faculty of land and food systems

Insect forecasting comes to UBC Vancouver campus this summer

At a time when most people are closely watching the weather, a unique project coming to UBC’s Vancouver campus could become the blueprint for forecasting insect activity across the city.

May 27, 2022

UBC experts on flooding

Another atmospheric river with torrential rains is forecast this week for parts of B.C.’s south coast. UBC experts are available to comment.

Jan 11, 2022

How to make the transition back to the office easier on your pandemic pet

After more than a year of working and schooling from home, many offices and schools are re-opening as the COVID-19 vaccine uptake rises.

Sep 14, 2021

Migrating sockeye salmon. Credit: Dr. Scott Hinch

Physical fitness of wild Pacific sockeye salmon unaffected by PRV

The respiratory performance of wild Pacific sockeye salmon functions normally even when infected with piscine orthoreovirus (PRV), according to a new study released today.

Jul 13, 2021

The study shows that a lockdown can, for example, reduce air pollution from traffic and industry but at the same time increase pollution from residential sources such as heating. Credit: Unsplash

COVID-19 lockdowns only reduced air pollution in some parts of the world

When COVID-19 lockdown measures were first introduced last year, schools and shops closed, tourist spots were deserted due to international travel restrictions, and economies slowed down as most people adjusted to life in the confines of their home.

Apr 6, 2021

Got a moody teenager? Cows can relate

Dairy cattle undergo personality changes during puberty much like humans do, according to new UBC research published this week in the Royal Society Open Science.

Feb 12, 2020

Beyond Meat's Beyond Burger as seen in a grocery store.

Beyond Meat elevates veggie burgers’ taste, but what about nutrition?

California-based Beyond Meat calls its Beyond Burger and other vegan ‘meat’ products the future of protein. We asked registered dietitian Gail Hammond of UBC’s faculty of land and food systems about the nutrition consumers are getting from the Beyond Burger and its competitors.

Sep 13, 2019

Canadian children’s diet quality during school hours improves over 11-year period

Surveys taken 11 years apart show a 13 per cent improvement in the quality of foods consumed by Canadian children during school hours, a new University of B.C. study has found.

Aug 26, 2019

The study found that farmers in areas with greater biodiversity took less of an income hit from droughts than their peers who farmed amid less biodiversity. Credit: Sandy Zebua

Natural biodiversity protects rural farmers’ incomes from tropical weather shocks

A big data study covering more than 7,500 households across 23 tropical countries shows that natural biodiversity could be effective insurance for rural farmers against drought and other weather-related shocks.

Jun 27, 2019

Good mousekeeping: en suite bathroom makes for happier mice

Mice have a strong preference to nest away from their own waste and should be housed in a system of cages that allows them to create a toileting area, according to work led by researchers at the University of British Columbia.

Apr 23, 2019

To better understand the changes that occur during baking, researchers at UBC measured how much of a recipe’s sugar is lost when cakes are browned. Credit: Marco Verch/Flickr Original photo | License

Sugar loss during baking means calorie counts could be off

When you’re on a diet, counting calories usually means paying close attention to labels. But you might be surprised to learn that labels often provide the nutritional information of the recipe – not the final product. What goes in and what comes out during food processing aren’t necessarily the same.

May 31, 2018

Dairy farmers should rethink a cow’s curfew, says UBC researchers

Dairy cows housed indoors want to break curfew and roam free, suggests new UBC research.

Mar 23, 2017

Science for sweet tooths

Food scientists at UBC have developed a faster and cheaper way to quantify antioxidant levels in chocolate.

Nov 29, 2016

Montreal households the greenest in Canada: UBC study

Montreal households are the greenest in the country, and Edmonton’s the least, according to a new UBC study.

Jul 27, 2016

Culture club: Not all probiotics created equal

UBC’s Siyun Wang, assistant professor in the faculty of land and food systems, explains what these helpful little organisms are—and how to get them working for you.

Apr 5, 2016

UBC dietitian on the possibilities and pitfalls of meal replacements

Kara Vogt, registered dietitian and clinical instructor in the faculty of land and food systems, helps explain meal replacements.

Mar 16, 2016

Hitting the sweet spot

For some people, their morning coffee or tea just isn’t complete without a few sugar cubes, a packet of artificial sweetener or spoonful of honey. But which choice really hits the sweet spot for your health?

Feb 29, 2016

UBC Farm receives $2M from founders of Nature’s Path Foods

One of the last working farms near the city of Vancouver has received a $2 million donation from the co-founders of Nature’s Path Foods.

Sep 17, 2015

Organically speaking

In almost every grocery store you’ll find two apples sold for very different prices. One’s organic, one’s not. What makes a product truly organic? And is it really worth paying extra for?

Aug 18, 2015

Students dig deep into soil science with mobile game

Armed with iPhones, dozens of first and second-year students walk into the forest at UBC. The students are on a scientific quest to better understand the ground beneath them; learning about soil by playing a mobile game.

Aug 11, 2015