Introduced bumble bee species thrives, causing concern about native pollinators in Lower Mainland
Introduced bumble bee species thrives, causing concern about native pollinators in Lower Mainland
Photo: Khushi Anand / The Ubyssey
October 8, 2024
Recent research from UBC’s Plant-Pollinator and Global Change (PPGC) Lab revealed notable decreases in the local western bumble bee population, with a non-native species dominating the area. The common eastern bumble bee — or Bombus impatiens — was first introduced to the region in the 1990s to pollinate in greenhouses. Melissa Platsko, a recent MSc graduate from the PPGC Lab, said recorded sightings started in 2003.
Since then, B. impatiens has become one of the most popular species of bees in the region, making up as many as “about 40 to 50 per cent proportionally of the bees” Platsko and her team catch in surveys.
In terms of ways to get involved, Platsko encouraged individuals to go to local pollinator events, such as UBC Farm’s Pollinator Walks and Bee Safaris, to learn about bees in the Lower Mainland as well as to native garden events where people can learn about and plant local flowers that can support all pollinators in the region.
Read the full article at The Ubyssey.
‘So much mental load’: Mothers speak about school lunches
‘So much mental load’: Mothers speak about school lunches
Photo: Pexels/Katerina Holmes
September 11, 2024
CSFS Associate and land and food systems professor Dr. Jennifer Black and alum Seri Niimi-Burch wrote about their study on mothers’ experiences with packing school lunches.
“These mothers taught us about the complex physical, mental and emotional work needed to provide a “good” school lunch. This included trying to live up to high expectations related to sending healthy and balanced meals that were also tasty and enjoyed by children.”
Read the full article at The Conversation.
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Silk, Great Value plant-based beverages recalled across Canada
Silk, Great Value plant-based beverages recalled across Canada
Silk and Great Value plant-based beverages. Photo credit: Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
July 16, 2024
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has recalled a selection of plant-based drinks after discovering they could be contaminated with listeria.
CSFS Associate and Land and food systems professor Dr. Siyun Wang said while listeria isn’t as common as other food-borne bacteria like salmonella or E. coli, its mortality rate can be as high as 30 per cent.
Read the full article at CBC News or Yahoo News.
LFS Reach Out is out!
LFS Reach Out is out!
Reach Out Spring 2024 Issue
June 11, 2024
Many of our CSFS Associates and the CSFS Strategic Plan are featured in this issue of the LFS Faculty magazine!
- Dean’s Message – Rickey’s last!
- Studying Pollinators on the Frontlines of Resiliency with Risa Sargent
- Drought Solutions for Producers Start Small with Thorsten Knipfer
- Building Resilience: The UBC Farm’s Strategic Plan to Transform Food Systems
- Sowing the Seeds for Resilient Production Systems with Andrew Riseman
- Digging Deep on Resiliency Challenges with Jean-Thomas Cornelis
- New Research Centre Aims to Tackle Food Insecurity with Anubhav Pratap-Singh
- Serving Students and the Community as Dean with Rickey Yada
- Helping Wine Producers Hit by Extreme Weather with Simone Castellarin
Read the articles at Reach Out Magazine.
How to save the world in five not so easy steps
How to save the world in five not so easy steps
Wild rose. Photo by CSFS at UBC Farm.
June 11, 2024
CSFS Associate Dr. Kai Chan wrote that individuals should demand that systems change towards sustainability, and not depend on governments in the fight against climate change.
Chan outlines five essential steps for this transformation:
- Go Deep: Focus on long-term sustainability over quick fixes.
- Update Tradition: Challenge the status quo and integrate systems science into decisions.
- Embrace Uncertainty: Adaptively experiment with bold solutions.
- Seek Solidarity: Foster multiple perspectives and counter societal polarization.
- Engage Science: Improve public access to systems science and involve academics in policy-making. By uniting these efforts, society can effectively address the global challenge of sustainability.
Read the full article at National Observer.
Federal tests find no signs of bird flu virus in Canadian retail milk
Federal tests find no signs of bird flu virus in Canadian retail milk
A shopper walks past the milk and dairy display case at a Target store in Manhattan. Photo credit: Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters
June 3, 2024
Canadian monitoring is underway as the U.S. grapples with an unprecedented outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in dairy cattle. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) laboratories have tested 142 retail milk samples from across all 10 provinces, the agency said.
“There’s no evidence showing that [H5N1] is threatening our milk supply,” noted Siyun Wang, CSFS Associate and associate professor of food, nutrition and health at UBC.
Read the full article at CBC.
Business Climate: How drought is changing B.C.’s agriculture industry
Business Climate: How drought is changing B.C.’s agriculture industry
A hay field in Westwold, BC. Photo credit: Elaine Stovin.
May 29, 2024
B.C. cattle ranchers, hit hard by last summer’s severe drought, are facing unprecedented challenges. Sean Smukler, director of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at the UBC Farm, discusses the urgent need for better water management.
“If we’re really serious about building local food systems, and building our food sovereignty, we need to deal with the water supply and demand situation,” says Smukler.
He calls for significant investment in water storage, conveyance systems, and the preservation of natural landscapes to recharge aquifers. Smukler also stresses the importance of educating farmers on efficient water use to secure B.C.’s agricultural future amidst a changing climate.