Going High Tech in Animal Agriculture

May 12, 2023

Going High Tech in Animal Agriculture

Imagine a future where animals – like many humans – wear Fitbit-like devices.

Varinia Cabrera has tested 30 different prototypes of sheep monitors in Uruguay for her master’s thesis at Universidad de la República. As an electrical engineering student, she hopes to reduce lamb mortality with wearable electronics that, in the future, will be able to track the exact time a sheep has given birth.

She arrived at UBC in January 2023 through the competitive Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program. The short-term student exchange program allows her to spend six months at UBC where she will study at both the Vancouver campus and the Agassiz Dairy Education and Research Centre.

She was drawn to UBC’s Animal Welfare Program for its transdisciplinary research that uses technology and data analysis to improve the health and wellbeing of animals.

“Transdisciplinary work is essential because it gives purpose to the technology that engineers develop,” says Cabrera.

Although agricultural and animal industries are key sectors in Uruguay, finding transdisciplinary research centres that develop technologies to improve animal welfare is complex. In Canada, this specific line of research is found at the Animal Welfare Program at UBC.”

Wearable devices are a growing trend in industrial agriculture worldwide. The data collected from each individual animal can more accurately pinpoint health information that can be used, for example, to predict and prevent illnesses.

“I’m learning how to approach and interact with animals in a safe way that doesn’t negatively impact their wellbeing,” she says. “The UBC dairy centre is running many projects using technology, such as the use of automated feeders to track when and how much cattle eat, and sensors that monitor the body temperature of animals.”

Under the supervision of Dr. Dan Weary and PhD student Sky Sheng, one of Cabrera’s projects involves using technology to better detect lameness in dairy cows. Lameness is painful to cows and is a major problem for dairy farmers. Sometimes a lame cow can be hard to identify, but Cabrera is using technology to splice videos of cows in such a way that two cows can be viewed side by side, allowing for much easier evaluation of which cow is more lame. Cabrera is now using data from these pairwise comparisions to develop rankings for the herd, and in this way allow for rapid (and automated) assessments of which cows need treatment.

Back at home in Uruguay, Cabrera works under the supervision of Dr. Julián Oreggioni and Dr. R. Ungerfeld at the Universidad de la República. Uruguay is a major exporter of animal products (there are 3.5 cows to every person, according to Cabrera), and she hopes her work (and the lessons she is learning at UBC) will help improve the lives of farm animals in her home country.

“Sheep roam free in Uruguay and could be kilometres away from a farmer so if a lamb is abandoned, it may not be known. If we know this, we could take steps to have the lamb mothered by another sheep. My dream is to do long-term studies of sheep from a distance.”

Dr. Weary hopes this connection to Cabrera and her supervisors will lead to further collaborations, building on the learnings from both countries. “Our research is heavily dependent on engineering and data science as applicable to agricultural research. Dr. Oreggioni and Dr. Ungerfeld’s research expertise on farm-monitoring systems presents an excellent opportunity to integrate our research.”

Introducing The Young Alumni Council

May 12, 2023

Introducing The Young Alumni Council

The Faculty of Land and Food Systems is piloting its first Young Alumni Council (YAC) – a team of volunteer alumni members dedicated to sharing their talent and skills with recent UBC graduates through networking, professional development, entrepreneurship, and community engagement opportunities.

Following his involvement with the launch of the YAC at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering, Development Officer James Wang aims to replicate the success of the self-sustaining program at LFS with support from Dean Rickey Yada and Alumni Relations Manager Niki Glenning.

In late 2022, Wang and Glenning set out to recruit volunteers to fill the leadership roles on the YAC and nearly 80 applicants responded. The 16-member council is led by President Kimia Nozadi (BSc Food, Nutrition and Health 2020), VP Professional Development Misa Gillis (BSc Global Resource Systems 2020), VP Networking Akshaya Jayaseelan (MSc Food Science 2018), and VP
Entrepreneurship Bhavana Rao (MSc Food Science 2018).

LFS has more than 3,000 alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years (2012-2022). The new council has the vision of empowering these alumni by leading the creation of a Young Alumni Program that will build lifelong relationships between alumni, students, community members, and industry partners through programming and events.

In early May, the YAC hosted its inaugural reception to introduce their initiatives. The LFS-led pilot has captured the interest of alumni engagement teams across UBC and should it prove to be successful, the model may be adopted by other Faculties.

For more information about the Young Alumni Council, visit their page here or email Niki Glenning and James Wang at lfs.youngalumni@ubc.ca.

Milestones and News & Notes

May 12, 2023

Milestones

Dr. Tabitha Robin Martens received a UBC Hampton Research Endowment fund, which helps faculty members in the early stages of their careers establish their research programs. Dr. Martens joined UBC’s Applied Biology program in Sept. 2021, and her research involves learning how the practices of seed savers and seed knowledge holders impact Indigenous food sovereignty, as well as rebuilding traditional food systems by considering Indigenous knowledge and land-based education.

Dr. Sean Smukler became the new Director of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (CSFS) at UBC Farm on Jan. 1, 2023. Dr. Smukler recently served as the Associate Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. He holds the Chair, Agriculture andthe Environment, and he’s currently leading the development of a new strategic plan for the CSFS.

Dr. Jennifer Black received two grants to support her research on food insecurity. UBC Health After 2020 funded a project titled Hungry for Stories: Building collaboration among dietitians, health scholars, policy makers and artists to spark public action on food insecurity. In addition, the SSHRC Connection program has funded a project involving stakeholders developing new tools that engage children with evidence about food insecurity.

Dr. Gurcharn Singh Brar has received more than $1M in funding through four grants to study wheat and barley. These various genomic studies are aimed at developing a biovigilance strategy against cereal pathogens and diseases, and a functional genomic characterization of the gene controlling spikelet number and floret fertility in wheat. Granting agencies include Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, Manitoba Crop Alliance, Alberta Wheat Commission, Western Grains Research Foundation, Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, and Genome BC and Investment Agriculture Foundation.

Dr. Jerzy Zawistowski, Academic Director, Master of Food Science Program, received a Merit Award from the International Society for Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (ISNFF) for outstanding contributions and service to the discipline. The award was presented at their 14th International Conference and Exhibition in Turkey.

Dr. Mahesh Upadhyaya, Professor Emeritus in Plant Science, was recognized at the International Weed Conference of the Indian Society of Weed Science in Gujarat, India in Dec. 2022. He received the Gold Medal (2020) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to weed science, and the Best Book Award (2021) for “Global Plant Invasions”. The society meets biennially to present awards for the previous two years.

Dr. Kristen Walker won a 2023 Clements Award for Outstanding Research and Education. The Clements Awards was created to highlight the outstanding work of the many wildlife advocates and animal lovers in Canada.

News & Notes

Nisa Chavez, an undergraduate student in Applied Animal Biology, won first place at the Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference (MURC) held for UBC students, in the Virtual Presentation category. Chavez worked as a researcher in the Plant-Insect Ecology and Evolution Lab and presented her project, a data analysis of “Spatiotemporal prevalence of two Agriotes pest species at the UBC Farm”. Her research supported a long-term project at the UBC Farm that is monitoring two important click beetle species, which are agricultural pests of economic concern. Chavez competed against 22 other virtual presenters. In total, more than 350 presentations were part of MURC, including in-person presentation and poster sessions.

Musqueam Garden at UBC Farm

Musqueam Garden will be creating more food security, health and wellness programs aided by recent funding from UBC’s Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) Fund.

Leading the initiatives are Patricia Isaak, Health Services Coordinator, Musqueam Indian Band, and Dr. Eduardo Jovel, LFS Applied Biology program and xʷcicəsəm Garden.

This year marks the fourth growing season at Musqueam garden, where Isaak and Dr. Jovel endeavour to grow healthy, local, and culturally appropriate foods to unite the community and enhance food security. During the growing season, they will increase food production and distribution. In addition, they will deliver health and wellness workshops and provide opportunities to learn about traditional medicines, food preparation, and nutritional literacy.

They also hope to use the CUES Fund to increase participation in the garden among both community members and UBC students, and increase food security capacity at Musqueam, such as through grassroots programs.

New awards for top graduate student researchers

To recognize the contribution to research made by LFS graduate students, the Faculty has created two new annual awards. These run in conjunction with the annual Governor General Gold Medal and CAGS-ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award competitions; the students selected as the GG Gold Medal nominees are named winners in the newly created top LFS thesis and dissertation awards. Huiying (Amelie) Zhang (MSc Food Science 2022), won the LFS Top Thesis Award, which is presented to the master’s student with the top-ranked thesis.

Zhang’s thesis was Identification of circuminoids in nutraceuticals and assessment of stability and bioactivity following pulsed light treatment. Dr. Ronit Mandal (PhD Food Science 2022), won the LFS Top Dissertation Award, given to the doctoral student with the highest-ranked dissertation. Mandal’s topic was Design, development, and validation of continuous-flow pulsed UV light systems for liquid food processing.

Establishing Spaces for Indigenous Land-based Learning

May 12, 2023

Establishing Spaces for Indigenous Land-based Learning

Since publishing this article, Wilson Mendes has sadly, and unexpectedly, left us. We mourn the loss of a dear friend and colleague. If you wish, we invite you to read more about Wilson’s life and legacy here.

In 2021, Associate Professor Dr. Eduardo Jovel established the first ever Indigenous Land-Based Health, Wellness, and Education Research Cluster at UBC. The cluster brings together researchers and educators from different fields across UBC, Simon Fraser University, and University of Victoria to collaborate and address societal and cultural challenges related to Indigenous people’s health, wellness, and education.

Coordinating this new research cluster is Wilson Mendes, who is completing his PhD in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems and has extensive experience as an interdisciplinary scholar facilitating conversations between people of diverse cultural backgrounds.

wilson mendes indigenous garden — Wilson Mendes

Mendes received his Master of Arts in Indigenous Community Planning from UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning. During his studies, he completed a professional community planning project with the Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡiʾit (Tobacco Plains Indian Band from the Ktunaxa Nation) where he supported the Comprehensive Community Planning (CCP) process for eight months.

His PhD research looks at how land-based education and Indigenous food system practices are essential for decolonization efforts. This involves engaging with land, food, culture, and community to promote the health and wellness of Indigenous communities, especially in urban areas.

Mendes’ knowledge of food as medicine is deeply influenced by his multicultural heritage. He grew up in Aquidauana, a small town in the midwest region of Brazil, and inherited a rich ancestry that includes Terena, Mozambican, and Portuguese roots. This diverse background has given him a profound understanding of how food can be used to promote health and wellbeing.

“As someone with an Indigenous background, I have always been deeply fascinated by Indigenous land-based practices, specifically around food. Through my community-based research and activism, I am driven to explore the transformative potential that Indigenous food systems can offer in decolonizing our current food system. I firmly believe that Indigenous food practices have much to teach us about sustainability, community building, and the relationships between humans and the environment.”

His research builds on Dr. Alannah Young’s research on land-based pedagogies. As a research associate in LFS, Dr. Young works at the xʷc̓ic̓əsəm Garden (Indigenous Health Research and Education Garden) with the Indigenous Medicine Collective, in partnerships with local Indigenous Elders. While her doctoral research interviewed Elders in her community outside of the city, Mendes’ research focussed on Indigenous youth in urban spaces.

Mendes interviewed 13 urban Indigenous youth on their land-based learning experiences at three Indigenous Gardens at the UBC Farm:The xʷc̓ic̓əsəm, Tal A’xin, and Tu’wusht garden programs. The interviews involved youth participants from diverse urban Indigenous communities beyond North America.

Through their participation in Indigenous ceremonies within their garden programs, the youth were able to reconnect with their identities in a powerful way. For many of these youth, it was their first experience of this kind.

Mendes’ findings show that Indigenous land-based programs are essential for promoting the overall health, healing, and cultural identity of urban Indigenous youth by facilitating reconnection to Indigenous knowledge, land, food, culture, and community.

According to Mendes, establishing culturally relevant and safe spaces, such as the three gardens, can help to address the multilayered effects of colonization: “By creating spaces where Indigenous knowledge and practices can be shared and respected, Indigenous peoples can reclaim their self-determination and promote cultural revitalization.”

Mendes also acknowledges the challenge of creating similar spaces in big cities. To contribute to this conversation, he developed a framework of five pedagogical guiding elements. “This framework aims to promote collaborative land-based education program development and delivery between Canadian settler society and Indigenous peoples and communities in
urban spaces,” explains Mendes. “It can also inform the development of relevant Indigenous health promotion policies, practices, and programming for urban Indigenous youth.”

The framework highlights the need to move away from cultural competency, being aware of cultural values and beliefs, and towards cultural safety, which involves recognizing systemic inequalities and power imbalances within land-based program development and implementation. Mendes sees his role as supporting this process at UBC, working with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.

Leaning into Women in Agriculture

May 11, 2023

Leaning into Women in Agriculture

Alannah Jagpal, a fourth-year student in Applied Biology, was sponsored by the Dean’s Office to join the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference (AWC), held in Calgary on March 12-14. Jagpal shares what she gained through the experience.

Who did you meet at AWC that made an impact, and why?

Every person I met at the conference from students to the Minister of Agriculture had an impact on me. Julia Flinton, who is a cattle producer and manager of Food Systems Program ISPARC, made an impact on me with how she ended her talk. After explaining all these unbelievably amazing things she’s done throughout her life/career, she said, “I feel like I’m just faking it until I make it. But really, what am I faking?” As someone who constantly faces imposter syndrome in the agriculture industry, it was almost comforting to know that even people who are literally changing the world feel this way. I learned how important it is to remind ourselves and think, “what am I faking?” and you will easily come to realize that everything you’re doing is real and you are truly meant to be where you are no matter how we may make ourselves feel.

What were some key takeaways that you gained from attending AWC?

After all the speeches and people I met at the conference my key takeaway was, I can do it (although I don’t know what my “it” is yet). These women have quite literally done it all (farmers, mothers, entrepreneurs, veterinarians). It was so inspiring to hear where many of them started out and where they are now. They are my first-hand proof that dedication, hard work and passion will take you wherever you want to be in life. They showed me that hardships and struggles do not define your journey or who you are but overcoming them does. There have been so many times where I thought that my goals in life were too far to reach but seeing these women live out my dreams and goals made me realize, “maybe my goals are closer than I thought”.

What is your background in agriculture?

For as long as I can remember, agriculture and farming have been the centre of my being. When my maternal family came from India in 1914, they made a living and survived by becoming dairy farmers. I come from a long history of farmers and grew up on a raspberry and blueberry farm myself. After being immersed in the agriculture industry for so long, I decided to follow my passion and am currently pursuing a degree in Applied Biology majoring in Sustainable Agriculture and Environment.

Throughout my education I have studied and learned much about the current issues farmers are facing in regards to the sustainability and longevity of farming systems. Issues based around soil science (infertility, contamination, degradation) and crop production fuel my desire for further knowledge in the area as I know first-hand how these issues affect farmers.

My schooling has taught me developed ideas which researchers know successfully combat these issues, but it has also introduced phenomena which are less understood yet have the potential to be even more successful. These less-developed ideas are what drive my passion to create change and make a more positive future for next-generation farmers. The change that research brings to the agriculture industry is so important, which is why I applied for and recently completed my research practicum position at the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre.

Extreme Weather Impacts Wildlife Too

May 11, 2023

Extreme Weather Impacts Wildlife Too

Extreme weather caused by climate change has had a devastating impact on the human residents of B.C. The heat dome in June 2021 led to over 600 deaths in the province, while in September 2020, wildfires in and around B.C. led to Vancouver having some of the worst air quality in the world. The impact on wildlife and biodiversity, however, is not well understood and since the timing and the intensity of extreme weather events are unpredictable, it is difficult to research. This knowledge gap led the researchers of the Long-term Biodiversity Monitoring Program at the UBC Farm to use their data to investigate what impact extreme smoke and heat had on the wildlife that call the UBC Farm home.

The project has used automated cameras and audio recorders across the UBC Farm since 2019, gathering photos and sounds on birds, bats and mammals. The researchers assessed the data from the periods of the heat dome and wildfire smoke, and found that some, but not all, species decreased their activity. For birds and coyotes in particular, their behaviour increased slightly during the period of intense wildfire smoke.

“We often imagine that extreme weather events will have dramatic effects on wildlife,” says Dr. Matthew Mitchell, Research Associate in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. “While coyotes and bats seem to decrease their activity with wildfire smoke, squirrels and birds can actually be more active. Some of this might be because of predator-prey interactions, where squirrels notice coyotes are less active so they in turn become more active. Or it might be because species like birds need to broadcast their presence and territories more when it is smoky.”

The researchers do not yet know why the animals behave as they do, but intend to find out more as they gather more data over the long-term.

Student Learning

Julia Taylor (left) and Brooke Carlisle (right)

Funded by an NSERC Discovery Grant and UBC Campus as a Living Laboratory, the project team was also supported by the UBC Farm Undergraduate Research Competition, which funded two students to get involved in the research.

“I was amazed by how many different forms of data we were collecting, ranging from physical surveys to audio recordings to motion-sensor trail camera photos,” says Julia Taylor, one of the undergraduate research assistants who worked on the project in summer 2022, adding that this experience has influenced her future career goals after she graduates in a few months.

Another student working on the project, Brooke Carlisle, found working with new and emerging data rewarding, even though it pointed to a lack of data on heat waves and terrestrial ecosystems.

“The 2021 heat dome has been well documented for its impacts on marine invertebrates, and previous heat waves have been linked to mortality of marine birds,” says Carlisle. “However, we found fewer studies on how animal communities on land react to extreme heat events. I’m glad that we are helping to strengthen this area of scientific literature that needs further research.”

Agriculture and Biodiversity

Dr. Matthew Mitchell

Wildlife and farmlands have important and beneficial interactions, says Dr. Mitchell, adding that a large proportion of the threatened species in Canada live in agricultural areas
since agriculture has driven the loss of their habitat.

“Wildlife species don’t just live in pristine habitats untouched by people. They are also integral parts of agricultural systems and can provide really important benefits to people, including farmers,” says Dr. Mitchell. “This includes pollination, pest control, and opportunities to appreciate and learn about nature. Understanding how to manage agricultural landscapes so that they also support biodiversity and wildlife species is one of the best ways to conserve nature and has the additional benefit of also increasing agricultural sustainability.”

Carlisle adds that this research may also point to the importance of having cooler, shaded areas within working landscapes to provide refuge for animals experiencing heat stress during these heat waves.

Long-term Monitoring

The project is ongoing, and the researchers are keeping an eye out both for long-term changes in the species they monitor, as well as any effects from more sudden extreme weather events. They will also be exploring ways to expand automated monitoring beyond the UBC Farm to investigate trends in biodiversity across Vancouver and the region to better understand more widespread impacts of climate change and extreme weather events.

For Dr. Mitchell, the project hits close to home, literally. As well as conducting research at the UBC Farm, he also lives close by and his kids spend a lot of time at the farm.

“Climate change is something that I think about basically every day and something that, as a parent, causes me daily stress and worry,” says Dr. Mitchell. “This project gives me an opportunity to contribute a little bit towards understanding, and potentially mitigating, the effects of climate change at a local scale and help conserve biodiversity in my neighbourhood.”

More Hybrid Learning on the Horizon

May 11, 2023

More Hybrid Learning on the Horizon

Through UBC’s Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund, these faculty members are taking time to update or develop new courses, and create richer online content for the future hybrid learning environment. As part of the process, they have invited students to join their project teams to share their insights.

Dr. Lindsay Cuff, Assistant Professor of Teaching in LFS and Forestry, is leading a group of UBC instructors and students in updating scholarly writing curriculum adapted to a flexible hybrid teaching environment. The transformed curriculum, including new online learning modules and in-class extension activities, will impact first-year students and will thread through their undergraduate degrees into second-, third-, and fourth-year, fostering students’ growth, persistence, and identity as writers in scholarly communities.

Last year, Dr. Cuff launched a free, online textbook on scholarly writing called Writing Place. She wants to empower students to contribute to scholarly conversations and have them consider how their contributions can be shared beyond the university.

Dr. Ronaldo Cerri, Associate Professor and Director of UBC’s Dairy Education and Research Centre, is updating two animal health and physiology courses (APBI 312 and APBI 410) to create more hybrid learning opportunities aimed at improving student engagement, understanding of concepts and knowledge retention. By providing students with a hybrid model of teaching, Dr. Cerri
also hopes to reach a wider range of students with new learning opportunities. He will be supported by graduate students on this project.

The Food and Resource Economics (FRE) group, led by Professor Dr. Sumeet Gulati, will develop new courses for students in the undergraduate and graduate programs. The motivation is twofold: to fill in knowledge gaps in this relatively new program; and, to create in-class and online course materials. The new courses will include two undergraduate courses focussing on data analysis, and two graduate courses in microeconomics and econometrics. Graduate students will support FRE faculty members on the project team.

Developing Wildlife Welfare Policy Throughout the Province

May 11, 2023

Developing Wildlife Welfare Policy Throughout the Province

Erin A. Ryan
Bsc/MSc Applied Animal Biology

May 11, 2023 – Alumna Erin A. Ryan’s (BSc/MSc Applied Animal Biology) career sits at the intersection of science, community, and social good. From developing wildlife welfare policy to furthering Equity, Diversity, and Reconciliation in her field, Ryan’s work is multi-faceted and wide-reaching.

Ryan’s family history with the Faculty spans generations. She first learned of the Applied Biology program in 2008, when she attended a ceremony where her grandfather received an LFS Centenary Award for his outstanding achievements as an alumni. Celebrated LFS alumnus Len Marchand (BSc Agriculture 1958) had a groundbreaking career in politics as the first person of Indigenous status to serve as a Member of Parliament, but Ryan thinks of her grandfather as a scientist at heart.

“He was so proud I was going to UBC,” Ryan said. “And especially because I would be an Aggie like him.”

In the Applied Biology program, Ryan discovered her professional calling in the science of animal welfare. She currently works at the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) as a Specialist in Wild Animal Welfare.

Ryan’s initial focus was on urban wildlife, but she now works on provincial wildlife welfare initiatives that focus on public communication and advocacy. Ryan translates research and best practices into clear and actionable statements for implementation.

From her experience working for the BC SPCA, Ryan found a gap in the published research. There was a good body of research in humane control for most wildlife, but for mice and rats, research was mostly focussed on selecting the least harmful option of removal. Ryan wanted to find practices that actively considered humaneness instead and decided to pursue a master’s degree, which she completed in 2021.

Ryan describes her return to LFS as a homecoming, and her research on more humane pest control has actively shifted provincial policy. While defending her thesis, Ryan and fellow
alumna Dr. Sara Dubois (PhD Applied Animal Biology 2014) were consulted by the provincial government to help inform new regulations on rodenticides and pest control.

The province made the first set of temporary restrictions in July 2021, banning the non-essential use of Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs), which are the most potent rodenticides and cause secondary poisoning for hawks, coyotes, and other predators. In January this year, the restrictions were made permanent. Along with restricting the sale of SGARs, these changes led to more proactive solutions that targeted the root cause of rodent infestations.

Ryan’s goal as a science communicator is to create policy that reflects all aspects of welfare, including those affected by systemic and societal biases. In 2020, Ryan joined the new BC SPCA Equity, Diversity, and Reconciliation working group, formed as a response to increased public attention on reconciliation.

Members vary by location throughout the province, to ensure that welfare concerns and communications are not limited to urban centres or any particular region. In the three years since
its inception, Ryan has worked with the group to publish their Foundational Principles for Equity, Diversity, and Reconciliation. The increased public attention has given Ryan hope.

“People are listening now,” Ryan said. “They won’t stand for lip service anymore, and organizations are trying to make meaningful change. This work is just beginning.”

Improving Clinical Practice in Pediatrics

May 10, 2023

Improving Clinical Practice in Pediatrics: The Importance of Patient-centred Care

Brock Williams
PhD candidate in Human Nutrition

Brock Williams, a PhD candidate in Human Nutrition and a Registered Dietitian, has worked in pediatric nutrition for almost a decade. He says that research approaches have changed significantly over the years.

“In the research field, we’re used to disseminating information through publications and journals and going to conferences,” explains Williams. “We’re much more aware now that we have to involve patient partners in planning and designing research so that we’re asking the important questions that patients want to have answered.”

Williams is currently finishing up his PhD where he is studying folic acid supplementation in children with sickle cell disease, a genetic disorder that causes a rapid turnover of red blood cells. Folic acid, the synthetic form of folate, helps to produce red blood cells but since it is now in our food systems through mandatory fortification, researchers have questioned whether children still need to take supplements. Additionally, from the patient perspective, taking a daily folate supplement in addition to multiple other medications
can be burdensome for children.

A major component of Williams’s project was leading a clinical trial looking at whether current clinical practice needs to be re-evaluated.

“It’s a very involved process but I think the exciting thing about doing clinical trials is that the outcomes can really influence clinical practice,” says Williams. “I decided to go into a PhD because I wanted to conduct research that generates more evidence for clinical practice in pediatrics.”

Williams explains that the current practice for folic acid supplementation in sickle cell disease is largely based on results from a study that was done in 1983.

“A lot of the evidence that we have for this widespread clinical practice is old and very scarce so for this project in particular, there was a big need to have more high-quality evidence to answer that question.”

For his post-doctoral research, Williams will be joining the Division of Allergy at BC Children’s Hospital, where he will focus on identifying the challenges and barriers that caregivers experience in introducing and regularly feeding infants commonly allergenic foods, such as peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, sesame, shellfish, fish, and wheat.

In 2019, the Canadian Paediatric Society introduced new recommendations on preventing food allergies in babies: common allergenic foods can be introduced into the diet of children who are at higher risk of developing a food allergy around six months, but not before four months of life. This was a significant change from advice in the early 2000s, which was to delay
the introduction of common allergens to children until later in life – up to two years old.

This shift resulted from large, well-designed clinical trials that demonstrated the benefit of earlier introduction of allergenic foods, particularly peanut and egg, for the primary prevention of food allergy.

Williams explains that major issues for implementing the guidelines are often centred around convenience: lifestyle inconvenience and challenges with food preparation. Other issues include infant refusal of foods and parental perceptions around reactions to foods, where a child might have a skin issue or digestive issue and parents might perceive that as an allergic reaction.

With the research team at BC Children’s Hospital, Williams will be working closely with families to address these issues, develop unique strategies to overcome them, and promote frequent intake to maintain tolerance.

Communicating this type of research to the general public is also a priority: “We can’t just publish in journals and go to conferences. We have to disseminate the information in an accessible way so that individuals who are affected by certain conditions can see what’s happening in research and what the advances are too.”

Some of the communication initiatives that Williams and clinician-researchers at BC Children’s Hospital are planning include social media outreach and webinars, in partnership with organizations like Food Allergy Canada.

“At BC Children’s, parents of children with food allergies have expressed to us that they wished this information was accessible to them when they started introducing solid foods to their infants, and that accurate, evidence-based guidance on social media would have been so helpful.”

For more information on food allergies, visit the Food Allergy Canada website.

Dean’s Message

May 10, 2023

Dean’s Message

This issue showcases some remarkable up-and-coming researchers. PhD candidate Brock Williams, in our Human Nutrition program, is doing work on two fronts to help families manage health issues. His PhD research is updating studies on how much folic acid supplementation is needed for children with sickle cell disease, including whether clinical practices need to be re-evaluated based on our changing food system. In his upcoming post-doctoral research, he’ll be working with caregivers to safely introduce potential allergens to infants.

Wilson Mendes is another PhD candidate, an interdisciplinary scholar who aims to expand Indigenous land-based education programs in urban spaces. This is based on his recent community research and experience at the three Indigenous Gardens at UBC Farm, where he saw the importance that culturally relevant and safe spaces can have in reclaiming self-determination and in cultural revitalization.

Varinia Cabrera is an exchange student from Uruguay who chose to study at our Animal Welfare Program to build a bridge between research in her home country and here at UBC. She is a master’s engineering student who builds technology to improve outcomes for animals in agriculture. She’s gaining knowledge about animal welfare practices and technology used in Canada, while providing her expertise to our researchers.

And lastly, changing weather patterns is top of mind for many people. What impact can extreme weather have on wildlife and biodiversity? Dr. Matthew Mitchell has collected data from the 2020 wildfire season and 2021 heat dome in B.C. to begin tracking the behaviour of bats, birds and mammals at UBC Farm. His study helps take a long-term look at how animals behave in extreme weather conditions.

Please enjoy this issue of ReachOut.

Sincerely,

Rickey Yada

Dean, Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Going High Tech in Animal Agriculture