Growing together for tomorrow’s challenges Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences

Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Spring 2016
Growing together for tomorrow’s challenges
The University of Manitoba is well
on its way with the Front and Centre
fundraising campaign, launched in
October 2015. Its visionary goal is
to raise $500 million to support the
university’s strategic priorities in
teaching and learning, discovery, and
community engagement.
For its part, the Faculty of Agricultural
and Food Sciences has identified key
areas in Indigenous achievement,
graduate fellowships, research
excellence, student experiential learning
and classroom refurbishment. We
have set a goal of $12.35 million
for initiatives we believe are vital to
improved health, social and economic
outcomes for individuals, our
communities and our province.
Our donors have taken a leadership role
in supporting research, development
and innovation by creating
opportunities for students, faculty and
researchers to make a real difference in
the world around them, today.
As the world’s needs continue to change,
our ability to meet the challenges
of tomorrow will depend upon our
commitment to keep on growing
together – for the next century and
beyond.
G R OW I N G
TO G E T H E R
Faculty
of Agric
and Food ultural
Sciences
For more information, visit
umanitoba.ca/afs/growingtogether
Making the most of your summer produce
Join us at the Bruce D. Campbell Farm
and Food Discovery Centre for a series
of hands-on workshops led by Getty
Stewart focused on food preservation,
food storage, best before dates, fruits,
herbs and garden produce. Bring your
questions and your appetites!
May 2 Food Storage 101
May 31 Garden Herbs
June 8 Intro to Jam Making
June 13 Blanching/Freezing Produce
June 20 Hot Water Bath Canning
University of Manitoba, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
All workshops will begin at 7:00 pm.
Cost per workshop is $15 per adult.
Don’t have a sitter? Entertainment
available for children under 12 available
for only $2.50 per child.
We also have summer day events
planned for kids and families, including
ice cream parties, insect investigation,
canola crush, dairy day and so much
more!
For more information, visit ffdc.ca,
call us at 1-204-883-2524 or email
[email protected].
umanitoba.ca/afs 1
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
C
elebrations
2016
Dean’s Message
Manitoba Agricultural
College, a school for the
study of farming and
home economics. The
Glenlea Research Station
Faculty of
Glenlea Research
Agricultural and
celebrates 50 years since
years
Station
Food Sciences
its establishment as a
livestock and cropping
Bruce D. Campbell
Richardson Centre
years
research farm. The
Farm & Food
for Functional Foods
years
Discovery Centre
Richardson Centre for
and Nutraceuticals
Functional Foods and
Nutraceuticals, now 10
with our stakeholders to ensure we are
years old, remains one of
giving our students the best possible
Canada’s most advanced bioprocessing
preparation before they head into the
and product development facilities
focused on health and nutrition research workforce or further studies. We are
increasingly incorporating experiential
and commercialization. And the Bruce
learning as part of that process.
D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery
Centre opened its doors five years ago
The University of Manitoba’s Front and
and has become a popular field trip
Centre campaign, as noted on the front
destination for schools.
page, is one of the largest philanthropic
investments ever undertaken in our
Over the last century, we have been
province. The focus of the Faculty
witness to, and participant in, much
of Agricultural and Food Sciences’
change in the agricultural and food
campaign is on strategic priorities that
sciences. Faculty members continue
will increase access, enhance learning
to lead, adapt and innovate in their
and support our scientific programs.
areas of basic and applied research,
through independent and multiI would like to acknowledge the
disciplinary programs. We are working
tremendous support that our alumni
with our partners in the agri-food and
have shown to their alma mater over
health industry, and increasingly with
consumers, to develop viable production the years. Your gifts change lives.
From scholarships and facilities to
practices, safe and nutritious food, and
research and hands-on learning, your
innovative bioproducts. For example,
contributions allow us to attract and
Faculty researchers co-authored a
retain top students and world-class
recent national report examining the
faculty, respond to emerging societal
Canadian beef industry’s environmental
needs, and provide unique learning
footprint. This work is valuable as
opportunities.
animal producers move toward verified
sustainability models, such as the one
Thank you!
initiated by McDonald’s Canada.
50
5
Greetings alumni and friends! Please
take a moment to read about the
activities and accomplishments of our
students, faculty, staff and graduates over
the past year. The Faculty of Agricultural
and Food Sciences continues to travel
an interesting road filled with scenic
viewpoints, changing landscape and the
occasional course correction.
Of particular note - the Hats Off to
Human Ecology held at the University
of Manitoba Homecoming 2015
honoured the contributions of Faculty
of Human Ecology students, faculty,
staff and alumni through a Passing
of the Baton ceremony and farewell
banquet. The celebrations reflected on
the impact of the faculty over the past
105 years, and also looked forward to
new opportunities in the Faculty of
Agricultural and Food Sciences and the
Faculty of Health Sciences.
In 2016, the Faculty will be celebrating a
number of milestones. The Faculty itself
is marking its 110th anniversary, as we
remember our beginnings in 1906 as the
All of our academic programs are
undergoing review in consultation
110
years
10
Karin Wittenberg
Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
2 University of Manitoba, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Spring 2016
Staff Changes
WARM WELCOMES
IN MEMORIAM
FOND FAREWELLS
Myrna Grahn
joined the Faculty
as the Assistant
Manager at the
Bruce D. Campbell
Farm and Food
Discovery Centre
and the Glenlea Research Station in
June 2015. Myrna’s previous experience
with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and
Rural Development was in multiple
roles related to agri-food program
management, business innovation
and development, and most recently
focused on value-added partnerships
in functional foods and nutraceuticals.
Myrna, who has a Bachelor of Human
Ecology with a minor in Marketing
from the University of Manitoba, also
served as a 4-H and Youth Specialist
with MAFRD and has strong experience
in youth development programs.
Don Meadows, retired staff member
of the School of Agriculture, passed
away on April 5, 2015. Don received
his BSA in 1957 and worked as an
ag rep and overseas for a number of
years. He served from 1978 to 1989 as
the communications and continuing
education officer for the Faculty.
Dr. Rick Holley, Food Science, retired
after 22 years of service in January 2016.
He served as Head of the Department
from 1994 to 2004, and recently served
as Acting Head in 2015. He has received
the title of Distinguished Professor
Emeritus upon his retirement.
Dr. Chengbo Yang
was appointed
Assistant Professor
in the Department
of Animal Science
in March 2016 in
the area of livestock
nutrition and nutritional biochemistry.
He holds a Ph.D. in Monogastric
Animal Nutrition from the University
of Guelph, and was most recently a
technical swine and poultry specialist
with the feed additives firm Jefo
Nutrition Inc. He will be conducting
research in the area of gut health and
nutrient utilization relevant to nonruminants and involved with teaching
related to livestock feeds and feeding,
initially.
Dr. Arthur Wood passed away on May
18, 2015. Dr. Wood was a professor
in the Department of Agricultural
Economics at the University of
Manitoba from 1956 to 1984, and
served as Department Head from 19711977. His contributions to the field of
agricultural marketing were recognized
with induction into the Manitoba Order
of the Buffalo Hunt.
Dr. Anne Ismond passed away on
February 20, 2016. She was the first
graduate from the Interdepartmental
Ph.D. program in Food and Nutritional
Sciences, receiving her degree in 1984.
Dr. Ismond became an academic
the Department of Food Science
immediately after graduation, with
a focus on food chemistry. She will
be remembered for her inspirational
teaching style as well as her ability to
mentor students both academically
and personally; she liked to challenge
students to do their best.
Dr. Arthur Wilson, an alumnus and
former professor with the Transport
Institute, passed away on January 25,
2016. Dr. Wilson was associated with
the Department of Agribusiness and
Agricultural Economics in a teaching
capacity, and his research focused on
grain transportation.
Dr. Sue Arntfield, Food Science, retired
after 37 years of service in January
2016. She has been appointed as Senior
Scholar.
Dr. Arnie Hydamaka, Food Science,
retired after 42 years of service in
January 2016. He has been appointed as
Senior Scholar.
Management MoVES
Dr. James House was appointed Acting
Head of the Department of Food
Science in January 2016. Jim is also
currently the Head of the Department
of Human Nutritional Sciences.
Get Your Faculty Fix
Stay up-to-date with Faculty news
and events with the bi‑weekly
e-newsletter AG e-news by signing
up at [email protected].
Archived issues can be found at
umanitoba.ca/afs/AG_e-news/
The Faculty can also be found on
Twitter at
@UM_agfoodsci
umanitoba.ca/afs 3
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Exploring aboriginal foodways
Her traditional name is Yellow Wolf;
her English name is Monica Cyr. She
is a proud Métis student pursuing a
graduate degree in human nutritional
sciences – and her research is already
changing our understanding of
traditional Aboriginal foodways.
“Aboriginal people are on the verge of
losing our sense of what our traditional
foods are, and the skills to prepare
them,” Cyr explains. “When I started,
I wanted to find out how we define
traditional foods, the ones we’ve passed
down over generations.”
As an undergraduate student, Cyr used
a research award to study bannock,
a food whose traditional status has
been contested because of its colonial
origins. She interviewed 25 subjects
in Winnipeg’s North End community,
including 14 Elders, and discovered
that each of them identified culturally,
spiritually and emotionally with
bannock.
“I was surprised by how complex a
relationship they had with such a simple
food,” she says. “Even though it began as
a Scottish bread, bannock has evolved
into an Aboriginal bread because it’s
been passed down through generations,
because we liked it so much, because it’s
easy and inexpensive to make.”
As a graduate student, Cyr has widened
the scope of her project to examine a
broader range of foods. She wants to
explore what traditional foods look
like to people living in cities. Most
importantly, she’s developing ways to
pass traditional food knowledge and
skills on to youth.
Cyr has not gone unnoticed in her
academic pursuits. She was awarded the
Mary Guilbault Métis Bursary through
the Louis Riel Institute, a highly
Monica Cyr, M.Sc. student in Human
Nutritional Sciences
competitive and prestigious award
offered for Métis students. She has also
been nominated in CBC Manitoba’s
Future 40 for 2016, a celebration of the
province’s new generation of leaders,
builders and change-makers under the
age of 40.
Study clarifies beef industry’s environmental footprint
Canada’s beef industry continues to
improve efficiencies that lessen its
environmental impacts, with production
of one kilogram of Canadian beef
creating 15% fewer greenhouse gas
emissions in 2011 compared to 1981,
says new study conducted by researchers
at the University of Manitoba,
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Lethbridge and Environment Canada.
Continual improvements in production
and feed efficiencies, crop yields and
management strategies, resulting
in reduced emissions and resource
requirements, were largely responsible
4 University of Manitoba, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
for the significant decrease in
environmental impact.
The study found that there has
been decreases in methane, nitrous
dioxide and carbon dioxide from beef
production in Canada over the 30year period. Comparing the same time
periods, it took 29% fewer cattle in the
breeding herd and 24% less land to
produce the same amount of beef. The
study explored the entire production
system – from cow-calf to feedlot. Future
phases of the study will assess areas such
as water use, biodiversity and provision
of ecosystems services.
Spring 2016
The next generation of farm safety
The University of Manitoba’s School of
Agriculture is committed to improving
farm safety across Manitoba in new and
innovative ways.
An innovative local study with global
implications needs volunteers to help
explore how genetics and lifestyle
factors influence health and chronic
disease.
The need is urgent: according
to statistics from the Workers
Compensation Board (WCB), a
whopping 30 per cent of all workerrelated acute-hazard fatalities in
Manitoba are in the agriculture sector.
Thanks to funding from the WCB, and
in partnership with other provincial
and federal safety organizations, the
School offers an Introduction to Farm
Safety course to its agriculture diploma
students.
“Many of our students will go on to
work on farms or manage farming
operations of all shapes and sizes,” says
Thea Green, the course’s lead instructor
and curriculum designer. “We want to
arm them with knowledge about safe
work procedures and current safety
legislation and make farm safety a way
of life.”
Since the course was first offered in
2013, Green says the curriculum has
evolved to include a dynamic online
component. Following a brief in-class
lecture, students watch videos and read
content online. They also engage in
online discussions about farm safety.
“It’s a more interactive experience
for them,” she explains. “The online
discussions are a safe place for students
to openly ask questions and discuss
their experiences.”
In the final phase of each lesson,
students are asked to apply what they’ve
Lifestyle research
study recruiting
learned to their own farm. For instance,
in one assignment, Green asked
students to watch a segment of the Rick
Mercer Report in which the popular
TV host visited a farm to learn about
agricultural production. She then asked
students to review their own farms and
report on how they would prepare for a
visit from Mercer.
The online course is being built with
existing tools, “but more funding will
help us expand what we offer and how
we promote and deliver it,” Green says.
“For instance, we’d like to boost the
technological capabilities of our faculty
research stations at Glenlea and Carman
to put our remote learners in touch with
the latest research taking place today.”
Going forward, the course holds the
potential to connect with any Manitoba
farmer with an Internet connection.
“We’re not just reaching out to a wider
audience, but across a generational
divide. Farmers trust the School of
Agriculture and value the information
we provide. Now we can provide them
with resources to help adopt a more
safety-conscious farm culture.”
Led by University of Manitoba
researchers Drs. Peter Jones and
Meghan Azad, The Manitoba
Personalized Lifestyle Research
(TMPLR) program brings together
a team of scientists and health care
professionals to understand how
microorganisms in our bodies,
genetics, and lifestyle – such as diet,
activity and sleep – interact to shape
our health. The knowledge gained
will lead to personalized health
information and recommendations
that will benefit the current and
future health of Manitobans.
The study will recruit 1200 total
participants over four years, and in
the first phase is seeking a crosssection of Manitobans between 30-46
years of age.
TMPLR was funded by the
Collaborative Research Team/
Cluster Development Program from
Research Manitoba, receiving $1
million in April 2015.
For more information or to
participate, visit tmplr.ca
umanitoba.ca/afs 5
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Our Donors
Thank you to the people who alone
or as part of an organization or
corporation have pledged to put their
money to work for the Faculty of
Agricultural and Food Sciences. It has
helped students cover the cost of their
tuition and books, paid for new research
equipment, refurbished classrooms and
laboratories, and sent students on field
trips.
As a donor, you can tell us how you
would like your gift directed - to
scholarships and bursaries, to special
funds like the Agricultural and Food
Sciences Student Experience Fund, or
to the Faculty of Agricultural and Food
Sciences Endowment Fund, which
provides teaching and other resources
for the Faculty.
If you would like to make a donation,
visit the Philanthropy website at
umanitoba.ca/admin/dev_adv/, call
(204) 474-9195 or 1‑800‑330-8066 or
email [email protected].
List includes donors who made a gift or
payment of $500+ to Faculty of Agricultural
and Food Sciences affiliated funds.
Information provided by Philanthropy
for the period of January 1, 2015 to
December 31, 2015.
INDIVIDUALS
Dr. James D. Astwood
J. David Baker
Margaret Bristow
Dr. Jared & Monica H. Carlberg
John M. Chang
Stan & Eleanor Cheung
Kenneth W. Clark
Irene Comrie
Charles D. Dyck
Charles F. & Dr. Karen J. Framingham
Lyall R. Franck
Denise M. & Rev. Keith S. Fraser
William R. Galatiuk
John Allan Garland
Gail M. Halko & Murray J. Carswell
James M. Halley, Q.C. & J. M. L. Halley
Hooi L. Han & Mickey O. T. Ma
Gloria P. & John S. Hedin
Mary E. Hurd
Todd J. & Sheri L. Hyra
Alexander F. & Frieda* Janzen
Donna M. Jensen
Doreen N. Johnson
Myrna L. Kraft
Mr. Larry T. Lenton
Carrol* & Neil Longmuir
David G. Lumgair
Gary B. & Patricia J.* Martens
Thomas R. & Susan Mooney
William Muir
Rea Nesbitt - In memory of Jack Nesbitt
Bruce E. Peloquin
Ronald G. Pettitt
Garry M. Pokotylo
Scholarship cultivates soil scientists
Retired professor Dr. Geza Racz and
his wife Trudi recently established an
endowment fund at the University
of Manitoba to recognize academic
achievement and encourage further
study in the field of soil science.
The inaugural scholarship, valued at
$2000 was presented by Dr. and Mrs.
Racz to Jeff Seward (at right), who is
completing his B.Sc. in Agroecology
and will start a Master’s program at the
University of Guelph in May.
6 University of Manitoba, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Geza & Trudi Racz
Wilbert & Sharon Ronald
Jeannette Rubinyi
Richard & Joan Rue
Ronald Scrapneck
Glen J. & Charlotte L. Sytnyk
Joan E. Warke (estate)
Thuraya Weedon
Dr. Karin M. Wittenberg
Norval & Ivy Young
Dr. Bryan F. & Ann Zilkey
ORGANIZATIONS
Agri-Trend Inc.
Agrium Inc.
Animal Nutrition Association of Canada Manitoba Division
BioVision Seed Labs
Dairy Farmers of Manitoba
Farm Credit Canada
Industrial Investments Ltd.
Keystone Agricultural Producers
Kiessling/Isaak Family Foundation
Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation
Manitoba Corn Growers Association Inc. &
Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers
Manitoba Egg Farmers
Manitoba Institute of Agrologists
Manitoba Pork Council
The Murphy Foundation Incorporated
Pallister Farm Ltd.
Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited
Swine Health Professionals Ltd.
Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, Inc.
*Deceased
Spring 2016
Accolades
STAFF
Rotimi Aluko, Human Nutritional
Sciences, was the 2015 recipient of the
Canadian Institute of Food Science and
Technology William J. Eva Award for
outstanding research and service to the
food industry.
At the annual Students’ Teacher
Recognition Reception in 2015,
Jared Carlberg, Agribusiness and
Agricultural Economics, was recognized
by degree student Addison Cullen
and Brian Oleson, Agribusiness and
Agricultural Economics, was honoured
by diploma student Michael Wilton.
Stefan Cenkowski, Biosystems
Engineering, was awarded the Maple
Leaf Award, the highest award made
by the Canadian Society for Biological
Engineering in recognition of
leadership in the profession.
Michael Eskin, Human Nutritional
Sciences, was inducted as a Fellow of
the Institute of Food Technologists,
recognizing exemplary professionalism
in the field of food science.
Annemieke Farenhorst, Soil Science,
received the Dr. and Mrs. Ralph
Campbell Award for meritorious service
in outreach activities encouraging
women to enter careers in the sciences
and engineering and her work on the
NSERC CREATE H20 program.
Rick Holley, Food Science, and
Kateryn Rochon, Entomology, were
presented with the 2015 Teaching
Award of Merit from the North
American Colleges and Teachers of
Agriculture for excellence in teaching
an agricultural discipline.
Jim House, Human Nutritional
Sciences, received a University of
Manitoba Outreach Award for his
role as chair of the local organizing
committee of the 2015 annual meeting
of the Canadian Nutrition Society.
Digvir Jayas, Biosystems Engineering
and Vice-President (Research and
International), received the Partners
In Research Engineering Ambassador
Award given to recognize a Canadian
researcher who has contributed to
the field of engineering, and their
promotion of this research to the
Canadian public.
David Lobb, Soil Science, was the
2015 inductee to the Soil Conservation
Council of Canada’s Canadian
Conservation Hall of Fame in
recognition of significant contribution
through dedication to promoting soil
conservation in Canada.
Barb Sharanowski, Entomology,
received the University of Manitoba
Rh Award, given to academic staff
members in the early stages of their
careers who display exceptional
innovation, leadership and promise in
their respective fields.
Qiang Zhang, Biosystems Engineering,
was named Canadian Society for
Biological Engineering Fellow for
outstanding and extraordinary
qualifications in agricultural, food or
biological engineering.
STUDENTS
Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, Ph.D. student in
Human Nutritional Sciences, was one of
four University of Manitoba recipients
of the Vanier Scholarship, the Canadian
Karlee Dyck, M.Sc. student in
Human Nutritional Sciences,
placed first in the Three Minute
Thesis (3MT) competition.
Karlee’s thesis was “Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder: Are pregnant
women getting enough nutrients
to reduce the risk?” She beat out
11 other competitors, winning
$5,000 and the opportunity to
attend the Western Regional 3MT
competition.
equivalent of the Rhodes Scholarship,
valued at $150,000 over three years.
Human Nutritional Sciences students
Oluwaseyi Odhigbo, Ifeanyi
Nwachukwu, Oribim Kingson along
with Zara Usman, Economics, won the
top prize of $10,000 at the University of
Manitoba problem-solving competition
Game Changer for their food waste
reduction solution.
Tran Nguyen, Ph.D. student in Plant
Science, received a Sir Gordon Wu
Graduate Student Scholarship, a $40,000
renewable scholarship for graduate
students who have demonstrated
intellectual ability and academic
accomplishments.
umanitoba.ca/afs 7
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Spring 2016
Recognizing the accomplishments of our alumni
Cindy Grant, soil scientist, and
Keith Kuhl, potato industry leader,
received the 2015 Certificates of Merit
from the Faculty of Agricultural and
Food Sciences in recognition of their
contributions to Manitoba’s agricultural
community.
Cynthia (Cindy) Grant completed
her B.S.A., M.Sc. and Ph.D. at the
University of Manitoba and has spent
her career at Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada (AAFC) Brandon Research
Centre. Cindy’s research and extension
activities on soil fertility and crop
nutrition have led to a national and
international reputation in the areas
of improving nutrient use efficiency in
cropping systems and reducing the risk
of trace metal toxicity. She has received
Dr. Bruce D.
Campbell
(BSA/58, LLD/07)
will be appointed
to the Order
of Canada this
spring. Bruce is
recognized for his
entrepreneurship in agribusiness and
for his generous support of innovation
and education in Canada’s agriculture
industry.
Morris Deveson (BSA/56), Glen
Findlay (BSA/63, MSc/64), and Bob
Roehle (BSA/68) were inducted into
the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame
for their outstanding contributions to
the improvement of agriculture and
the betterment of rural living in the
province.
many national and international
awards, including Fellowships in the
American Society of Agronomy, the
Canadian Society of Agronomy, and
the Canadian Society of Soil Science,
the Gold Harvest Award from AAFC,
and the International Plant Nutrition
Institute Science Award.
Keith Kuhl completed his Diploma in
Agriculture and returned to the family
farm in Gnadenthal, MB. In 1978, Keith
and his siblings became shareholders
in the family business Southern
Manitoba Potato Co. Ltd. Today, Keith
owns Southern together with sons
Marlon, Jeremy and daughter Andrea,
officially making Southern Potato a
third generation company and a fourth
generation farm. Over the years Keith
Cindy Grant and Keith Kuhl
has served the potato industry in many
leadership positions and was appointed
to numerous industry government
working groups. He has also been
involved in improving agriculture and
rural life in many third world countries.
The Diploma Class of 1965 toured the Fort Garry campus and the Bruce D. Campbell Farm
and Food Discovery Centre as part of their 50th reunion in June 2015.
2016 Reunions
Class of 1951 – Ag Degree - will celebrate its 65th reunion on June 2 in
Winnipeg. Contact Vern McNair at [email protected].
Class of 1966 – Ag Diploma - will celebrate its 50th reunion on July 7-10 in
Winnipeg. Contact Lynn Flewitt at [email protected].
8 University of Manitoba, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences