All living things depend on the sustainability of the earth’s resources, and understanding how to protect and better manage those limited resources is crucial to our survival. Critical environmental issues like water pollution, food shortages and rising temperatures could have a catastrophic effect on our ability to meet basic human needs in the near future. Experts in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems are working on solutions to many of these challenges.

Our researchers are studying everything from climate change and storm water management to the relationship between food, nutrition, diet and health. The research discoveries being made here have the potential to reach across borders for world-wide applications.

We are also sharing what we’ve learned with the next generation of scientists - our students. They come to us with a strong sense of global responsibility, passionate about creating positive and lasting change on issues of importance. We believe that by providing them with the opportunity to learn outside the traditional classroom - taking part in a community-based experiential learning project or studying overseas - we can enhance their education and help them develop to their full potential.

 

 

Research Centres

Research Facilities

The Faculty of Land and Food Systems offers unique hands-on learning sites for graduate students, in addition to traditional labs where food science, food processing, and nutrition and health research take place.

UBC Farm is 24-hectare site on UBC Vancouver campus, which is a living laboratory that contains agricultural, forest, and transitional landscape areas for interdisciplinary field research. The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (CSFS) located at UBC Farm is a unique research centre that aims to understand and fundamentally transform local and global food systems towards a more sustainable, food secure future.

The Dairy Education and Research Centre, located a 2-hour drive from UBC Vancouver campus, is an internationally recognized dairy cattle research centre supporting the development and adaptation of new technologies for the dairy industry in British Columbia and beyond. The Centre has a large research herd that can provide sufficient numbers of experimental animals at a given physiological stage to meet most research requirements. These features support a vibrant critical mass of students, postdoctoral fellows, staff, visiting scientists, and faculty. A 10,800 square-foot student residence building opened in September 2015, which allows students and researchers to live on-site at the Agassiz, B.C. research station, and more closely monitor their research projects in dairy cattle welfare, animal reproduction, and resource recovery. 

The Wine Research Centre is located at UBC Vancouver campus and it has a modern and fully equipped mass spectrometry laboratory. Researchers in the Wine Research Centre also have access to the outstanding research facilities in the Michael Smith Laboratories (MSL) which is conveniently located adjacent to the Centre. The MSL has established itself as a force in the global biotechnology research community.
 

Research Highlights

In the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, our researchers are focused on finding viable solutions to pressing global crises and are known worldwide for their innovation and leadership in areas such as food science, dairy reproduction and animal welfare, sustainable agriculture, and community health and nutrition.

Our researchers have attracted millions of dollars in research funding from sources including Genome Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Michael Smith Scholar, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

Our experts are conducting groundbreaking research in many areas including:

  • animal biology, health, and welfare;
  • ecofriendly alternatives in pest management;
  • food technology, genomics, and safety;
  • food processing and food waste management;
  • plant and soil health;
  • watershed management;
  • food security and sovereignty;
  • community health and nutrition;
  • agricultural land use and impact.

Graduate Degree Programs

Research Supervisors in Faculty

Name Research Interests
Barichello, Richard Capitlization of Government program benefits , quota systems and markets, agricultural policy, trade,industrial and agricultural pocliy reform in South East Asian Countries, economics of raw material export
Black, Jennifer Community Health / Public Health; Nutrition; Public health; food environments; social determinants of health; food banks; school food environments
Black, Thomas Andrew Biometeorology; Soil physics; Microclimate modification
Brar, Gurcharn Cereal pathology (wheat and barley in particular); Genetics of host-pathogen interactions - disease resistance in crop plants; Resistance breeding; Plant imaging; Fungal biology; Population genetics and genomics; Functional pathogenomics
Carrillo, Juli Plant-insect interactions; Agroecology; Invasive species; evolution; Ecology; community ecology; Environmental Change; Plant evolution; Population Ecology
Castellarin, Simone viticulture and grapevine physiology; physiological and molecular aspects that underlay fruit ripening and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and how they are modulated by the environment and viticultural practices; molecular viticulture
Cerri, Ronaldo Animal Reproduction; Animal Production; Agricultural Machinery and Technology; Endocrine Regulation; Biotechnology and Activity monitors; Dairy cattle reproduction; Endometrium-conceptus cross communication; Production medicine in dairy cattle; Estrous cycle physiology in cattle; Inflammation and stress
Cohen, Tamara understanding the interplay between different lifestyle behaviours; how eating behaviours relate to weight management; Obesity
Dee, Derek Proteins; Enzymes and Proteins; Agri-food Transformation Products; Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms; Nanomaterials; Nutriceuticals and Functional Foods; Protein Folding; protein aggregation; Biophysics; food chemistry; protein engineering; funtional amyloid; protein nanofibrils; psychrophilic enzymes; aspartic proteases; prions; food proteins; meat analogues
Farrell, Anthony Angiogenesis
Fraser, David Welfare of animals on farms, animal ethics, animal behaviour, Animal welfare, innovations in animal housing and management, practical and cultural dimensions of applying ethics to animal issues
Gulati, Sumeet Economics of Urban Transportation; Effectiveness of Carbon Taxes; Effectiveness of Environmental Policy; Economics of Human Wildlife Conflict; Political Economy of Environmental and Trade Policy; International Trade and its Effect on the Environment
Jessri, Mahsa Community Health / Public Health; Epidemiology; Nutrition; Health Policies; Lifestyle Determinants and Health; Health Promotion; Health Prevention; Statistics and Probabilities; Preventive medicine; Nutritional Epidemiology; Public and Population Health; clinical epidemiology; Preventive Medicine; Machine Learning; Artificial Intelligence; predictive analytics; Chronic Disease Prevention; Dietary Pattern Modeling; Dietetics; Dietary Assessment; Simulation
Jovel, Eduardo Ethnobotany, mycology, natural product chemistry and Aboriginal health
Karakochuk, Crystal Dawn Nutrition; Global Health and Emerging Diseases; Hematology; Maternal and child nutrition; Micronutrients (namely iron, folic acid, and zinc); Biochemical markers of iron status; Determinants and causes of anemia; Inherited blood disorders (sickle cell, thalassemia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency); International nutrition; Clinical dietetics; Risk-benefit of micronutrient supplementation
Kitts, David Food chemistry and toxicology, cellular and molecular mechanism, oncology
Knipfer, Thorsten
Krzic, Maja Agriculture; Soil science; Soil science education; Integration of multimedia and soil science
Lamers, Yvonne Nutrition; Nutrients; Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms; Breast Feeding and Infant Nutrition; Nutritional Biochemistry; Micronutrients; Vitamins; Nutritional Biomarker; Pregnancy; Periconceptional folic acid supplementation; Prenatal Supplements; Newborn Screening; Toddler Nutrition; Clinical Chemistry; Maternal and child health
Lu, Xiaonan Sensors and Devices; Microbiology; Combinatorial Chemistry; Agriculture; Food safety; Food microbiology; Analytical Chemistry; Molecular microbiology; Nanotechnology; Advanced material; Microfluidic "lab-on-a-chip"; Sensor; Gut microbiome; Food microbiome
McAusland, Carol Interactions between globalization and public good provision, impacts of trade liberalization on environmental politics, potential use of trade policy to stem damages from exotic species introductions and biological invasions Environmental impacts of international trade, implications of skilled labor migration for the global provision of public goods
Measday, Vivien Chromosome segregation in the budding yeast using molecular biology and genomic tools
Noack, Frederik Interaction of economic development and the environment
Pratap Singh, Anubhav Agri-food Transformation Products; Nutriceuticals and Functional Foods; food processing; novel non-thermal processing; Functional Foods; pulsed light; high pressure; cold plasma; pasteurization; sterilization; heat transfer; mass transfer; food engineering
Protopopova, Alexandra Animal; Community Health / Public Health; rabbit; dog; cat; animal shelter; Animal behaviour; Animal welfare; community initiatives; climate change and pet ownership; cultural differences in human-companion animal relationships; free-ranging dogs; one health

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Open Research Positions

This list of possible research projects is non-exhaustive. It only shows positions that are specifically advertised in the G+PS website.

Graduate Student Profiles

Anna Ratuski

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)

Use of environmental enrichment to improve the welfare of rodents used in science

Brock Williams

Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition (PhD)

Folic acid supplementation in children with sickle cell disease

Timilehin Oguntuyaki

Master of Land and Water Systems (MLWS)

Chantel Chizen

Master of Science in Soil Science (MSc)

Greenhouse gas emissions from potato production

Erin Ryan

Master of Science in Applied Animal Biology (MSc)

Humane evaluation of a captive bolt trap and validation of remote monitoring systems for commensal rodents

Michael W Brunt

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)

How perceptions of transparency influence the social acceptability of animal use in science

Celina Solís

Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD)

Decolonizing Palates: Food Security Strengthening through underutilized vegetables revitalization in the Mayan Region of Chiapas, Mexico

Wilson Mendes

Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD)

Healing Synergies: Indigenous Land-based Pedagogies and Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the City
All Student Profiles

Alumni on Success

Elisabeth Ormandy

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD) [2012]

Job Title
Co-founder and Executive Director

Employer
Animals in Science Policy Institute

Andrea Goldson Barnaby

Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD) [2012]

Job Title
Lecturer and Programme Coordinator

Employer
University of the West Indies

Naomi Robert

Master of Land and Water Systems (MLWS) [2015]

Job Title
Research Associate

Employer
Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Elaine Anderson

Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD) [2009]

Job Title
Regional Environmental Protection Coordinator

Employer
Correctional Service of Canada

Isaac Jonas

Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE)

Job Title
Founding CEO

Employer
Impact Africa
All Alumni Profiles

Recent Publications

This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems.

 

Comparative bioinformatic and structural analyses of pepsin and renin
Publication: Enzyme and Microbial Technology
UBC Author(s): Rickey Yada (Faculty of Land & Food Systems / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 01410229
Volume: 141
Publication Date: November 2020

View Publication
Short communication: Motivation to walk affects gait attributes
Publication: Journal of Dairy Science
UBC Author(s): Daniel Weary (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems), Marina Von Keyserlingk (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00220302
Volume: 103
Page Range: 9481-9487
Publication Date: October 2020

View Publication
A novel methodology to characterize and quantify regional farmscape non-production perennial vegetation carbon storage and potential for loss in Southwest British Columbia
Publication: Agroforestry Systems
UBC Author(s): Sean Smukler (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 01674366
Volume: 94
Page Range: 1947-1958
Publication Date: 1 October 2020

View Publication
Postpartum fluoxetine increased maternal inflammatory signalling and decreased tryptophan metabolism: Clues for efficacy
Publication: Neuropharmacology
UBC Author(s): Katja Yvonne Lamers (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00283908
Volume: 175
Publication Date: 15 September 2020

View Publication
Validity and Usability of a Smartphone Image-Based Dietary Assessment App Compared to 3-Day Food Diaries in Assessing Dietary Intake Among Canadian Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial
Publication: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
UBC Author(s): Tamara Cohen (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 8
Page Range: e16953
Publication Date: 9 September 2020

View Publication
Short communication: Condition of male dairy calves at auction markets
Publication: Journal of Dairy Science
UBC Author(s): David Fraser (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00220302
Volume: 103
Page Range: 8530-8534
Publication Date: September 2020

View Publication
Concentrations of acute-phase proteins in milk from cows with clinical mastitis caused by different pathogens
Publication: Pathogens
UBC Author(s): Ronaldo Cerri (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 9
Page Range: 1-12
Publication Date: September 2020

View Publication
Disease Resistance Evaluation of Elite CIMMYT Wheat Lines Containing the Coupled Fhb1 and Sr2 Genes
Publication: Plant disease
UBC Author(s): Gurcharn Brar (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 01912917
Volume: 104
Page Range: 2369-2376
Publication Date: 1 September 2020

View Publication
Untargeted volatile metabolomics using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry – A solution for orange juice authentication
Publication: Talanta
UBC Author(s): Xiaonan Lu (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00399140
Volume: 217
Publication Date: 1 September 2020

View Publication
Lunch on School Days in Canada: Examining Contributions to Nutrient and Food Group Intake and Differences across Eating Locations
Publication: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
UBC Author(s): Jennifer Black (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 22122672
Volume: 120
Page Range: 1484-1497
Publication Date: September 2020

View Publication
Knowledge of Sugars Consumption and the WHO Sugars Guideline among Canadian Dietitians and Other Health Professionals
Publication: Canadian journal of dietetic practice and research : a publication of Dietitians of Canada = Revue canadienne de la pratique et de la recherche en dietetique : une publication des Dietetistes du Canada
UBC Author(s): David Kitts (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 14863847
Volume: 81
Page Range: 142-145
Publication Date: 1 September 2020

View Publication
Characterization of Sub-Regional Variation in Saccharomyces Populations and Grape Phenolic Composition in Pinot Noir Vineyards of a Canadian Wine Region
Publication: Frontiers in Genetics
UBC Author(s): Simone Castellarin (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 11
Publication Date: 31 August 2020

View Publication
Tracking changes in soil organic carbon across the heterogeneous agricultural landscape of the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia
Publication: Science of the Total Environment
UBC Author(s): Maja Krzic (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems), Sean Smukler (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00489697
Volume: 732
Publication Date: 25 August 2020

View Publication
Is untargeted iron supplementation harmful when iron deficiency is not the major cause of anaemia? Study protocol for a double-blind, randomised controlled trial among non-pregnant Cambodian women
Publication: BMJ open
UBC Author(s): Crystal Dawn Karakochuk (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 10
Page Range: e037232
Publication Date: 16 August 2020

View Publication
Cross-Species and Cross-Polymorph Seeding of Lysozyme Amyloid Reveals a Dominant Polymorph
Publication: Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
UBC Author(s): Derek Dee (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 7
Publication Date: 14 August 2020

View Publication
Anticipatory behaviour in animals: A critical review
Publication: Animal Welfare
UBC Author(s): Daniel Weary (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems), Marina Von Keyserlingk (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 09627286
Volume: 29
Page Range: 231-238
Publication Date: August 2020

View Publication
The role of disulfide bonds in a Solanum tuberosum saposin-like protein investigated using molecular dynamics
Publication: PLoS ONE
UBC Author(s): Rickey Yada (Faculty of Land & Food Systems / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 15
Publication Date: August 2020

View Publication
Antioxidant properties of casein phosphopeptides (Cpp) and maillard‐type conjugated products
Publication: Antioxidants
UBC Author(s): David Kitts (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 9
Page Range: 1-15
Publication Date: August 2020

View Publication
Minor procedural variations affect canine behavior during sociability assessments
Publication: Behavioural Processes
UBC Author(s): Alexandra Protopopova (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 03766357
Volume: 177
Publication Date: August 2020

View Publication
Development of a species-specific PCR coupled with lateral flow immunoassay for the identification of goose ingredient in foods
Publication: Food Control
UBC Author(s): Xiaonan Lu (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 09567135
Volume: 114
Publication Date: August 2020

View Publication
Behavioral changes associated with fever in transition dairy cows
Publication: Journal of Dairy Science
UBC Author(s): Daniel Weary (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems), Marina Von Keyserlingk (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00220302
Volume: 103
Page Range: 7331-7338
Publication Date: August 2020

View Publication
ARRIVE 2.0 and the British Journal of Pharmacology: Updated guidance for 2020
Publication: British Journal of Pharmacology
UBC Author(s): Barbara Stefanska (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00071188
Volume: 177
Page Range: 3611-3616
Publication Date: 1 August 2020

View Publication
Individual variability in response to social stress in dairy heifers
Publication: Animals
UBC Author(s): Daniel Weary (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems), Marina Von Keyserlingk (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 10
Page Range: 1-10
Publication Date: August 2020

View Publication
Identification of camel species in food products by a polymerase chain reaction-lateral flow immunoassay
Publication: Food Chemistry
UBC Author(s): Xiaonan Lu (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 03088146
Volume: 319
Publication Date: 30 July 2020

View Publication
Reduced lactate dehydrogenase activity in the heart and suppressed sex hormone levels are associated with female-biased mortality during thermal stress in Pacific salmon
Publication: The Journal of experimental biology
UBC Author(s): Anthony Farrell (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 223
Publication Date: 28 July 2020

View Publication

Pages

Recent Thesis Submissions

Doctoral Citations

A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
Year Citation Program
2020 Dr. Burnett studied the role of automated activity monitors in the reproductive management of dairy cows. Her findings show the correlation between increased estrous expression and improved fertility. This research demonstrates the importance of estrous expression in breeding decisions and provides alternatives for reducing hormonal interventions. Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)
2020 Dr. Fong worked on understanding Salmonella, a foodborne pathogen, and bacteriophages, the viruses that predate these bacteria. She identified several bacteriophages with high efficacy in controlling Salmonella that would be of high value to the food industry. Her research sheds insight into mitigation of this human pathogen in the food chain. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
2020 Dr. Stephens studied the climate trends, carbon, and water use of two forests in central Canada for the past two decades. This study helps to quantify the carbon uptake potential of these forests in the future under further climate change. Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD)
2020 Dr. Jones studied how various plastic films impact soil and crop micro-climate when they are used as soil mulch covers or on greenhouses. Using data that he collected through field experiments, he developed models to help crop producers around the world make informed decisions when they use plastic films to extend a crop's growing season. Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD)
2020 Dr. Modi investigated the effects of stumping and tree species composition on the soil microbial communities in the interior cedar-hemlock zone of British Columbia. She observed that stumping can have positive impacts on soil microbial communities when performed along with planting mixtures of tree species such as Douglas-fir with paper birch. Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD)
2020 Dr. Beetch studied how natural compounds derived from diet, namely a class of polyphenols found in grapes and blueberries, can reverse aberrant DNA methylation patterns that underlie cancer. Her findings show that these compounds exert anti-cancer effects through epigenetic gene regulation, which can be used in cancer prevention and therapy. Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition (PhD)
2020 Dr. Amendola found that inhalation of CO2, commonly used to kill laboratory rats, induces negative emotional states. Her research shows that rats experience anxiety at low CO2 concentrations, and that the onset of these feelings varies between individuals. Her results indicate that CO2 compromises rat welfare even for the least sensitive of rats. Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)
2020 Dr. Hakeem developed innovative strategies for replacing antibiotics in agri-foods systems. He identified how synergistic combinations work collectively against Campylobacter jejuni. He also developed a nanoscale packaging system to inactivate this pathogenic bacterium in poultry meats to enhance food safety and public health. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
2020 Dr. Marin studied beneficial bacteria in cherry tree roots. These bacteria promote plant growth and can potentially be used as eco-friendly pesticides in organic agriculture. She also used genomic methodologies to study the microbial biodiversity of Okanagan cherry orchard soils, information critical to understanding cherry soil-borne diseases. Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD)
2019 Dr. Smid showed that dairy cows have a partial preference to access various outdoor areas and that outdoor space allowance influences this preference. In addition, she showed a positive influence of an outdoor space on the expression of heat behaviour of dairy cows. These results show the importance of access to the outdoors for dairy cattle. Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)

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Interesting Links

https://www.landfood.ubc.ca/faculty/
 

Assistant Professor Tamara Cohen Receives SSHRC Insight Development Grant

Assistant Professor Tamara Cohen Receives SSHRC Insight Development Grant Dr. Tamara Cohen, an Assistant Professor in the Food, Nutrition and Health program and the Director of the Dietetics program, has received an Insight Development Grant from the Social Science and Humanities Research...

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Community Builder Roxana Quinde Wins President’s Staff Award

Community Builder Roxana Quinde Wins President’s Staff Award Sept 3 – Roxana Quinde has won a UBC President’s Staff Award for Community Engagement. For the last 20 years, she has fostered global links to universities and organizations for student exchanges, and has been a strong community...

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Bond between cow and calf grows deeper when suckling is allowed

Bond between cow and calf grows deeper when suckling is allowed August 28, 2020 – A new study from UBC’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems measures how strong a bond develops between a cow and her calf based on the amount of time spent together and whether suckling takes place. “...

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Dean’s Message for LFS Community Connects: August 2020

Dean’s Message for LFS Community Connects: August 2020 It’s been six months since we’ve had to make a quick pivot into our new virtual existence. I don’t know where the time has gone – fall is just around the corner, which means we are preparing for students to resume classes. This...

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Three Faculty Members are Recipients of the John R. Evans Leaders Fund

Three Faculty Members are Recipients of the John R. Evans Leaders Fund Three researchers at the Faculty of Land and Food Systems have received funding from the Government of Canada, through the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the John R. Evans Leaders Fund. Assistant Professor Derek Dee...

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Professor Dan Weary Receives UFAW Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Animal Welfare Science

UBC Moves Up in Rank for Agricultural Sciences, Food Science and Technology Professor Dan Weary received the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Animal Welfare Science. The UFAW Medal recognises exceptional achievements of individual scientists...

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