June 2, 2023
CSFS Associate and biochemistry and molecular biology professor Dr. Leonard Foster said that it’s hard to know how much of the honey in America is fake.
“The best way to make sure that you’re getting real honey is to buy directly from a beekeeper,” says Foster.
A little brown bat with white-nose syndrome.
(Photo: Al Hicks, New York Department of Environmental Conservation | CC BY 2.0)
May 15, 2023
CSFS Associate Dr. Matthew Mitchell (Land and Food Systems) and Aaron Aguirre (Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability) will spend the summer collecting data on bats in Metro Vancouver.
White-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease, has spread across Canada from the east and north from the U.S. and has killed millions of bats with a mortality rate of up to 95 per cent.
“The sooner we can get an idea of critical habitat areas, the better chance we have of monitoring and keeping track of these populations. And hopefully, monitoring the spread of white-nose syndrome,” Aaron Aguirre noted.
May 12, 2023
CSFS Associate Dr. Matthew Mitchell (Faculty of Land and Food Systems) talks about his research this summer on bats in Vancouver, white-nose syndrome and bat populations across the province.
“They’re really under threat. We have 16 species of bats in BC and half of those are threatened with potential loss,” Dr. Mitchell noted.
An adult female Yuma myotis bat captured in the Lower Mainland in 2023. (Photo: Aaron Aguirre)
May 8, 2023
They live among us and eat pesky insects, but unless you’re armed with an ultrasonic microphone you may never notice our nocturnal neighbours: bats.
CSFS Associate Dr. Matthew Mitchell (Faculty of Land and Food Systems) and Aaron Aguirre (Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability) want to bring these fascinating creatures out of the shadows, and will spend the summer collecting data on bats in Metro Vancouver.
“In Vancouver, bats are not well-studied, and we need to know where they live, forage and how they use the urban landscape. This information will help us compare differences in their ecology and life histories across the province, and help inform conservation efforts,” said Dr. Mitchell.
Dr. Kai Chan at a TEDx talk in Surrey, BC. (Photo: TEDx Talks)
May 4, 2023
In a recent TEDx talk, CSFS Associate Dr. Kai Chan (Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability) shares stories of triumph and challenge in international policy for nature, and finding the real key to a better future on Earth: you.
“You’re all experts in those around you, so you know something about shifting norms to enable people like you to participate fully in climate action, conservation and social justice,” said Dr. Kai Chan.
Alex Pomeroy at an English pub.
April 2023
Back in 2010 while living in Copenhagen, on exchange from UBC, my new friends and I established a weekly routine of midnight bike rides around the city, pulling food out of the bins behind supermarkets. Sometimes this involved scaling a fence, and although what we were doing wasn’t illegal, it felt exciting and a bit of a rush every time. The produce from all major supermarkets was wrapped in foam trays with cellophane wrapping, so for example if one tomato in the tray was bruised or damaged, the whole package would go into the bin. Every time we went out we would come back to my apartment, lay out the haul on the kitchen table (which once included an entire box full of bananas) and give everything a wash. Everyone in our little crew (Tomi, Lasse, Sam and my housemate Malthe and I) would have enough food to last until the next mission, and it really helped to offset the cost of living in a city like Copenhagen. It also helped me establish a more healthy lifestyle personally, and I began eating many new vegetables. I remember being very surprised by the level of food waste in such a socially and politically progressive place, and I saw the practice of dumpster diving as a truly radical act.
Summer 2010: A meal shared among friends made from vegetables pulled from the supermarket bins in Copenhagen
It is estimated that over ⅓ of food produced globally goes to waste. This is a tragedy on many levels, in terms of the resources used to grow, package and transport food, to the gross inequalities within our communities and around the world. The UK throws away close to 9.5 million tonnes of food a year, while nearly 8.5 million Britons are in food poverty. Food waste occurs at all levels, from suppliers ordering too much to sell, to poor education regarding best practices for storing produce once it’s in our homes (remember, keep your fresh herbs in a cup of water on the counter, just like flowers). When it comes to misshapen or unattractive produce (dubbed “wonky” in the UK), small steps are being taken to reduce waste. There is a box subscription called Oddbox which offers food otherwise destined for landfill at what seems to be reasonable prices. Sustainability does seem top of mind here in the UK which is promising, with similar startups addressing waste in other industries such as coffee and prepared food (eg. the Odd Coffee Company, Too Good to Go). Supermarkets offer “wonky” fruit and vegetables at reduced prices, and given the ongoing cost of living crisis, these seem like very popular options for many consumers.
Spring 2023: Earth Day meal with new friends at Glengall Community Garden, South London. Made with food pulled from the bins at New Covent Garden Market.
There is much to be done, however, when it comes to holding corporations accountable for food waste. As if it wasn’t bad enough to waste perfectly good food, it most often ends up in landfills, producing methane as it breaks down, accounting for up to 10% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Would it be possible to require food suppliers to divert unused food to compost? This should clearly be a last resort, given the rise in food insecurity, with 4 million children in the UK (1 in 5 households) going without enough food. Free school meal programs do exist in the UK, but eligibility requirements exclude around 800,000 children, whose family income falls just above the established threshold. Could the government impose a tax or a levy on those corporations and businesses throwing out food? Would this be based on the amount of waste and if so, how would it be monitored? Perhaps these thoughts are too utopian in nature, but I truly believe that such changes are reflective of the world we must strive for.
When I moved to London back in December, I immediately started to think about ways in which I could not only feed myself and my partner more affordably, but also reduce our environmental footprints. Last week I pulled a perfectly good, in fact — made that day, baguette sandwich out of a bin bag on the sidewalk, one of many tossed out by shops daily all around London. I have been making new connections within the community, and have learned of various locations around the city from which to rescue produce. This past weekend on Earth Day, I volunteered at a nearby community garden and the day ended surrounded by new friends, sharing a meal made almost entirely from skip to plate.
Cheers,
Alex Pomeroy
April 21, 2023
A study conducted by CSFS Associate, Dr. Navin Ramankutty, Director of the Institute for Resources Environment and Sustainability, found that staple crops like rice and wheat are under threat from climate change.
At a national seminar in India, Dr. Ramankutty said that global food production will decline by 6% to 9% owing to climate change in next 20 years or before.
April 11, 2023
CSFS Associate and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology professor Dr. Leonard Foster (Michael Smith Labs) discussed how B.C.’s bee colonies will fare this year.
“My personal guess is we’ll be slightly better than last year, but that has to be taken with a grain of salt because last year was the worst ever by a large margin,” said Dr. Foster.
April 6, 2023
In the 40th episode of Organic BC’s podcast, CSFS Director Sean Smukler talks about his recent research and about organic practices that can lead to nutrient pollution in air and waterways, versus ones that tend to limit such outcomes.
April 3, 2023
Various UBC and international researchers, including CSFS Associate Dr. Jennifer Black, co-signed a letter arguing that guaranteeing the right to food and a living income through real living wages, together with adequate social security provision, is essential to ending the need for charitable food aid in all societies.