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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 has sites at both UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan campuses, with modern and fully equipped laboratories. 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 areas include grapes, vineyards, and soils; wine and fermentation; winery performance and sustainability; and wine territory competitiveness.
 

 

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 ground-breaking 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
Noack, Frederik Interaction of economic development and the environment
Pratap-Singh, Anubhav Environment and natural resources economics; Food sciences (including food engineering); Natural resource management; Agri-food Transformation Products; cold plasma; food engineering; food processing; Functional Foods; heat transfer; high pressure; mass transfer; novel non-thermal processing; Nutriceuticals and Functional Foods; pasteurization; pulsed light; sterilization
Proctor, Jonathan Environment
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
Riseman, Andrew plant breeding; plant genetics; horticulture; roots; stress physiology, Plant breeding, intercrop interactions, nutrient use efficiency, root physiology, biotic/abtioic stressor
Sargent, Risa Plant biology; Biological control; community ecology; evolutionary ecology; Floral trait evolution; Flowering plants; Herbivory; Pollinator-mediated interactions
Smukler, Sean Natural sciences; Agricultural ecology; Soil health; Climate change adaptation and mitigation; Ecosystem services
Stefanska, Barbara Nutrition and Cancer; Breast Cancer; Hepatic Diseases; Gene Regulation and Expression; Epigenetics, Cancer epigenetics, Nutritional epigenomics
Vercammen, James Market Analysis; Marketing and Distribution; R&D and Innovation; Sustainable Development; Supply and Demand Dynamics; food prices; agri-environmental contracts; agri-risk and insurance; commodity futures markets
von Keyserlingk, Marina animal welfare,  ethics of animal use,  farm animals, dairy cattle welfare, Animal Welfare Behavior, housing and management and how these contribute to animal health and welfare of dairy cattle
Wang Kazun, Siyun Food sciences (including food engineering); Agri-food Transformation Products; Microbiology; Bioactive Molecules; Food microbiology; Food safety
Weary, Daniel Animal and dairy sciences; Animal welfare; Applied animal behaviour; Dairy cattle; Laboratory animals
Wittman, Hannah Sociology and related studies; Farming systems research; food sovereignty; Sustainable agriculture; socio-ecological systems; Agroecology
Xu, Zhaoming Nutrients, Zinc, growth, and growth regulation, Regulatory role of zinc in apoptosis, Zinc and breast cancer
Yada, Rickey Enzymes (including kinetics and mechanisms, and biocatalyst); Other biological sciences; Food science; Food protein chemistry; Structure-function relationships; Enzymes; aspartic proteases
Yang, Tianxi Food sciences (including food engineering); Analytical chemistry; Nano-technology; Chemical engineering; Develop novel Point-of-Care tools for food safety monitoring; Design smart nanomaterials for sustainable farming and precision agriculture; Create sustainable and multifunctional packaging materials to improve food safety and quality

Pages

Graduate Student Stories

Thomas Brenner

Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)

Characterization of bacteriophages as an alternative treatment strategy for foodborne salmonella in the poultry industry

Adelia Jacobs

Master of Science in Human Nutrition (MSc)

Nutritional Epidemiology

Jens Johnson

Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD)

Disentagling drivers of wild bee abundance and diversity and pollination services

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

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

Michael W Brunt

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)

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

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.

 

Environmental Factors Influencing Stem Rot Development in Peanut: Predictors and Action Thresholds for Disease Management
Publication: Phytopathology
UBC Author(s): Andrew Riseman (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 0031949X
Volume: 114
Page Range: 393-404
Publication Date: 1 February 2024

View Publication
Are regulations addressing farm animal welfare issues during live transportation fit for purpose? A multi-country jurisdictional check
Publication: Royal Society Open Science
UBC Author(s): Marina von Keyserlingk (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 11
Publication Date: 24 January 2024

View Publication
Supplementation with (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid appears as effective as folic acid in maintaining maternal folate status while reducing unmetabolised folic acid in maternal plasma: a randomised trial of pregnant women in Canada
Publication: British Journal of Nutrition
UBC Author(s): Crystal Dawn Karakochuk (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00071145
Volume: 131
Page Range: 92-102
Publication Date: 14 January 2024

View Publication
Mineral phosphorus fertilization for silage corn in manured soils in the Fraser Valley, Canada
Publication: Agronomy Journal
UBC Author(s): Jean Thomas Cornelis (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems), Sean Smukler (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00021962
Volume: 116
Page Range: 362-379
Publication Date: January/February 2024

View Publication
Ethicists' commentary on current considerations when advising on destroying honeybee colonies
Publication: Canadian Veterinary Journal
UBC Author(s): Daniel Weary (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00085286
Volume: 65
Page Range: 13-14
Publication Date: January 2024

View Publication
Application of Hydrothermal Time Models to Predict Sclerotial Germination of Athelia rolfsii
Publication: Phytopathology
UBC Author(s): Andrew Riseman (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 0031949X
Volume: 114
Page Range: 126-136
Publication Date: 1 January 2024

View Publication
Maternal Iron and Vitamin D Status during the Second Trimester Is Associated with Third Trimester Depression Symptoms among Pregnant Participants in the APrON Cohort
Publication: Journal of Nutrition
UBC Author(s): Katja Yvonne Lamers (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00223166
Volume: 154
Page Range: 174-184
Publication Date: January 2024

View Publication
Infectivity responses of Salmonella enterica to bacteriophages on maize seeds and maize sprouts
Publication: Current Research in Food Science
UBC Author(s): Siyun Wang (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 8
Publication Date: January 2024

View Publication
Inactivation of Salmonella enteritidis in liquid egg yolk and egg white using bacteriophage cocktails
Publication: Current Research in Food Science
UBC Author(s): Siyun Wang (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 8
Publication Date: January 2024

View Publication
Novel drugs approved by the EMA, the FDA, and the MHRA in 2023: A year in review
Publication: British Journal of Pharmacology
UBC Author(s): Barbara Stefanska (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00071188
Publication Date: 2024

View Publication
Non-thermal processing of watermelon and red grape juices in thin-profile continuous-flow pulsed UV light reactors: Effect on microbiological safety and nutritional value
Publication: LWT
UBC Author(s): Anubhav Pratap-Singh (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00236438
Volume: 191
Publication Date: 1 January 2024

View Publication
Reduction of Nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica in Broth and on Raw Chicken Breast by a Broad-spectrum Bacteriophage Cocktail
Publication: Journal of Food Protection
UBC Author(s): Siyun Wang (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 0362028X
Volume: 87
Publication Date: January 2024

View Publication
Impact of Cluster Thinning on Wine Grape Yield and Fruit Composition: A Review and Meta-Analysis
Publication: Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research
UBC Author(s): Simone Castellarin (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 13227130
Volume: 2024
Publication Date: 2024

View Publication
Validation of a leg-mounted pedometer for the measurement of steps in lactating Holstein cows
Publication: JDS Communications
UBC Author(s): Ronaldo Cerri (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
Volume: 5
Page Range: 67-71
Publication Date: January 2024

View Publication
The land use consequences of rural to urban migration*
Publication: American Journal of Agricultural Economics
UBC Author(s): Frederik Noack (Food and Resource Economics / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00029092
Volume: 106
Page Range: 177-205
Publication Date: January 2024

View Publication
Environmental factors controlling biochar climate change mitigation potential in British Columbia's agricultural soils
Publication: GCB Bioenergy
UBC Author(s): Jean Thomas Cornelis (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 17571693
Volume: 16
Publication Date: January 2024

View Publication
Challenges to Cannabis sativa Production from Pathogens and Microbes—The Role of Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics
Publication: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
UBC Author(s): Andrew Riseman (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 16616596
Volume: 25
Publication Date: January 2024

View Publication
First report of Puccinia gibberosa on blue oatgrass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) in Canada, with taxonomic revision of the rust species
Publication: Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology
UBC Author(s): Gurcharn Brar (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 07060661
Volume: 46
Page Range: 19-26
Publication Date: 2024

View Publication
First report of Melampsora ferrinii (Pucciniales) on Babylon willow (Salix babylonica) in Iran
Publication: Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology
UBC Author(s): Gurcharn Brar (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 07060661
Volume: 46
Page Range: 11-18
Publication Date: 2024

View Publication
Swine industry perspectives on the future of pig farming
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: 33
Publication Date: 2024

View Publication
Isolation and Characterization of Pectin from African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) Fruit
Publication: Food Biophysics
UBC Author(s): Vasileios Kontogiorgos (Food, Nutrition & Health / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 15571858
Publication Date: 2024

View Publication
Symptomology, prevalence, and impact of Hop latent viroid on greenhouse-grown cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) plants in Canada
Publication: Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology
UBC Author(s): Andrew Riseman (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 07060661
Volume: 46
Page Range: 174-197
Publication Date: 2024

View Publication
Gene editing in animals: What does the public want to know and what information do stakeholder organizations provide?
Publication: Public Understanding of 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: 09636625
Publication Date: 2024

View Publication
Perspective: Prolonged cow-calf contact—A dilemma or simply another step in the evolution of the dairy industry?
Publication: Journal of Dairy Science
UBC Author(s): Marina von Keyserlingk (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 00220302
Volume: 107
Page Range: 4-8
Publication Date: January 2024

View Publication
Manipulation of soil mycorrhizal fungi influences floral traits
Publication: New Phytologist
UBC Author(s): Risa Sargent (Applied Biology / Faculty of Land and Food Systems)
ISSN: 0028646X
Publication Date: 2024

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
2023 Dr. Brenner developed and characterized a bacteriophage treatment that can be safely ingested by chickens or sprayed directly onto their meat to target and kill dangerous Salmonella bacteria. He intends to connect this antimicrobial innovation to the poultry sector to benefit Canadian poultry producers, processors, and consumers. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
2023 Dr. Guo demonstrated the flexibility and capability of using buccal tablets with nanotechnology to deliver insulin with fast onset of action as injection which can be administrated more conveniently and had a long duration of blood glucose reduction effect. His research provided a promising way to deliver insulin orally. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
2023 Dr. Dring studied how municipal governance of agricultural systems in Southwestern British Columbia, Canada contributes to social justice. Through exploration of the politics of conflict and dissent over land use, Dr. Dring argues for the importance of municipal roles in planning just food futures. Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD)
2023 Dr. Leepile evaluated the prevalence of household insecurity, undernutrition, and anemia among the Indigenous San people in rural Botswana. She also documented the communities' lived experiences, perceptions, and recommendations. Her findings will inform and guide targeted and culturally responsive nutrition and health policies for the San people. Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD)
2022 Dr. Brunt studied the social licence to use animals for scientific purposes and the role of institutional transparency in this process. He identified several opportunities for institutions using animals to engage in activities to increase institutional openness with the public and help renegotiate the social licence to use animals in society. Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Mandal used computational simulation and experimental validation to develop an understanding of parameters related to pulsed UV light treatment of liquid foods. He developed a reactor for processing of liquid foods that can inactivate the microorganisms present in these foods, while retaining their sensory quality and nutritional value. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
2022 Dr. Mu's research looked at how different dietary phenolic acids, present in fruits and vegetables, work to mitigate the pro-inflammatory reactions that contribute to intestinal injury. Her findings will assist us to make optimal food choices that will lead to health and welfare benefits. Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
2022 Dr. Caballero measured how much lysine children use when they eat different plant-based foods, such as rice, oats and corn. Her work will help develop dietary guidelines for children that consume a predominantly plant-based diet. These guidelines will ensure they meet their lysine requirement, which is important for adequate growth and development. Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition (PhD)
2022 Dr. Koralesky used institutional ethnography to investigate how animal sheltering policies and animal protection laws organize what happens to animals. Her research illuminates frontline work practices involved with responding to concerns about animals in distress, helping animals with behavioural problems and keeping people and animals together. Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)
2022 Dr. Turki used novel stable-isotope-based techniques to evaluate new dietary therapies for people with inborn errors of metabolism such as modified cornstarch in glycogen storage disease type I, and glycomacropeptide in phenylketonuria. The results of the series of studies will contribute to improving nutritional management in this population. Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition (PhD)

Pages

Interesting Links

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

Indigenous Forest Gardens Look to Expand

Indigenous Forest Gardens Look to Expand Indigenous communities, including the Ts’msyen, Gitxsan, and Coast Salish Peoples, have successfully managed soils and cultivated foods in forests since time immemorial, and a new research partnership aims to revitalize this traditional and ancestral...

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Dr. William Valley awarded 2024 West Coast Teaching Excellence Award

Dr. William Valley awarded 2024 West Coast Teaching Excellence Award In recognition of his excellence in teaching and his commitment to the principles of equity, inclusion, and decolonization, Dr. William (Will) Valley is the recipient of one of this year’s West Coast Teaching...

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CIHR Grants Awarded to LFS Researchers

CIHR Grants Awarded to LFS Researchers Three LFS research labs were awarded funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Led by Drs. Derek Dee, Crystal Karakochuk, and David Wright, the labs delve into the wide scope of applications in the Faculty’s Food, Nutrition,...

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Jennifer Heinsius, PhD Student, Animal Welfare Program

Jennifer Heinsius, PhD Student, Animal Welfare Program Why did you choose the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and how did you become interested in animal welfare? I chose this faculty since I had seen a lot of work coming from the Animal Welfare Program and thought it looked like a great...

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Flavour of The Month: Neza Coffee

Flavour of The Month – Neza Coffee Olivier Ntwali, Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE), 2018 What is your favorite flavour and why? My favourite flavour is Neza coffee. “Neza” means greatness, and each cup of Neza coffee is a testament to that. It’s not just a...

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Alumni Spotlight: Thomas Brenner

Alumni Spotlight: Thomas Brenner, PhD (Food Science) 2023 Thomas Brenner, PhD (Food Science) 2023 How has your experience as a UBC alum influenced your work? I had the privilege of engaging regularly with industry, academia, and government during my tenure at UBC. This exposure proved...

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