Resiliency has been a cornerstone of Dr. Andrew Riseman’s work for more than two decades. But while the Associate Professor of Applied Biology and Plant Breeding takes a lengthy view of the research topics he tackles at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm (CSFS), many of the real world challenges in his field are arising more often and becoming more dramatic.
“As a plant breeder, I work with long research horizons (e.g., 10-15 years to develop a new cultivar) while also trying to predict what the future weather will be,” says Dr. Riseman. “But we know that the environment is changing more quickly than anticipated and extreme weather events are occurring more frequently than ever. So, it’s critical to both effectively and efficiently develop resilient cultivars that can withstand any stressful condition they may encounter.”
Defining resiliency as “the ability of plants to maintain function despite adverse conditions,” Dr. Riseman’s research in recent years has investigated how plant genetics informs the design of production systems and how useful traits in these systems can be combined with superior germplasm to create beneficially optimized systems—an approach that places plant breeding at the heart of agricultural resiliency solutions.
But while optimizing the best traits of cash crop plants is a key focus for many researchers, Dr. Riseman notes that different plant breeders take different approaches to key issues such as drought or flooding. “My work has focused on creating genetically diverse cultivars that perform well across different environments/stressors, rather than having a single genotype cultivar that is bred for optimum conditions,” he says. “This solution means creating a single cultivar that is able to resist different types of stress.”
Dr. Riseman’s latest research aims to turn the spotlight on understanding and redesigning intensive multi-trophic production systems—envisaging a system that reunites plant and animal production. Inspired by the pioneering work of veteran US farmer and environmental campaigner Wendell Berry, Dr. Riseman believes the historic separation of plant and animal production systems has in fact created far more resiliency problems than solutions for agriculture.
“I want to work on a system that reintegrates plant and animal production,” he says. “And that means breeding cultivars that are specific for a strong and robust plant-animal system.” As ever, though, there are no timeline shortcuts to creating new solutions using plant breeding techniques and Dr. Riseman’s projects will continue to take a necessarily long-term approach. “There is no silver bullet answer to resiliency challenges, of course, but I continue to remain optimistic.”
Building Resilience: The UBC Farm’s Strategic Plan to Transform Food Systems
In the face of multiple crises converging on the way we grow, distribute and eat food, the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (CSFS) at the UBC Farm is responding with a new plan to facilitate change. Launched in February, this new five-year strategic plan outlines a comprehensive response to develop solutions and resilience to the pressing challenges facing our food systems.
“Our food systems are under unprecedented strain,” says Dr. Sean Smukler, Director of the CSFS at the UBC Farm and Associate Professor, Chair of Agriculture and Environment in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. “A rapidly changing climate and fragile supply chains threaten equitable access to food, while our current agricultural practices degrade our environment. Effective solutions will require transforming the way we think about and approach these problems. Our new strategic plan is designed to help us do this to enhance our resilience and address these crises head-on.”
The new plan seeks to focus impact in four key areas: food security, climate, biodiversity, and decolonization.
“We are just at the beginning of the path of decolonization,” says Clare Cullen, CSFS at UBC Farm Operations Director. “We recognize that we have a lot of work to do,” she says, pointing out that the CSFS has committed to implementing UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan and will be integrating Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity into every facet of their work— from research and teaching to community programs.
Dr. Smukler adds that the CSFS’s new strategic plan is not only a roadmap but also a call to action. “We cannot reach our ambitious goals alone,” he says. “We invite others to join us. The role of the CSFS is to facilitate and focus collaboration. Together, we can make a greater impact.”
The plan is the culmination of a year of consultation and feedback, and identifies five key strategic areas aimed at driving transformative change.
Understanding and addressing agriculture’s biggest climate change challenges starts at the microscopic level for plant physiologist Dr. Thorsten Knipfer. This pioneering researcher and his team in the Plant-Water Relations Lab are working to decipher—from a cellular to a whole plant basis—the complex ways woody perennials react to drought caused by limited soil water availability.
The aim is to use these insights to create far more efficient irrigation approaches for farmers, helping producers to secure their harvest while summers become hotter and drier. These new strategies, says Dr. Knipfer, require a fundamental knowledge of how a crop plant actually operates.
“It’s like a mechanic trying to fix a car,” he says. “You need to know how the engine works before you can start working on any solutions.”
Focusing their recent research on hazelnut crops, the team is collaborating with B.C. growers to establish irrigation baselines—as well as how far crops can be pushed from these baselines and yet still fulfill vital functions such as photosynthesis, xylem transportation and storage. “It’s about developing irrigation management strategies that are built on the actual needs of the crop,” says Dr. Knipfer.
“We already know that effective irrigation management needs to be about much more than just adding a bunch of water.”
Effective crop monitoring and physiological measurements are the cornerstone of this kind of research, says Dr. Knipfer, whose team deploys both traditional and cutting-edge tools. That means using pressure chambers and leaf gas exchange systems as well as advanced imaging systems. “We’ve been collaborating with Saskatoon’s Canadian Light Source. Their synchrotron is teaching us a lot about how a plant’s water transport system is impacted during severe drought.”
It’s this integrated view of climate change challenges on crops that Dr. Knipfer says is essential to building any new optimized management approaches. “We’re researching agricultural plant processes at the cellular level and we’re then extrapolating these findings to the field scale. It’s a way of tackling big picture problems by digging deep down to the smallest level.”
At home and around the world, we are facing climate extremes. We are shattering records like never before.
One striking example is last year’s wildfire season. Across Canada ongoing drought and high temperatures fuelled a record wildfire season that torched 16.5 million hectares of land. That is six times more than in a normal year, where an average of 2.5 million hectares of land would be impacted by wildfires, according to Natural Resources Canada.
What does this mean for our agricultural producers and our food system?
I know there is not a quick, go-to solution. However, I am optimistic because I have confidence in our ability in LFS to be innovative and to apply new solutions to today’s problems.
In this issue, we’ve highlighted just some of our researchers who are investigating ways to build a more resilient food system—from new soil management methods, to more drought-resistant plants, to improved pollinator habitats, and more.
In addition, I want to welcome two new researchers to UBC who bring fresh perspectives on improving human nutrition and sustainable food production.
As this will be my last issue of ReachOut magazine as Dean, it’s been a privilege working with my wonderful colleagues in LFS who are dedicated to advancing research and supporting students. Whenever I meet students and alumni I’m always impressed when I learn about their journey and accomplishments. Being part of the UBC community for the last 10 years has been amazing and I will always be fond of my time here.
Cheers,
Rickey Yada, Dean, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
May 13, 2024 – Way to go Class of 2024 — you’ve made it to the end of your undergraduate journey! To celebrate this year’s graduating class, we spoke to a few of our outstanding students. We look forward to keeping up with these students and all they accomplish – this is only the beginning of their next adventure!
Chloe Chambers – BSc in Applied Animal Biology
How did you hear about LFS at UBC?
While I was researching programs that aligned with my interests, I learned that UBC’s Applied Animal Biology Program wasn’t in Science, but in the Faculty of LFS, which I hadn’t heard of before. But I’m so glad I chose the program. Even though more than half of my courses were non-LFS, I know that I benefited from being in a smaller faculty. You get to know your peers, professors, and student services staff better, which gives you a great system of support and tons of opportunities.
I heard about LFS when I was seeking advice from some high school alumni and advisors. I was trying to immerse myself in an interdisciplinary environment, and they suggested that LFS could be a good fit. I discovered the Food and Resource Economics major, and I loved the way it combines science, business, economics, data analysis, and more, so I ended up there.
Abeera Irfan – BSc in Food, Nutrition and Health (Dietetics)
Do you recommend students get involved in extra-curriculars? What did you do outside of the classroom?
Within LFS, I was part of UBC Nutrikids and the Dietetic Student Community club, I took a leadership position as the president last year for the latter which really challenged my skills and allowed me to improve as both a leader, and a future dietitian. I chose to also get involved as an Imagine Day Orientation Leader and help out with prospective student events whenever I was able! I also spent years in different FNH labs as a research assistant and was also a TA for a few courses.
Jonanda Kisingiri – BSc in Global Resource Systems
How did you hear about LFS at UBC?
I discovered LFS the same day I discovered UBC — while I was still in Year 11 (10th grade). A representative from UBC came to my school in Uganda and handed out UBC brochures with a complete list of all the degrees offered by each UBC faculty. I was amazed and overwhelmed. Knowing I wanted to study something related to food, I was naturally drawn to the section that read “Faculty of Land and Food Systems.” In all my time of looking into universities (up until that point and even thereafter), I hadn’t encountered a single university with such a diverse selection of food-oriented degrees at the undergraduate level. I knew UBC was my top choice from then on.
Do you recommend students get involved in extra-curriculars? What did you do outside of the classroom?
Definitely! Extracurricular involvements were the highlight of my undergraduate. Not only did I meet lifelong friends and mentors through the LFS Undergraduate Society (LFS|US), research, and assistant teaching, extracurriculars supported my development and application of a range of skills, professionally and interpersonally. I value the community-building and leadership skills I acquired in the LFS|US, quantitative research and lab competency at the UBC Wine Research Centre (through the Work Learn Program), and learning facilitation as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant. All that I tangibly (un)learned would not be possible without the incredible and diverse extracurricular opportunities in the Faculty of LFS.
What challenges did you encounter while a student and how did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge was managing my finances. I’m an international student, so tuition was already expensive, and on top of that, Vancouverliving expenses were a lot more than I expected. During university, I had to get 3 part time jobs while studying full-time. Sprouts and Agora REALLY helped me throughout my entire UBC life. They genuinely fed me throughout university, since their food is extremely affordable, and when short on cash, they have free meal coupons. Their mission of fighting food insecurity has helped me and a lot of the students I know. GO SUPPORT THEM!
Judith Sofiana – BSc in Food and Resource Economics
What was your favourite class and why?
I found ECON 234 – Wealth and Poverty of Nations extremely fascinating back when I took it with Professor Thorsten. The course had a multidisciplinary approach involving not just economics, but also anthropology, history, agriculture, geography to explain how nations develop and how it plays into historic and present wealth inequality. For example, how agriculture is theorised to be a prerequisite to accounting and then systems of writing – writing systems allow information to be stored, conveyed and delivered across generations and time.
I discovered LFS the same day I discovered UBC — while I was still in Year 11 (10th grade). A representative from UBC came to my school in Uganda and handed out UBC brochures with a complete list of all the degrees offered by each UBC faculty. I was amazed and overwhelmed. Knowing I wanted to study something related to food, I was naturally drawn to the section that read “Faculty of Land and Food Systems.” In all my time of looking into universities (up until that point and even thereafter), I hadn’t encountered a single university with such a diverse selection of food-oriented degrees at the undergraduate level. I knew UBC was my top choice from then on.
What challenges did you encounter while a student and how did you overcome them?
My first year was a memorable one because it was the year COVID-19 shut down the whole world and I found myself having to do my entire first year of university online from back home in Uganda. Beginning my classes at 7pm and ending them at midnight was certainly draining. I got connected to the LFS community online so as not to become isolated, which lifted my spirits and reminded me that I wasn’t facing these difficulties on my own. This involved joining the LFS Mentorship Program. I also struggled with motivation during the first 2 years because the classes I was taking were very general in scope — hardly connected with my global health interests. Joining the GRS program and diversifying my electives allowed me to quickly explore classes that were more in line with my career aspirations.
What was your favourite class and why?
I have two! SPPH 410 gave me a practical opportunity to apply my knowledge and practise for a career in global health by writing a proposal and pitching it to my instructor, a class of hundreds of students and a guest. HIST 318 will forever be a favourite of mine too. Dr. Morton is highly intelligent; being very intentional and mindful about the way he taught history. Class discussions were some of the most eye-opening and intellectually stimulating I’d ever had at UBC. It also helped me appreciate the interconnectedness of the past world and how that translates into modern society which is crucial for someone like myself who wants to pursue a career in global health.
Do you recommend students get involved in extra-curriculars? What did you do outside of the classroom?
Without a doubt! Besides it being great for resume building, you gain a lot of transferable skills and get out of your comfort zone, which helps you discover new interests and guides you towards what you want to do after school. I was involved in the LFS Mentorship Program as a mentee and became a mentor with the Centre for Accessibility. I was also a member of the LFS ACE Team and did a directed studies in Uganda, which helped me gain some experience in the real world.
What is the next step for you? Do you have plans post-graduation?
I plan on working now that I’ve spent the last few years of my life as a student. I’d like to gain some experience in the global health and/or food systems space to apply everything I’ve learned and make new connections. I’m open to wherever the best opportunities are (in or out of Vancouver and even Canada). I’ll decide later down the road whether I’ll pursue a masters degree.
Favourite place to eat in Vancouver?
It’s hard to pick one. I’d say probably Jambo Grill, which is an East African and Indian restaurant in Vancouver (one of very few places I can get some tastes from back home) or any fine dining place, really (I’m all about ambiance). I really like the fries at the Brown’s on campus too!
To be honest, I didn’t know I was in LFS until school started! I was in Applied Biology my first year of university, and applied thinking that it was the regular biology program. The dropdown menu when picking my major during my application was in alphabetical order, so I picked Applied Biology, thinking it was Biology in the Faculty of Science. I am so glad I was wrong though — I wouldn’t have found my program GRS without being in Applied Biology. I wanted to switch out of Applied Biology since I wanted to study International Development and Education. After talking to my LFS academic advisor Ella, she recommended that I check out the GRS program. This program was everything I was looking for — choices in classes, a supportive community and the best program directors, Roxana and Les!
What challenges did you encounter while a student and how did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge was managing my finances. I’m an international student, so tuition was already expensive, and on top of that, Vancouver living expenses were a lot more than I expected. During university, I had to get 3 part time jobs while studying full-time. Sprouts and Agora REALLY helped me throughout my entire UBC life. They genuinely fed me throughout university, since their food is extremely affordable, and when short on cash, they have free meal coupons. Their mission of fighting food insecurity has helped me and a lot of the students I know. GO SUPPORT THEM!
What was your favourite class and why?
Hands down my favorite class was EPSE 462, Human Development in Education. This course was very informative, and everything we learned was extremely applicable. We learned about how different aspects of our life impact our learning — social, physical, emotional and cognitive development. Since these topics were so applicable to all of our lives in the class, we had some deep and interesting conversations that felt like a therapy session. Not only was the course interesting, but the professor Suna was the kindest and most patient soul I’ve encountered at university. She encapsulates everything I believe an educator should be. The class was super small so we all became pretty close by the end.
Do you recommend students get involved in extra-curriculars? What did you do outside of the classroom?
I definitely recommend that students get involved in extracurriculars, since they can help you make friends and get involved in the community. I joined the UBC Japan Association, and was a Social Executive, which was super fun and allowed for me to connect with my Japanese identity. I volunteered for West Coast Cancer Kids to hangout with kids and do different activities with them. I also volunteered Mount Pleasant Neighborhood House to tutor English to recent immigrant and refugees in Vancouver. My favorite job was working at Rain or Shine on campus, and I absolutely loved it. The people were incredible, the job is lighthearted and fun, and the ice cream was an incredible perk! I loved becoming involved with my community and getting to know Vancouver through different lenses.
What is the next step for you? Do you have plans post-graduation?
Next year I’ll be attending Teachers College at Columbia University to study for a masters in International and Comparative Education. I’m so excited to live in New York to find new food/coffee spots. After graduate school, I want to work at an international non-profit to work in international education policy.
Favourite place to eat in Vancouver?
My favorite place to eat in Vancouver is Duffin’s. They’re open late at night, and on weekends are 24/7. The food is super cheap and their fried chicken, doughnuts and sandwiches are incredible. Some of the things on their menu are kind of random, but you can’t go wrong with any of it. Their iced coffee is incredible.
LFS Academic Services actually came to my highschool, Seaquam Secondary, to present about the faculty! I am so grateful because that was my first introduction to LFS, and I remember feeling like it would be the perfect mesh of my love for science, food, and sustainability. That’s pretty much what influenced me to apply and well, here I am now graduating!
What challenges did you encounter while a student and how did you overcome them?
Time-management: With my heavy course load, jobs and extra-curriculars, often I’d find myself struggling to balance my workload. I slowly learned to prioritize my tasks and also reached out to classmates and professors when I needed support or had questions.
Self-doubt: Self-doubt was a significant challenge during my student years, causing me to question my abilities and decisions. However, through self-reflection and seeking support from mentors, friends, and family, I gradually learned to trust in my skills and persevere despite uncertainty. It can be really easy to compare yourself to others so I always try to remind myself that I am right where I am supposed to be at this present moment!
What was your favourite class and why?
I think it’s a tie between FNH 371: Human Nutrition over the Life Span and SPPH 300: Working in International Health! Honestly there’s so many cool electives at UBC that I wish I had time to explore more of them.
Do you recommend students get involved in extra-curriculars? What did you do outside of the classroom?
Absolutely! I think my “outside of the classroom” experiences were a huge part of my UBC undergraduate journey. I have made incredible memories and formed meaningful friendships through my extracurriculars.
Within LFS, I was part of UBC Nutrikids and the Dietetic Student Community club, I took a leadership position as the president last year for the latter which really challenged my skills and allowed me to improve as both a leader, and a future dietitian. I chose to also get involved as an Imagine Day Orientation Leader and help out with prospective student events whenever I was able! I also spent years in different FNH labs as a research assistant and was also a TA for a few courses. These positions allowed me to form long-term connections with my professors, develop technical skills required to excel in my career, and sprouted a deep appreciation for both education and research, both of which I am open to pursuing later on.
I also chose to get involved in many things happening outside of the faculty. I worked at the UBC Global Lounge for three years where I was able to explore my love for activism, community engagement and event organizing. Through this role I met incredible students from different faculties and changemakers in the community. Collaborating with different students on event topics ranging from international development to art as a form of activism allowed me to reflect on topics I had never considered, broadening my interests. I was also a Residence Advisor last year in Totem Park which allowed me to connect with first year students and help them out in their transition to university.
My advice to LFS students would be to never compare their undergraduate journeys to others, and to get involved in whatever you feel most drawn to. It can be overwhelming because there’s a lot happening on campus, so take it easy and don’t be afraid to attend different things until you find out what you are truly passionate about! Also don’t be afraid to create a new space or initiative if you find something’s missing!
What is the next step for you? Do you have plans post-graduation?
I am currently working as a pediatric dietitian at BC Children’s Hospital which I’m really enjoying as I get to establish trust with children and families, come up with a nutrition care plan for my patients, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide patient-centered care. Passionate about the systemic and environmental factors that impact a patient’s nutritional status, I’d like to pursue further education in public health down the line and work in global health and food policy.
However, as a chronic planner, I am slowly learning to embrace the uncertainty of post-grad life, and am eager to explore the possibility of un-planned opportunities coming my way and shaping me in ways I couldn’t imagine.
Favourite place to eat in Vancouver?
I’m a brunch gal so I’m going to go with the iconic Jam Cafe. You can catch me standing in line for those eggs benedicts!
I heard about LFS when I was seeking advice from some high school alumni and advisors. I was trying to immerse myself in an interdisciplinary environment, and they suggested that LFS could be a good fit. I discovered the Food and Resource Economics major, and I loved the way it combines science, business, economics, data analysis, and more, so I ended up there.
What challenges did you encounter while a student and how did you overcome them?
Socializing was challenging for me. I overcame this by changing my approach to socializing. I used to believe that socializing meant going to parties, making new friends everyday, and hanging out with lots of people. However, I found that I could still have meaningful connections with others through simple activities like attending office hours together, grabbing coffee together after class, or just chatting before class starts. Additionally, there are many people to socialize with like professors or even through mutual connections on LinkedIn!
What was your favourite class and why?
I really enjoyed ECON 441 – The Process of Economic Development. In that course, we explored the fundamental causes of poverty, why some nations become rich while others cannot, the long-term influence of colonization, and so much more! To me, it was intriguing to delve into these issues and helped me understand how the world works and why it operates the way it does from an economic perspective.
Do you recommend students get involved in extra-curriculars? What did you do outside of the classroom?
Yes, I do! It has helped me to explore my interests and outside of the classroom, I work as a tutor and have served as an Academic Assistant and Teaching Assistant for Economics and Statistics. These experiences allowed me to connect with professors and other wonderful people!
What is the next step for you? Do you have plans post-graduation?
I am starting the Master of Economics program at the Vancouver School of Economics (at UBC) this fall.
Favourite place to eat in Vancouver?
Vancouver is full of food, but one of my favorites is Haidilao (Chinese Hotpot) on West Broadway! Whenever my friends and have done something big or celebrate a birthday, we always choose to dine there.
Interested in Food and Resource Economics (FRE) research? Check out the website here!
It was actually by chance. I was looking into getting into the Faculty of Science with no specific major in mind but then I found out about the Faculty of Land and Food Systems while I was looking for a second option. The programs they provided resonated with me more and so I found myself putting LFS as my first choice!
What challenges did you encounter while a student and how did you overcome them?
The transition from high school to university and reshaping my self-identity after that. I think many of us who go to UBC tend to be individuals who excelled academically with an impressive extracurricular background among their peers in school – for myself and many others it’s easy to shape your identity around your achievements and how you compare relative to others. To anyone who currently feels small and discouraged: don’t deny yourself the ability to fail, because you will bounce back and learn from them. It is unkind to demand constant success from yourself, because growth is a non-linear relationship.
What was your favourite class and why?
I found ECON 234 – Wealth and Poverty of Nations extremely fascinating back when I took it with Professor Thorsten. The course had a multidisciplinary approach involving not just economics, but also anthropology, history, agriculture, geography to explain how nations develop and how it plays into historic and present wealth inequality. For example, how agriculture is theorised to be a prerequisite to accounting and then systems of writing – writing systems allow information to be stored, conveyed and delivered across generations and time.
Do you recommend students get involved in extra-curriculars? What did you do outside of the classroom?
Yes, yes and YES! Extracurriculars teach you skills like communication, problem solving, and sometimes critical thinking beyond coursework – if anything it shaped a bigger part of my university experience than classes. I would not be where I am today without the volunteer work and club positions I stepped into. Volunteering for UBC Sprouts and being a club executive for Roots on the Roof has given me a perspective of food systems from the grassroot level, whereas the courses in university tend to be more theoretical and overarching. Both of them are invaluable in forming a holistic way of thinking.
What is the next step for you? Do you have plans post-graduation?
I will be taking a much needed summer vacation before looking for work or perhaps enrolling in a masters program! In the meantime, I’m going to be spending a lot more time pursuing my personal projects in digital art and creative writing because the generalist in me needs to do something else after spending 4 years studying what’s essentially just one area of interest!
Favourite place to eat in Vancouver?
All my friends know my love for ice cream knows no bounds: Earnest Ice cream is a must if you can make the commute from campus, although Rain or Shine also hits the spot after an exam!
Interested in Food and Resource Economics (FRE) research? Check out the website here!
