter Solveig Hanson pour toute question.
Consentement éclairé pour les participant·e·s à la recherche par sondage
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