Susgrainable
Marc Wandler – 2019 Graduate of the Scale Your Progressive Food Business Workshop Series
How would you describe your experience of connecting with other food business entrepreneurs?
We enjoyed the networking aspect of the program.
If you were to recommend the workshop series to a friend, what would you say?
The workshop is great for anyone starting a food business. Lots of knowledge from industry professionals. You can get some great insight into any aspect of your business which is incredibly valuable.
Organic Science Canada: Wasps vs. Spotted Wing Drosophila
Wasps vs. Spotted Wing Drosophila
News Source: Organic Science Canada
Spring 2021
“Natural enemies that kill spotted wing drosophila may help to slow their growth and, in turn, reduce pressure on crops.” – Dr. Juli Carrillo and research team
Dr. Juli Carrillo, CSFS Associate, has a research write-up on pages 25 and 26 of this Organic Science Canada digital issue (link below). The write-up goes into detail about sustainable management of spotted wing drosophila – these are invasive pests which hinder fruit harvesting. A PhD student in her lab, Warren Wong, took the magazine’s cover photo.
Check out the magazine cover story here.
BC Eco Seed Co-op: Meet BCESC Member Evan Goh of UBC Farm
Meet BCESC Member Evan Goh of UBC Farm
News Source: BC Eco Seed Co-op
March 30, 2021
“When I hold seeds that I have helped save in my hands, I feel an indescribable connection to the past, the countless generations of plants that led to this seed, and also a connection to the people who were there every step of the way.” – Evan Goh
Evan Goh, the Perennials and Volunteer Coordinator at the UBC Farm, was interviewed by BC Eco Seed Co-op to detail his unique experiences in seed saving. The interview features tips about seed saving, what first sparked his interest in farming, and much more.
Check out the original article here.
Take Nature as the Measure: The Search for Sustainability
Take Nature as the Measure: The Search for Sustainability
Join us for a conversation between Wes Jackson, one of the founders of the sustainable agriculture movement, author Robert Jensen, as well as UBC professors Ramana and Hannah Wittman. In more than four decades as president of The Land Institute, Wes Jackson became widely known as one of the founders of the sustainable agriculture movement for his work on perennial grains and Natural Systems Agriculture. Learn about Jackson’s ideas to advance sustainable agriculture and the other dramatic changes necessary if we are to effectively address climate change and other ecological crises and create a sustainable and just society for all to thrive.
Please register in advance. Zoom webinar details will be emailed to registrants ahead of time.
Date and time: Wednesday April 21, 2021 from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM PST
Moderator: Paige Inglis, Student, Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs
Speakers:
- Wes Jackson, founder and president emeritus of The Land Institute.
- Robert Jensen, author of The Restless and Relentless Mind of Wes Jackson: Searching for Sustainability
- Hannah Wittman, Professor, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, UBC
- M. V. Ramana, Professor, School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, UBC
Presented in partnership with: The School of Public Policy and Global Affairs; Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm; Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability; Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences; and UBC Sustainability
PART OF THE CLIMATE JUSTICE WEBINAR SERIES. Find out more about the event here.
National Observer and The Star: Canada’s new laws for GMOs and gene editing
Canada’s new laws for GMOs and gene editing
News Source: National Observer, The Star
March 11, 2021
“Gene editing makes it easier to ensure an organism will have desirable traits than traditional breeding.” – Dr. Loren Rieseberg
Dr. Loren Rieseberg, a professor in UBC’s Department of Botany, spoke about gene editing and developing gene-edited crops. Compared with traditional breeding, gene editing is a method that can generate more beneficial traits in plants.
Check out the original article at National Observer or The Star.
News 1130: Don’t be tempted to garden early
Don’t be tempted to garden early
News Source: News 1130
March 11, 2021
“All the organic junk in your garden is still useful for the bees.” – David Zura
Dr. Risa Sargent, a professor at UBC’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems, was recently interviewed about bees and gardening. She explains the rationale behind why it is not necessarily good to begin planting too soon.
Check out the original article here.
It’s our 20ᵗʰ anniversary!
It’s our 20th anniversary!
Our first UBC Farm Market in 2001
It’s happening: we have reached our 20th anniversary here at the UBC Farm, and it’s also been 10 years since the creation of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems! 🎉
As can be seen from our past photos, a lot has changed since then – see our History page for more info on our story and how we’ve evolved throughout the years.
Virtual celebrations launch on April 21st of 2021, and continue throughout the growing season. Stay tuned to our website and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) for upcoming events and be sure to join us online!
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- UBC Farm in 2001
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- UBC Farm team in 2003
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- UBC Farm Market in 2004
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- Yona Sipos in 2004
Vancouver Sun, The Province, and CKNW: Consumers more likely to buy ‘ugly’ produce labelled ‘ugly’
Consumers more likely to buy ‘ugly’ produce labelled ‘ugly’
News Source: Vancouver Sun, The Province, and CKNW
March 9, 2021
“When it comes to selling “ugly” produce, don’t beat around the bush.” – Siddhanth Mookerjee
Based on research conducted at the UBC Farm, a new Sauder study found that consumers are more likely to buy unattractive fruits and vegetables when they are labelled “ugly”. Study authors Siddhanth Mookerjee, a PhD student, Dr. Yann Cornil and Dr. JoAndrea Hoegg were interviewed.
Curious about why exactly people are more tempted to purchase food when it is classified as “ugly”? You’ve come to the right place, because there’s an article written just for that here by Vancouver Is Awesome!
Check out the original article at Vancouver Sun, The Province, or on the CKNW Jill Bennett Show.
The Star and Yahoo: Community-run food hubs and better food security
Community-run food hubs and better food security
News Source: The Star, Yahoo
March 2, 2021
“About two-thirds of B.C.’s food is imported, according to a 2020 report commissioned by Metro Vancouver. Most will have gone through some degree of processing facility that transforms raw ingredients into everything from canned beans to cuts of beef.” – Marc Fawcett-Atkinson
Dr. Hannah Wittman, CSFS Associate and professor at LFS and IRES, was quoted about how B.C. has lost dozens of processors in recent decades as consolidation and trade deals have encouraged companies to centralize processing in low-wage locations.
Check out the original article at The Star or Yahoo.
Generating a more holistic understanding of the risks of pandemics, with Dr. Ivette Perfecto
Generating a more holistic understanding of the risks of pandemics
Keynote Webinar with Dr. Ivette Perfecto
On Friday, April 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. PST, join Dr. Ivette Perfecto as she discusses the importance of integrating ecological, social, and political factors for generating a more holistic understanding of the risks of pandemics.
This will be framed in the context of the Pandemic Research for the People, a working group of the Agroecology and Rural Economics Research Corps. This working group consists of academics, farmers, activists, who collectively take action to develop a critical analysis as well as agroecological alternatives to achieve healthy landscapes for the environment and for the people.
Register now to receive your Zoom link.
This webinar is free with registration. Can’t attend the event live? Not a problem! This session will be recorded – register to receive the recording link.
Hosted by Diversified Agroecosystem Research Cluster and the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems
The Diversified Agroecosystem Research Cluster is developing novel approaches to assess linked social and ecological outcomes of diversified agroecosystems. Uniquely positioned as a research excellence cluster based at the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, cluster team members use ecological, social, economic and systems analysis perspectives to improve soil and water quality, minimize nutrient losses, protect biodiversity, and support climate resilience and food sovereignty.