SPRING 2018 ISSUE NO. 11 The alumni magazine of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences facebook.com/UofAALES @UofAALES

www.ales.ualberta.ca

FROM THE INSIDE, OUT p. 31 ALES LEADS TECH FUTURES p. 19 HERSTORY: FIGHTING CANCER WITH FOOD p. 25 DEAN’S MESSAGE

The Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences (ALES) has evolved At the from its earliest days as one of the first faculties at the University of Alberta. That evolution has seen many successes, and as we look to the next iteration of how intersection we serve our constituents, we rely on the past to guide us forward. of change

Greenhouse showcases successes forestry and so many more. The com- and changes in ALES mittee acknowledged the transdisci- plinary nature of much of our teaching and research and recommended that the ALES experience should be seen as a template for integration across the university. The articles in this issue of Greenhouse speak not only to the diversity of our work within the faculty, but also the important “collision points” In 2017 the Faculty of Agricultural, Life that connect food security, environ- and Environmental Sciences under- mental resilience, product innovation, went a President’s Visiting Committee nutrition and health, as well as many review, which went beyond the familiar other sectors and issues that are but rigorous unit reviews and profes- important to Alberta, Canada and the sional accreditation processes done world. There is a wealth of opportuni- within our faculty. The work of the PVC ties available for our students within was to examine and provide recom- this powerful mix of activities and mendations to the faculty in areas issues. They benefit through classroom The construction of the campus of the University of such as strategic priorities, research experiences and other extracurricular accomplishments and relationships activities, which create a wide range of Alberta officially gets underway with its sod-turning with the wider community (including unique experiences and learnings. ceremony, circa 1900 (approx). alumni, levels of government and the Despite the recent recognition the donors). The chair of our faculty’s faculty has received like that of the that, for now, the decision has We live in communities that are President’s Visiting Committee was PVC, we have experienced challenges been made to suspend Greenhouse connected and complex. The Faculty Robert Easter, who served as president as well. As you have likely heard, magazine as a print publication. In of ALES is committed to ensuring that of the University of Illinois before his the University of Alberta has been this instance, and will all matters, our teaching and research mission retirement (the University of Illinois is undergoing a rigorous budget analysis, we welcome your feedback. Please incorporates expertise and approaches a significant and respected leader in which has an impact on all units within consider taking a moment to jot that span the traditional boundaries in the U.S. land grant universities with a the academy. In an effort to be as us a note. The email address which we do in ways that create new budget of US$6.5m). efficient as possible, while providing is [email protected]. insights and innovations. The PVC provided a report that was our students, scholars and staff with all Our mailing address is laudatory of the work of ALES. The one the support they need, the faculty has Editor, Greenhouse magazine Sincerely, area of specific focus was the integrat- undergone a comprehensive financial Faculty of Agricultural, Life and ed nature of the work that we do. The One of the first research sites of the faculty, the review to assess where we are at, Environmental Sciences faculty has a wide range of disciplines and where we need to be in years 2-06 Agriculture Forestry Centre, Dairy Barn still stands today on what is now South that run the spectrum of environment, to come. In short, we need to be University of Alberta Stanford F. Blade, PhD, P.Ag Campus (circa 1923). agriculture, food, nutrition, health, exceptionally sensitive to where Edmonton, Alberta Dean, Faculty of Agricultural, Life gerontology, family studies, economics, resources are applied, which means T6G 2P5 and Environmental Sciences

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HAPPENINGS 7 A TASTE SENSATION Two students are using an unusual ingredient for their baking 8 CERVID MYSTERY SOLVED REES research explains the real 11 reason behind the decline in Northern caribou herds 9 LOSING THE LAND 36 FEATURES Are municipalities at risk of allowing valuable agricultural land to slip away? 25 FROM THE HEART 10 Nutrition scientist Carla Prado THE NEW RECRUIT provides critical support through ALES welcomes a new kind her role in cancer and health of employee researcher 10 31 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL You Talked. We listened How AFNS scientists are taking the most fundamental 11 components of life and are MAKING A LEAP ACROSS THE 14 applying them to find the POND LIVE WHAT YOU LEARN answers to the biggest questions ALES’ latest Oxford Scholar focuses One students’ business acumen on the health and happiness of is having big results 36 families THE RACE TO OUTPACE 16 Alum John Church is leveling the feature 12 SEXTING CAN’T CUT IT playing field for new Ag tech with GONE GRIZZLY GONE Research shows sexters may be his drone research 19 PhD student shows why roads and ignoring more important parts of bears don’t mix relationships SEEING SUSTAINABILITY SUCCESS Three ALES researchers are a key part of the Future Energy Systems initiative CLARIFICATION: Grain farmer Darren Haarsma grows hemp, not marijuana. A photo and caption in the Table of Contents of the fall 2017 issue of Greenhouse, on the cover which highlighted our story about two different products derived from the Illustration by cannabis sativa plant, may have misled readers. We apologize for the confusion. Jean-François Podevin

4 GREENHOUSE SPRING 2018 5 HAPPENINGS HAPPENINGS ALUMNI CLUB 41 THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING Alum Dan Hays supports research GREENHOUSE is published twice a continuity as ALES acquires herd year by the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences. It is 43 distributed to alumni and friends of APART FROM THE HERD the faculty. When one decision creates a world Dean Stan Blade of benefit Editor Cait Wills

45 Development Team IN MEMORIAM Marie Perron The Faculty of ALES notes with Katherine Irwin regret the passing of its alumni 43 Amy Stevens Dawn Donnelly

Art Direction/Graphic Design Paige Weir 41 Contributing Writers Bev Betkowski, Michael Brown, Christina Frangou, Helen Metella, Cait Wills

Contributing Photographers Robert Berdam, Richard Siemens, Jessica Fern Facette, John Ulan, ( ) Cait Wills HOW SWEET IT IS N’T Contributing Illustrators Jean-François Podevin, Paige Weir ALES-trained scientists launch business selling cricket-flour treats

Send your comments to: HELEN METELLA The Editor GREENHOUSE 2-06 Agriculture/Forestry Centre Would you eat crickets? Willingly? Regularly? 100 per cent of your B12 for the day.” University of Alberta Two young scientists with graduate educations from the Additionally, he says, they require far fewer resources to Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2P5 Faculty of ALES are betting you will—if not right away, farm than traditional sources of protein. “One kilogram of Tel.: 780-492-8127 Fax: 780-492-8524 then soon after your first opportunity. cricket flour requires a little less than four litres of water. Email: [email protected] Silvia Ronzani and Claudio La Rocca are co-owners of One kilogram of beef, depending on the farming system, is Website: www.ales.ualberta.ca Camola Sustainable Bakery, a new business that produc- estimated to take 22 to 44 litres of water.” es numerous tasty treats—including granola bars, cakes, Both La Rocca and Ronzani are insect scholars—each are Publications Mail Agreement No. sourdough breads, pizzas and “bugscotti”—all of which are authors of separate master’s theses about the relationship 42038516 prepared by including some flour made from ground-up carabid beetles have to the environment. La Rocca earned crickets. his graduate degree from the Department of Renewable Return undeliverable We welcome readers to submit letters to: Canadian addresses to: “(The amount) is less than the regular flour but way more Resources in 2016 and Ronzani will soon do so from the GREENHOUSE 2-06 Agriculture/Forestry Centre than a spice,” says Ronzani, the partner who develops the same department. However, La Rocca learned about edible 2-06 Agriculture/Forestry Centre University of Alberta recipes. While the exact proportion of cricket flour is their insects through extracurricular research, which he started University of Alberta Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5 trade secret, it’s definitely enough for consumers to derive after a classmate invited them to eat home-roasted crickets Edmonton, AB, Canada the many benefits of eating bugs, says La Rocca. three years ago. T6G 2P5 “Insects are almost pure protein—crickets specifically That information, plus skills learned at UAlberta’s business Fax: 780-492-8524 are 67 per cent,” he says. “There’s almost no fat, incubator eHub, helps them convince reluctant potential Email: [email protected] little water and fewer carbs. They are very rich in customers to taste a cricket-flour product. Letters should include the writer’s full name, address and micronutrients—iron, calcium, potassium—and are high “It’s a culinary adventure. You are trying new tastes, it’s good home telephone number, and may be edited for purposes in vitamin B12. A tablespoon of cricket flour gives you for the environment and it’s also good for your health.” of clarity and space.

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Prime farmland continues to be lost to urban expansion (as caribou populations dropped, communities harvested fewer caribou). Report recommends neighbouring municipalities As well, the research synthesized work together to co-ordinate better land use 30 years of human health studies, planning. which show similar steep declines in traditional food consumption across BY BEV BETKOWSKI Canada, including in the North. All evidence points to Indigenous Alberta’s municipal governments need to be more careful about allowing people being very good stewards of prime farmland to be gobbled up for residential and industrial use, says the resources integral to their food a report from the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental security and economies, says Parlee. Sociology. “Most communities in the North are “Municipal governments have to come to grips with what they want their respectfully participating in harvest communities to look like in the future,” says Brent Swallow, one of the Pete Enzoe and Kelsey Doris-Jansen management planning with the aim report’s co-authors. “Just having cheap services financed through extra tax of doing their part to protect caribou,” revenue is not enough of a goal. It’s short-term gain with long-term costs.” she says. “But time, attention and The research, compiled by Swallow and fellow researchers at the U of A- resources could be better spent.” based Alberta Land Institute, shows that between 1984 and 2013, the Traditional knowledge and scientific amount of land with urban or industrial uses in the corridor between research indicates there are a variety Edmonton and Calgary jumped by 52 per cent, increasing by more than of other factors that drive changes in 1,600 square kilometres. Between 2000 and 2012, about 35 per cent of the populations of barren-ground caribou. converted land was classified as rich, top-rated cropland, with another 34 “There is a lot of evidence that per cent rated second highest in quality in Alberta. human disturbance of habitat from The loss of the prime agricultural land was driven by several factors mining, and oil and gas activity is a including population growth, rising prices for agricultural land driven by critical problem,” says Parlee. urban demand, expanded road networks to service rural subdivisions, and “Indigenous communities living in the fragmentation of the rural landscape as more acreages were developed. Bathurst caribou range will be the first That loss will have long-term economic, environmental and visual im- to tell you the Bathurst caribou herd pacts on the land, Swallow says. OVERHUNTING NOT THE CAUSE OF has undergone a dramatic population Neighbouring municipalities need to work together to create co-ordinat- crash that coincides with a dramatic ed land-use plans and taxation formulas instead of competing with one CARIBOU DECLINE, FINDS RESEARCH increase in mining development.” another, to avoid the creeping development of unattractive pockets of light Parlee suggests current government industry plopped next to residential estates, Swallow says. ‘No evidence’ harvesting is to blame policies that restrict harvesting but There are rural municipalities in Alberta that want to maintain their rural BY NEWS STAFF allow for increasing mining and oil and character, but they’re so heavily developed, it doesn’t look like it. If they’d gas activity are putting both caribou worked with their neighbours, it could have been different. There are several reasons why barren natural resources key to their cultures, and one that is highly valued and and northern communities at risk. “We forgo opportunities for the landscape to remain beautiful for future ground caribou populations in Canada economies and health unless central harvested by First Nations and Inuit “It’s a problem that compounds,” generations,” he says. have declined more than 70 per cent governments are involved, says Parlee. peoples, says Parlee, an associate she says. “Mining exploration and Municipal governments tend to still base their land-use philosophy on over the past two decades, but too “You can see this kind of storyline in professor in the Department development is increasing stress on policies developed in the 1980s and 1990s, Swallow adds. much hunting by Indigenous people is newspaper headlines in various parts of Resource Economics and caribou, and restricting subsistence “There’s been this ethic of growth, that it’s good, it means more tax not one of them, new research says. of the country; such assumptions Environmental Sociology. harvesting of caribou creates problems revenue, more services for the population. They see that growth in terms of “There is little to no evidence that have also led to expensive and time- Their herds tend to dramatically of food insecurity. impacts on public finance,” he explains. harvesting has had any negative consuming processes of harvest cycle in size every 40 to 70 years, The problem is not just limited to The downside, though, is the costs that come with increased expansion. effects on wildlife population dynamics management (restrictions to hunting) and harvest data and related research northern Canada, she says. “Wildlife “If you have scattered rural residences, that means you need expanded in Canada,” says Brenda Parlee, lead in Northern Canada and elsewhere in shows that Indigenous people adapt to conservation decisions need to be school bus services and more road maintenance. That’s a burden for the researcher on a study that sought the country.” those cycles, she says. based on evidence, not anecdote. It is future taxpayer,” says Swallow. to unearth the facts around an issue Parlee and her colleagues argue Parlee’s team analyzed 13 years of counterproductive to ignore valuable Councils are starting to realize they face these related issues, but the she sees as poorly understood by that these assumptions are based on harvest data collected by governments knowledge from Indigenous people temptation is still there to make rezoning decisions that can be inconsistent governments and the public. anecdote and not evidence. in the Northwest Territories, which who have sustainably managed their with their own growth plans for allowable land uses, Swallow notes. “They Some people assume that Barren ground caribou in northern showed strong parallels in caribou natural resources for thousands of want to keep it for these uses, and then a proposal comes along for a use

Indigenous people will overhunt Canada is a very well-studied species population and harvest numbers ROBERT BERDAM BY PHOTO years.” outside that zoning and they’ll approve it.”

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PUTTING HIS BEST PAW FORWARD ALES welcomes its first certified wellness animal Ahead of the class My partner and I had been interested kindergarten, obedience training and a HELPING YOUNG PARENTS SUCCEED IS MACKENZIE in animal wellness before we picked few sports classes (agility and flyball), up Murphy and were really excited to we were hopeful he would pass his MARTIN’S GOAL ANDS SHE’S WELL ON HER WAY watch him grow into the loving family certification. We were nervous because BY HELEN METELLA member that he is now.” he was still fairly young (just under two at the time) but he did great and GH: What made you think Murphy we passed. Mackenzie Martin, an extraordinarily aging, and on creating a program would make a good wellness animal busy undergraduate student in the that inspires pregnant teenagers and and how was the experience in GH: What’s the best thing about Department of Human Ecology, can teen mothers in Edmonton to pursue getting him certified? Murphy that students should know? now add being a Rhodes Scholar to post-secondary education. JP: Murphy has always had a really JP: The best thing about Murphy is that her lengthy to-do list. In 2016, she won an undergraduate sweet nature, right from when we got he truly loves people and really helps Martin, who is simultaneously researcher stipend to conduct an eth- him at eight weeks old. Seeing how you not to feel lonely or overwhelmed. pursuing her bachelor of science nographic study at De Hogeweyk, an much he enjoyed being around people I’m pretty sure he loves interacting and bachelor of education de- internationally renowned village near and all the love he had to give, we with others as much as they love him. grees, as well as a certificate from Amsterdam for people with dementia. knew we wanted to get him wellness I’ve talked with students who missed the University of Alberta’s Peter Working alongside faculty re- certified. Being that I work on campus, their family pets and were happy to Lougheed Leadership College, is searchers Janet Fast and Megan I was already familiar with CAAWLS, connect with Murphy and others who the latest recipient in the Faculty of Strickfaden, she is a part-time so they were the natural local choice said it was just nice to have him be Agricultural, Life and Environmental research assistant with AGE-WELL The Faculty of ALES is proud to wel- for certification. so happy to see them. In addition to Science of the prestigious Rhodes NCE, a national research network that come one of its newest staff, and like- Getting him certified was a really being here to help with the stress that Scholarship. focuses on aging and technology. ly its furriest. Murphy the labradoodle smooth process. The CAAWLS website comes with being a student, Murphy Currently immersed in practicum The team is developing a tablet is certified through the Chimo Animal lays out the different criteria their also makes regular rounds to all of our teaching at a junior high school in application and associated database Assisted Wellness and Learning wellness animals need to meet ALES staff spaces to ensure they have Edmonton, the lively and articulate that allow family caregivers to choose Society (CAAWLS) as a wellness ani- and regularly host certification the opportunity for engage in animal- 22-year-old is headed to graduate appropriate technological tools for mal, and his loving owner Jillian Pratt, sessions that test for obedience and assisted wellness. studies at the University of Oxford their needs. recruiting specialist for the faculty, temperament. Rather, it’s the criteria It really is a win-win for everyone: this fall, via one of the world’s oldest, “Mackenzie demonstrates all of couldn’t be more proud. “He’s always the handler and animal need to meet Murphy helps people destress and most prestigious and selective inter- the best attributes of an ALES liked people, often more than other together, as people and animals are relax, and in return Murphy receives national scholarships. student,” said Stan Blade, dean of the dogs, and he really just wants to be certified together as a team. As Murphy an unlimited supply of belly rubs. (And “There are so many wickedly smart Faculty of ALES. “A great education your buddy. had already been through puppy they are well deserved! – ed) people at Oxford and I look forward to taught by superb faculty members, having great conversations with peo- international perspective through a ple who challenge me and talk about diversity of experiences, and local things I’ve never heard of before, leadership in important activities and never even thought of before,” said initiatives to help the community. Dear Sir, Madame: Martin, whose studies in human ecol- We are so pleased that she has Despite that I can send an email, I hope this note ogy take place within the Department been selected for this remarkable arrives to the Greenhouse magazine. of Human Ecology. opportunity at Oxford.” I am a 1966 Agriculture graduate and I do like to read “It’s so exciting to join the Rhodes Martin’s award marks the second LETTERS community, which aspires to develop time in three years that a student the publications of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and and support public-spirited leaders from the Faculty of ALES has received Environmental Sciences. around the world.” a Rhodes Scholarship. Each year, a In addition to her curriculum studies class of 100 scholars is selected from Sincerely, in child and family development, countries around the world and 11 she invested extra effort researching are chosen from Canada.

Doris Wyllie RICHARD SIEMENS BY PHOTO

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How do Areas with quality roads affect habitat and few roads had the grizzly bear most bears. density? RUNNING Road densities greater than 0.6 km/km2 were associated with OUT OF fewer bears. We performed DNA-based, spatially explicit capture- ROOM: recapture to estimate the THE IMPACT density of a threatened OF ROADS ON grizzly bear population in GRIZZLY BEARS British Columbia, Canada. Human activity negatively affects bears. Roads enable human access to bear habitat, Restricting road access is effective. Road but the effect of roads on bear closures boosted bear densities by 27% in density is rarely assessed. areas within the closures.

By Clayton Lamb Infographic by Paige Weir This gizzly bear population has been increasing after a long history of persecution, but additional reduction Clayton Lamb, who is currently completing his PhD with of road densities is needed. conservation biologist and co- APPROXIMATELY author Scott Nielsen in the Applied Conservation Ecology Lab, created a beautiful demonstration of the problem with grizzly bears and roadways. 50% INCREASE SINCE 1997

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AWARDS

Top: Left to right: Erik Umbach (second- Innovation Awards shine spotlight year ENCS student), Nathan Lauer (graduate research on two ALES researchers assistant), Benoit of arborists in Edmonton, and that the Boudreau (second- BY HELEN METELLA year forestry student skills he was learning in the classroom and business owner), could translate into the field prior to Hajo Spathe (forestry graduation, Boudreau challenged the Two researchers and the groundbreak- apparatus that automatically collects animal that cannot be observed easily master’s student from Germany) and Austin arborist certification—and passed with ing technologies they invented while and interprets non-invasive infrared using standard visual-based methods,” Kalin (NAIT student). flying colours. working in the Faculty of ALES have images from one or more animals at a she says. Bottom: Hajo Spathe. Two seasons later, Boudreau been recognized for the patents those time, to predict their health, growth or Temelli’s patent is for generating has a young crew of four full-time innovations received in 2016. reproductive state using both ther- micro- and nano-sized particles employees and a seasonal crew Clover Bench, an animal behavioural- mal and behavioural biometrics. The and fibres from biopolymers that supplement the core group until ist, and Feral Temelli, a food engineer technology simultaneously enables (biodegradable molecular structures) November each year. renowned for her work in supercritical scientists to gather large amounts of so that they can be used to impregnate “Most of the staff are forestry fluid technology, are scientists in the radiated heat and behaviour informa- a bioactive component and/or students,” he says, and that, while Department of Agricultural, Food and tion from animals in short periods of encapsulate a bioactive component their experience might be lean, their Nutritional Science. Each received an time, for a variety of applications that with biopolymers. knowledge is deep. “We have PhD Innovation Award from TEC Edmonton, can be customized for the species and “Our new technology overcomes students who are writing theses on which honours University of Alberta re- the setting, says Bench. the challenges associated with tree species, so they know what searchers, their ingenious technologies “From a behaviour science conventional techniques for drying of they’re talking about!” and the commercialization community standpoint it has opened up a whole high molecular weight biopolymers,” Like his crew, Boudreau has gained that helps transfer those innovations new way of approaching animal she says. “We can now create new knowledge in the Department of from the lab to the world. behaviour, by using the unique opportunities for ingredients to deliver Renewable Resources, thanks to the Bench created, along with adjunct attributes of the infrared camera to bioactive components, targeting a hands-on learning he says he has professor Al Schaefer, a method and an capture the subtle movements of an variety of applications.” acquired as an undergraduate student. “There has been lots of learning in the classroom that I can apply, like hydrol- ogy and soil science,” he says. Another significant impact on his Getting to the root of aspen survival success has been the work he’s been SIMON LANDHÄUSSER HAS A PASSION FOR NURTURING ASPEN SEEDLINGS— able to win on campus. “The university has been very supportive,” says EVEN THOUGH HE’LL NEVER SEE THE FORESTS THEY’LL BECOME. Boudreau, and that “having contracts BY MICHAEL BROWN EYE ON THE PRIZE with the University of Alberta has given One smart student has turned his class work us a huge opportunity.” After nearly 30 years, Simon Landhäusser still talks about the Now that Boudreau is a well- aspen tree with a devotion that would make even the most into a study for success. established businessman and strident lawn-care fanatic think twice before mowing down BY CAIT WILLS husband, he’s ready to take on his one of the tree’s fledgling sprouts. next greatest challenge: in December “You just have to look at the river valley in the fall, they’re Benoit Boudreau was in love. make an income while I was in school,” 2017 he and his wife welcomed gorgeous,” says the new Killam Professor and tenured He wanted to marry the love of his he marvels two years into business their first son days after their first University of Alberta forest restoration researcher of the life, Denise, but as a second-year ownership. The budding tycoon has wedding anniversary. To him, green-to-bright-yellow vistas that aspens in autumn bring. “If forestry student in the Faculty of taken the skills and knowledge he has Boudreau hopes to pass on the same you look at art of the boreal forest, most artists draw aspens. Agricultural, Life and Environmental learned in school and turned it into guidance he has received. Because of its smooth bark, crown shape and colours in the Sciences, he knew that handling the the successful arborist company, Tree “My dad always says that fall, it’s stunning on big landscapes.” financial responsibilities of both an Ninjas. entrepreneurship is when someone But like any relationship that survives the test of time, education and a family weren’t in the “I’ve been an arborist since I was 18,” has a goal, and multiple people help Landhäusser says, a tree’s beauty is only bark deep—and it’s cards. But, instead of giving up, he did says the now 22 year old. “I had three him get there,” says Boudreau. “We what’s underground that counts. what any enterprising young Romeo solid years of experience and I asked have a community of people helping “It is such an interesting species—it does things very would do: he started his own company. a tonne of questions on the job,” he us; we have young fire, and we have differently than many other trees, which makes it an “It’s amazing that I’ve found a way to says. Realizing there was a shortage determination.” intriguing species to work with.”

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FUNDING First ENCS students study northern systems in Yukon UNIQUE MAJOR OFFERED TO THIRD- AND FOURTH-YEAR STUDENTS NOW A REALITY BY HELEN METELLA

Two environmental and conservation participants of the winter 2018 semes- school, or in the river-based summer sciences students are the first to move ter, because they wanted a closer per- field school. Whether students go their studies to Whitehorse for an en- spective on life in Canada’s Far North. North for a semester, take their courses tire winter semester, as part of a new “A huge part of conservation biology in Edmonton, or attend full-time in the element in a unique program of study. is being able to convey science to the Yukon, the program is eye-opening and LOTS OF SEXTING CAN The program is a major in north- rest of the public,” says Lund. “So if timely, says Fiona Schmiegelow, direc- ern systems, delivered jointly by the you can understand people and the tor of the Northern ENCS Program. WRECK A ROMANCE Environmental and Conservation way they live, it makes it easier to “A major strength of the program Tech-communication shortcut undermines Sciences program (ENCS) in the speak their language—it creates a is that we make sure that Indigenous Three scientists Faculty of ALES and Yukon College. personal connection.” perspective is woven throughout the features of strong relationships The major is for students seeking an The program was created eight years fabric of the curriculum,” she says. BY HELEN METELLA in the Faculty of education in the distinct culture of ago for northern residents to earn a “[That perspective is] an absolutely Canada’s Far North, as well as a bach- science degree without leaving their fascinating point in the history of the Sexting—sharing sexual messages and “My interpretation is that the sexters ALES have received elor of science degree focused on its community. Since then, it has also at- North; there is a real opportunity to ex- images by cellphone or other web- are focusing more on the sexual part of a financial boost environment. tracted students enrolled in Edmonton, perience what’s happening, firsthand.” connected devices—can spice up your their relationship and may be neglect- “It’s basically all the things that I’m and from other programs and places. “My future opportunities have greatly sex life, but it may be at the expense ing other areas.” to support their passionate about in one spot—an abun- The specialized study for the major expanded through the BSc program of other important aspects of your This seems to be borne out by an- dance of wildlife, beautiful landscapes occurs in years three and four of the being offered here,” says David Silas, relationship, says a new study led by other finding in the study, he says. The ongoing human and a culture that is very connected to ENCS program and includes such fourth-year student and citizen of the the University of Alberta. frequent and hyper-sexters reported health research. the land,” says Taylor Lund, a third-year pertinent topics as Northern land-use Selkirk First Nation in Yukon. “Plus, it is People who sext their romantic part- a high degree of “technology interfer- conservation biology student. planning and climate change. a huge advantage to be able to apply ner frequently (several times a week, ence” in their relationship, which is a Rene Jacobs, Both Lund and fourth-year student Many of its Edmonton-based stu- what I learn in the classroom to the sending both sexual words and nude or term for when a partner texts or emails Jessica Hayes became the inaugural dents participate in its winter field immediate real world around me.” mostly nude images) or hyper-frequent- during face-to-face conversations, Catherine Field ly (daily or more often) report greater meals or leisure time with their partner. and Rhonda sexual satisfaction than non-sexters Evidence of letting technology take and those who send words only. precedence over personal interaction Bell are sharing However, the frequent and hy- may explain what is contributing to the per-sexters are far less satisfied with poor scores in other aspects of their approximately GOING GREEN WITH HIGH TECH many other aspects of their relation- romance, said Galovan. ship, said Adam Galovan, lead author “These folks want to get to the end of the study and a family scientist in goal—a good relationship—without do- $1.5 Thanks to a $1.5 million investment by Western Economic the Department of Human Ecology. ing the hard work of talking, listening They have a higher degree of couple and spending quality time together,” MILLION Diversification Canada, small businesses will be scaling up with conflict and are more ambivalent he said. about the relationship continuing than “It’s the instant gratification culture— in funding more opportunities for commercialization of their products at non-sexters, and also report feeling less we want it now. But it’s what you do to from the Canadian Agri-food Discovery Place on South Campus. secure attachment in their relationships get to that goal that actually defines a Led by agrifood researcher Heather Bruce, projects will now be and lower levels of commitment. In good relationship. They need to put the Institutes of Health addition, they are more likely to view phone down and have a good old fash- able to access at 1,500-litre fermenter on site, which will help the pornography and show more infideli- ioned conversation—spend some time Research (CIHR). ty-related behaviours on social media. together nurturing the relationship—in- development of biodegradable plastics, probiotics and fertilizer. “Sexting doesn’t seem to be a feature stead of shortcutting with sexting to try

of a healthy relationship,” said Galovan. to get a quality relationship.” SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

16 GREENHOUSE SPRING 2018 17 CLEAN, GREEN AND READY FOR ACTION New sustainable technology is emerging as the route to success for Albertans, thanks to ALES research

BY CAIT WILLS ILLUSTRATIONS BY JEAN-FRANÇOIS PODEVIN The result: Bressler says this new fermentation process ethanol. Further, in November 2017 the Alberta government could achieve a 40-per-cent increase in efficiency in develop - released a document that included eligible sources of bio - ing ethanol. mass—they include both agricultural crop residue, agricul - “This is huge,” says Bressler. “This industry sees a 0.1 per tural processing residue, forest mill residue and standing trees he Ingenious Knight of La Mancha, cent improvement produce tens of millions of gallons of eth - killed by mountain pine beetle or wildfire on Crown land. anol.” This new fermentation process, which has been devel - This means that Bressler’s development of cellulosic etha - oped by Bressler and his colleague, Dominic Sauvageau in the nol, produced from cellulose, the stringy fibre of a plant, will AKA Don Quixote, is often seen Faculty of Science, will therefore have global implications for take the biomass from fibre produced by the forestry industry fuel production. and turn it into fuel. as the epitome of heroism after The economic implications for this type of interdisciplinary That’s a pretty simple equation for success. research is why the Canada First Research Excellence Fund de- veloped the program of scholarly activity at the the literary figure appeared in University of Alberta, says the Future Energy Systems director Larry Kostiuk. 1604 as a fighter of injustice. More “The work that is being done across faculties within the Future Energy Systems initiative can have a significant and profound economic than 400 years later, scientists in impact on the lives of Albertans, and, in time, around the world,” says Kostiuk. For Bressler, taking an existing technolo - the Faculty of Agricultural, Life gy—in this instance, the fermentation process, which has been used since ancient Egypt—and and Environmental Sciences are creating new solutions to global problems is at the heart of his work. “This work is about de - veloping a new strategy, not a new technology,” quixotic, positioning themselves to he says, in order to create a better way of doing something. His work is, at its very essence, dis - arm society with the tools needed to ruptive technology, which he defines as enter - ing the market place and creating new opportu - nities for investment. develop clean and green technology. Currently Alberta has a provincial mandate requiring five per cent of the national gasoline pool to be re - newable ethanol in line with the federal policies. The carbon In 2016 the University of Alberta received $75 million in fed- hydrocarbon fuels, and he’s doing it again by restructuring cel- levy implemented by the provincial government in 2017, at eral funding to support the development of the Future Energy lucose nanocrystals (CNC) to create ethanol. $20 per ton, and increased to $30 a ton in January 2018, is Systems initiative, which pulls expertise from faculties across Fermentation is a magical metabolic process that creates, not applied to biofuels, including biomethane, biodiesel and campus to work collaboratively to solve the energy challenges among other things, ethanol from sugar. This series of chem - of society. ical reactions take the glucose that exists in a plant and turns Here in Alberta, whose place in the world has traditionally that biomass into ethanol and carbon dioxide. That ethanol is Tbeen known as a carbon-based energy supplier, those challeng- further distilled and turned into fuel, which is widely consid - THIS NEW FERMENTATION es are legion. ered to be a “clean” fuel source alternative to fossil fuels. The way Bressler is building this pure form of fuel makes it PROCESS COULD ACHIEVE David Bressler is changing that perception one mol- renewable and potentially an answer to many of the issues that A 40-PER-CENT INCREASE ecule at a time. arise with the extraction and processing required in the man - Bressler, a professor in the Department of Agricultural, ufacturing of fossil fuels. By taking cellulose from waste pulp, “ IN EFFICIENCY IN Food and Nutritional Science, is adept at lopping off atoms – Bressler then soaks the cellulose nanocrystals in a high level of he did it when he figured out a way to break off the extra acid acid to rid them of sugars. The CNC then breaks down further DEVELOPING ETHANOL.” group at the end of a molecule, which helped him develop and ferments, thus creating cellulosic ethanol.

20 GREENHOUSE SPRING 2018 21 WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RENEWABLE Because society’s current energy systems are based on the extraction and burning of carbon-based fuels, a nonrenewable DEVELOPMENT AND resource, some say time is running out, so scientists are ac - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT?” celerating the pace under which they develop and deploy new “ technologies that focus on renewable resources, and their ap - plicability and impact in society today and in days to come.

For ANNE NAETH, co-lead of the Future Energy Systems theme “Resilient Reclaimed Land and Water Systems”, community engagement The costs of new technology weigh heavily on JOHN is the intersection of her research ex - PARKINS. A sociologist in the Department of Resource pertise in renewable resources, her Economics and Environmental Sociology, he seeks answers dedication to teaching students and to questions about how the process of implementing new her passion for developing new ways technologies impacts society, and how those systems need to to share information. work in order to not only be embraced, but also enthusiasti - “Often the focus of renewable re - cally encouraged—especially by those who could be nega- sources is bio-physical based,” she tively impacted. says, “but another important aspect “As a researcher we’re always asking more is the societal impact of the work we questions,” he says; “we want to talk to com - do.” munities about different scenarios and what Like Parkins and Bressler, Naeth those may look like for communities.” looks at the systems determination A subject at the forefront for Parkins and his of each and every research project, team at Future Energy Systems is the concept of including the diversity of components wind power as a renewable resource. of an ecosystem, when determining According to the Wind Energy Association of Alberta, turbines, Parkins says, “it’s the east side of the process of how to effectively de - wind is the lowest-cost source of new energy in the prov - the province that’s the most windy. velop, integrate and initiate projects. ince. With more than 900 wind turbines, approximately “Those communities are at ground zero. With the phase “Regardless of energy and where it comes from there’s al - eight per cent of Alberta’s energy needs are currently met by out of coal and the implementation of the carbon tax, there ways going to be a need for reclamation because we are always wind power. Alberta is Canada’s third-largest wind market, is an expectation that wind power will be built out by 2030,” going to make disturbances,” she says. “Even as we move away and the provincial Climate Leadership Plan has mandated and, in his experience, those communities are deeply conser - from fossil fuels, change won’t happen overnight. In the mean- that 30 per cent of the province’s power will come from re - vative and suspicious of the NDP government and its Climate time, we have all these legacy sites as well as current sites [that newable resources like wind, hydro and solar by 2030. In ad - Leadership Plan. need to be managed] as we move to renewable resources.” dition, the association lists $3.6 billion in local spending on “It’s a perfect storm of opposition,” he says. “The wind tur - One of the ways Naeth says taking the concept of develop - project development and construction, an estimated $137 bines represent a deep ideological divide. ing reclamation as part of the plant-soil-water interrelation - million in operations and maintenance spending and $13.5 “I call them socialist towers,” he says ruefully. ship—the way these factors interact, are disturbed and can be million in land lease payments to homeowners in 2017. restored after disturbance—and achieving measurable and ap- So how does that translate for everyday Albertans—many plicable outcomes is by focusing on reclamation at the begin - of whom are in rural areas? ning of a project, not the end. That’s where Parkins comes in. EVEN AS WE MOVE “What we want is more forward thinking with partners, “One of the first and most key questions we ask is ‘what is AWAY FROM FOSSIL having us—the land reclamation people—as part of the plan - the relationship between renewable development and com - ning, which saves money and time. munity development’ and, from that, ‘who owns the technol - FUELS, CHANGE WON’T “What we can then instil in students is that ‘what we should ogy and who is responsible for the community engagement’. be doing is not what necessarily has been done to this point.” “With wind power especially, [success] is determined by “ HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.” Naeth is a professor of land reclamation and restoration the community and their concerns about the development of ecology in the Department of Renewable Resources and teach- the infrascture.” es a fourth-year capstone course annually. These mandatory, This systems analysis is embedded in the work being The skepticism Parkins notes, synthesizes and develops practical projects entail students working directly with com - done at the community level, says Parkins, as well as with into effective policies for renewable resources is key to the im - munities on a reclamation project. If it can’t be applied, it’s not his colleagues at Future Energy Systems. While most people plementation of work being developed by Bressler and others helpful. If it’s not helpful, it’s not to be used, says Naeth. think of Pincher Creek as the area most impacted by wind in the Future Energy Systems initiative. “It’s a new world and a new role in land reclamation.”

22 GREENHOUSE SPRING 2018 23 GOING

THE

DISTANCE

HOW TWO WOMEN ARE SEIZING CONTROL OF CANCER THROUGH SCIENCE

by Cait Wills photograpy by Jessica Fern-Facette CARLA’S STORY researchers on analysis and evaluation “I arrived in Edmonton in March of the critical and individualized needs 2004 wearing a sweater. It as -20C of patients with cancer. when we landed, but there were The work being done at HNRU is im - no winter clothing shops where I’m portant, she says, because food prefer - from in Brazil,” says Carla Prado. “I ences affect everyone and, for people had first heard about the University who have cancer, they often don’t have of Alberta after visiting an English- the luxury of being picky with their as-a-second language (ESL) fair. caloric intake. For instance, Prado’s There was a booth there from the PRIMe study, which looks at the diets of university and, after looking up people suffering from colorectal cancer more information online, I fell in love and their protein intake, could result with the nutrition program. in specialized care that helps these pa - “I emailed nutrition professor tients fight the disease. (emerita) Linda McCargar, who was Those tools are exactly what Julie very kind and replied to say that she Rohr was missing when she began her was grateful I had contacted her, but journey with cancer. there were no positions in her lab “Upon diagnosis I was terrified of and no funding available.” food; I didn’t know what to eat or what Undeterred, Prado and her to put in my body,” she says. “The liter - husband, Leandro, came up with ature on cancer nutrition is so varied a plan: they would sell all their and you have no idea what is the right worldly goods and move almost answer; I was really worried that what I 10,000 kilometres to Edmonton put in my body was really going to affect so Prado could convince McCargar my outcome. to take her on as a grad student. “I went to see many different people, Upon arrival, Prado contacted the whose expertise wasn’t in cancer nutri- professor and asked for a tour of tion, but I didn’t feel like I had the an - the lab. Upon meeting, and asked swers I needed. why she was in Edmonton—was “At Christmas 2017 I had tickets to it a business trip, or perhaps a a banquet. I wasn’t feeling well and “Julie has so much going holiday?—Prado announced that I wasn’t in the mood to go. My hus - she and her husband had moved ulie Rohr’s life is like a game of numbers. band, who is very intuitive, said that he on, so if we can help her specifically so she could learn from Smart, articulate and curious, the 35-year-old was diag - thought I might meet someone there develop her nutritional McCargar. nosed in November 2015 was a “one-in-a-million diagnosis” of who needed to hear about what I was go- “She almost fainted,” laughs Prado leiomyosarcoma, or LMS. The cancer of the soft-muscle tissue ing through, or someone who I needed strategies, that would be at the memory. was found in her abdomen and, since having surgery to remove in my life. And Carla Prado was sitting at This determination is emblematic tumours on the large vein that travels from her heart to her my table. a success.” of how Prado has reached the level lower extremities and her liver, the cancer has now metasta - “We got to talking about what we - Carla Prado of success she has achieved as a sized in both lungs. do for a living and when she told me young scientist. After completing “This cancer is extremely aggressive and doctors usually that she studies cancer nutrition at doctoral studies and traveling consider LMS a terminal diagnosis,” she says matter-of-fact- the University of Alberta, I said to her, to two different North American ly. “But I know people with it who have been alive for 25 years, ‘You’re the person I’ve been looking for, research institutions to increase which show it’s also the most unpredictable diagnosis. for the last two-and-a-half years.’ her specialized knowledge, she “A lot of people look at fighting cancer as a battle, but I’m returned to the University of Alberta not a fighter, so this feels more like a high-stakes chess game.” For Prado, helping patients like Rohr is as assistant professor. In 2014 Carla Prado is also one in a million, so the chances of them a priority. Prado was awarded the Campus meeting, let alone collaborating, were tiny. Yet meet they did, “Julie has so much going on, so if we Alberta Innovates Program Chair in which changed both their lives forever. can help her develop nutritional strat- Nutrition, Food and Health and now Prado, who moved to Edmonton in 2004 not on whim but egies, that would a success,” she says. heads the HNRU on the University of on impulse, is the director of the Human Nutrition Research “It’s our responsibility to understand Alberta’s North Campus. JUnit. There, she leads a team of registered dieticians and how her body has changed through 26 GREENHOUSE SPRING 2018 27 says Ramage, because about 60 to 70 “The thing that’s so great recommendations and supporting clin- percent of the total calories a body re - ical services are all available under roof. quires is to maintain baseline function, about this unit is that we can Taking an X-ray to the next level is including respiration, cognition and the DXA, or Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry digestion. For example, “If you need address so many issues.” testing device. It is the gold standard of 2000 calories a day, then you need 1400 body composition assessment and mea- calories just to maintain breathing, once their testing and assessments with sures bone density, lean tissue mass and total regional body brain function and digestion,” she says. a dietician are complete, the develop - fat, all within 15 minutes using a very low does X-ray (think the Because dietitians rarely have access to ment of meal plans for at-home care. same amount as a cross-country flight). this level of specificity in analyzing a cli- “We have the capacity to analyze food The “Bod Pod” looks like Mork From Ork’s eggship, but the ent’s needs, having this unit available is down to the vitamins and minerals,” air displacement plethysmography device is serious business. critical. “This is a powerful way to show says Ramage and that ability, coupled It measures the amount of air a patient displaces while sitting people who may be struggling with what with food surveys, handouts and food inside the unit. This displacement measures two things: fat is required to fuel their bodies,” says recall sheets, means the unit’s staff are mass and fat free mass, which is the combination of muscle and The Dual X-Ray Ramage. able to determine exactly what the opti - bone in the body. Absorptiometry testing device, The whole body calorimetry unit mal health benefits are for an individual. “The Bod Pod unit is very specialized,” says Prado. “It helps or DXA, provides a works by assessing oxygen and carbon “The thing that’s so great about this the HNRU provide the types of information for analyzing precise measurement dioxide levels, and starts as soon as the unit is that we can address so many is - health that helps us understand and show how people are dif - of body density, lean tissue mass client is in the room. While Rohr used sues,” says Ramage. Body composition ferent from each other. and total regional the unit for one hour to determine her assessment, analysis of energy metab - Bioelectrical analysis is also used, which measures resis - body fat. needed baseline calories, the unit can olism, food and dietary analysis and tance to the electrical signal through the water present in cancer treatment and then give her the best tools she needs.” be used for up to 24 hours at a time for a Luckily for Rohr, the HNRU has one of only two devices in test, which presents new challenges for Canada—and 20 in the world—that gets down to the cellular staff. Patients need to be supervised and level when weighing body composition. fed, and ironically, Ramage says their The whole body calorimetry unit serves as a one-stop shop most often complaint is that patients to analyze the entirety of a person’s caloric needs, both what feel their getting too much food. they need to subsist, as well as what is expended at rest, during “After 45 minutes we have our first sleep and activity and while food is being digested. “All of these reading, and we then make the first meal factors are critical in determining the optimal caloric needs of for the client,” says Ramage. a patient,” says Prado. Basing their meals on the adage of While it looks like a small hotel room, the unit is entirely air “50-30-20” (50 per cent carbs, 30 per tight (with a dedicated intake and ventilation system) where cent fat and 20 per cent protein), the patients are assessed over a predetermined timeframe that meals patients get on site are structured can be up to 48 hours. By measuring carbon dioxide and oxy - around lean meat, whole grains and gen levels in the room, an extremely accurate measure of ener - fruits and vegetables. The test kitchen gy metabolism can be calculated while the body is at rest. And on site is used for meal preparation and for Rohr, the location in Edmonton means she can access this for building meal plans for clients who, world-class equipment only a few min - Above: Stephanie utes from home. Ramage demonstrates “The whole body calorimetry unit how blood is drawn from patients who is the showpiece of the HNRU,” says are enclosed within Stephanie Ramage ((BSc 2008, MSc the Whole Body 2011), human nutrition research coorin- Calorimetry Unit. Right: visiting dator. “It allows us to complete assess - student Camila Pinto ments of the energy needs of the cli - shows how the ents not only at rest, but also through a metabolic cart works. whole range of daily activities. “Within the unit we also have the metabolic cart, which uses respiration to measure oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output to calculate the calories the client is using.” This is important,

28 GREENHOUSE SPRING 2018 29 Life, the

“Dr. Prado is doing life-changing BY CHRISTINA FRANGOU research that has immediate value for me and for cancer patients like me.” - Julie Rohr uni-

“Some cancer diets are very nutri - ent deficient, and some are very dense. Genomic technology Every cancer is different so there has to verse be different treatment for each patient.” serves as the basis for The next step in Rohr’s treatment is a research to answer both clinical trial in Seattle, where she hopes the most fundamental to join the 18 other patients who are part and profound questions of a group under the care of one of the only LMS oncology specialists in North America. “It’s a shot in the dark,” she says, but, like in a chess game, Rohr deft- and ly maneuvers forward, even as the can - cer pushes her back. “Diet in the cancer world is more of a lifestyle and meal planning opportuni- ty that will give you the most power you can, and I look forward to feeling safe Julie Rohr in the muscle, versus that which is present in fat. and not anxious with what I’m putting Airdisplacement These four tools provide a whole-body analysis from the cel - in my body,” she says. Plethysmography every- (BodPod). lular level to determine energy metabolism, body composition “I’m so glad that this research and Dr. and optimal nutrition—the weapons of choice for Rohr in ad - Prado are available to me—it gives me dressing her body’s needs as she lives with cancer. peace of mind that I have the answer. Dr. “It’s so critical to know this information when you’re fight - Prado is doing life-changing research ing this disease,” she says. “We are very lost when it comes to that has immediate value for me and for finding this type of information. cancer patients like me.”

30 GREENHOUSE thing hearty against illness. At the same time, they are looking for ways to reduce the amount of methane produced by beef cattle without decreasing the amount of beef produced. Alberta is an ideal place to study genomics and beef cattle, says Plastow. The province is home to the largest beef cattle DNA: herds in Canada, accounting for just over two-fifths of the the molecules that national total, and Alberta’s beef production contributes $15 make up the genes billion to Canada’s GDP annually. With more than two million found inside the cells beef cattle in Alberta today, the animals that can be studied here outnumber anywhere else in the country. of an organism “To do genomics research, you need a lot of data on your an - imals. It’s usually not sufficient to study 10 animals,” he says. Genome: “Alberta is a fantastic place to do cattle research. It means we an organism’s can attract people who are interested in working with animals and use this opportunity to drive research forward.” total set of genes Genomic research is also targeting ways to shorten the breeding cycle for cereal crops like barley, says Rong-Cai Genome sequencing: Yang, who is a professor with a specialization in statistical reading the order genomics and quantitive genetics, also in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science. of the DNA’s building In Western Canada, it currently takes 12 years to create a blocks (called new variety of barley. Once a new variety is produced, breed - nucleotides) in order ers rely on the breed’s phenotypes, the observable charac - to learn about the teristics like height and yield, to see how it interacts with the environment. specific functions of Over the next an important Information gleaned from genomics could reduce that pro - individual genes, or to four days, the part of maintain- cess, says Yang. identify faulty genes world’s popula - ing society,” says In the past, barley breeders relied on data collected in the tion will grow by the Graham Plastow, pro - field to improve crops. By combining field data with lab data equivalent of the city of fessor in the Department from geneticists, breeders receive valuable information that Edmonton—and it will contin- of Agricultural, Food and can help select crops with higher yields, are less disease prone, ue to do so every four days if current Nutritional Science. and of higher quality. trends maintain. He is also CEO of the Livestock Gentec At this pace, by 2050 the Earth will be home to more Centre, an international collaboration based at the than 9.2 billion people. To meet the food needs of such a size - University of Alberta that brings together scientists in genom - able population, global food production must double in the ics, genetics and bioinformatics to address the need for better At the forefront of new science next 32 years, a challenge made even more daunting as the cli - breeding and management technologies. Among its success - mate changes. es, Livestock Gentec has pioneered the development of tests Making sense of DNA sequencing, ALEs animal In the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental for genome-wide association studies in cattle, which will help biologist specializes in bioinformatics Sciences, researchers have set out to address the shortfalls in breed cattle that are more resilient against disease. Helen Metella food production by applying innovative genomic technologies “Genomics has already delivered tangible results but the to some of Canada’s largest agricultural industries. greatest gains have yet to be realized,” says Plastow. Improvements to food production in these industries—in - He and colleagues throughout the faculty have focused their cluding both crops and livestock—could impact billions of efforts on genomics’ promise in industries with an enormous people around the world for generations to come, says scien - impact on federal and provincial economies, as well as the na - Information overload is a growing chemistry and molecular biology, sci- However, when the genomes of tists who are leading the tional and international food sup- problem in animal science, so entists can now characterize the entire many animals are sequenced—for charge. ply. In beef cattle, Plastow’s team researchers are inventing tools to genome of an animal (its total DNA) in example, a thousand head of cattle— “I believe passionately “To do genomics is targeting the DNA sequencing of manage it—and a significant portion mere hours instead of years. Obtaining the amount of data generated is that agriculture is one of research, you animals by looking at ways to im - of that problem solving in Canada this sequence information is a key overwhelming. the grand challenges for the prove their health and welfare. For is happening in the Department of step towards understanding the he- To organize and digest it, a relative- world at the moment. We’re need a lot of cattle and pigs, a goal of genomic Agricultural, Food and Nutritional reditary instructions that control what ly new science called bioinformatics still growing the world’s pop- data on your research is to find ways to select Science (AFNS). cells do, and contributes to differences has become hugely important in the ulation. Access to sufficient animals that will produce more re- Thanks to recent advances in between individuals. past decade. food, and the right food, is animals.” silient offspring and that are more

32 GREENHOUSE SPRING 2018 33 An image created in Paul it harder to harvest because they lodge (fall over). Stothard's research group, Through transcriptomics (the study of RNA molecules in using software they created to cells), she is comparing plant lines that overproduce gibber - visualize bacterial genomes. ellin, and those that don’t, to see exactly what the hormone is Here more than 100 E. coli doing to stimulate more starch and bigger seeds. genomes are compared to a “By understanding that, we can cherry-pick aspects that in - single reference genome to crease the key aspect of partitioning just in the seeds and not identify shared and unique have it affect the stature of the plant,” she says. genetic features. Each ring in With several key pathways now identified, next she wants the figure depicts the genome to “very logically look at each pathway to see how you can modify them by traditional genetics or modern techniques.” of a different E. coli isolate. The answers have great potential to be applicable in other Segments are coloured to crops, too, says Ozga. Plants such as wheat also have genes that indicate their similarity to the reduce sensitivity to gibberellin, and lodging in wheat is an reference genome. undesirable trait it would be beneficial to avoid when increas - ing yield. These researchers emphasize that their work requires close collaboration with partners outside the university. Genome Canada, a not-for-profit organization funded by the Yang’s team developed software called the Barley Breeding Government of Canada, places high priority on agriculture re - Platform, which brings phenotypic and genomic data together. search, and has granted nearly $40 million in funding to faculty They are now working on an updated version with more infor - members at the University of Alberta over the last few years. mation, allowing breeders to select varieties based on multiple Genome Canada, in turn, asks researchers to co-fund from genomic traits. other sources, both government-related like Agriculture and “This will be very important to the agriculture industry in AgriFood Canada and Alberta Agriculture and Food, and Canada. We need to produce high-quality, disease-free wheat industry. and barley crops to be competitive globally,” he says. This broad collaboration allows for a pooling of ideas and To increase yield in field peas, crop scientist Jocelyn Ozga funds, resulting in large-scale and practical projects, says is studying how the plant “partitions” nutrients and sugars to Michael Dyck, a professor and animal physiologist in the either its seeds or its roots. Her goal is to get more food to the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science seeds to increase their size and yield. who conducts genome research in pigs. She already knows that when the levels of the hormone gib - “Part of Genome Canada’s mandate is to develop and imple - berellin are higher in the developing seed, more of the sugar ment genomic research that benefits Canadians and sectors of does indeed get partitioned to the seed. But too much of the hor- agriculture and various sectors. We’ll have a local impact but mone makes the plant itself longer and thinner, and that makes there’s potential to have an international impact as well.”

“We use computers and software he says. The development of a DNA test be- tremendous opportunities for identify- have created genetic tests to increase understand the risks associated with to make genomic comparisons, to tell “Before the use of DNA testing, gins with tracking down DNA samples ing the genes and DNA differences that hybrid vigour in cattle, and have iden- waste water reuse. us where the differences exist, so we selective breeding was done on the from enough animals with informa- affect traits because a great deal of tified new genes that govern immune The software tools he and his team can relate that to other characteristics, basis of the observable characteristics tion recorded on the trait of interest. information on animal phenotypes has response and feed processing. create are also shared with the world’s such as milk production and feed effi- of an animal or its close relatives,” says Genome sequencing is then performed, been collected, says Stothard. Stothard’s skills in bioinformat- research community. ciency,” says Paul Stothard, a biologist Stothard. and the resulting data analyzed to “A lot of other researchers in AFNS ics are also in demand elsewhere. “They are used by hundreds of specializing in bioinformatics and “But sometimes the physical char- first find the differences in the DNA have embarked on large-scale projects Collaborating with a UAlberta research- people daily and have been cited in genomics in the Department of AFNS. acteristics of an animal can’t tell you sequences, and then to correlate those involving the use of DNA sequencing. er in biological sciences, he is charac- thousands of studies. So that’s another Knowing the connections between everything you want to know, or it’s differences with the trait. Additional Bioinformatics is an important part of terizing the genomes of bacteriophag- impact of our work. DNA is the com- genomic traits and animal character- a trait that’s difficult to observe, such work can then be done to verify the all of these studies, and we contribute es (viruses that infect bacteria). With mon thread across all these studies istics then allows scientists to develop as milk production—dairy bulls carry influence of specific DNA sites on phe- in any way we can.” researchers in the School of Public and it applies to everything, from specific DNA tests that allow producers those genes but they are only ex- notype (observable characteristics). Already, in collaboration with Health, he is identifying microorgan- viruses to bacteria, invertebrates to to breed efficiently and inexpensively, pressed in their daughters.” Livestock production creates Stothard, the department’s researchers isms present in treated waste water, to mammals to plants.”

34 GREENHOUSE SPRING 2018 35 EYE IN THE

Drone technology research helps precision ranching develop new tools for success BY CAIT WILLS

s a boy, John Church idolized Colonel Steve Austin. One of his most fascinating bionic enhancements was his eye, which allowed him to see with a 20x optical zoom. Today, Church (BSC, Ag '91) uses drone technology to develop new tools for ranchers—but his zoom capabili - ties are 180 times better than the Six Million Dollar Man. The technology he uses is an RBG camera of orthomo - siacs of pastures, which can be used to assess plant vol - ume. There are also multispectral, hyperspectral and LiDAR (light detecting and ranging) sensing methods. Through building a map of land using a non-distorted image to create a mosaic, farmers are able to see their land down to the last inch, says Church. “Each pixel captured by the drone is representative of approximately 2.5 centime - Atres,” he says. “This is price effective technology that has never before An orthomosiac of the Roy Berg been available at this level.” Kinsella Ranch, located about 150 PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS kilometres east of Edmonton. At its most basic level, the rangeland and pasture manage - ment that can be developed through this technology will al - low farmers to find individual weeds for treatment instead of having to commit to broadcast application. Church, who is the

SPRING 2018 37 “It is the right analysis at the right time, which helps advance our work.”

had the dubious distinction of breaking a 131-year heat record. Across the parched state, plants and animals felt the impact of this unprecedented meteorological occurrence. On July 8, the Porterville Recorder in the San Joaquin Valley reported that the June 30 state of emergency would be extend - ed by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. The reason: an WHAT THE NEW FARMER estimated 4,000 to 6,000 cattle had died in the last month of NEEDS TO KNOW heat exhaustion and rendering facilities were over capacity. Tulare County, nestled west of Sequoia National Forest, is (a glossary of terms) known as the most productive county in the United States in terms of agricultural revenue, at $3.5 billion USD annually. The ORTHOMOSIAC: dairy industry typically generates revenue of about $1 billion USD a year, and farmers in Tulare County often say there are An aerial photograph geometrically nearly more cows than people—200 dairy farmers and 380,000 corrected so that the scale is uniform; cows were the count in 2017. This was before the heat wave. the photo has the same lack of distortion By using drone technology, Church plans to assess heat as a map. It is used to measure true stress in cattle at both the Kinsella Ranch and the Mattheis Ranch, both important research sites for the faculty. “The distance because of that lack of distortion. thermal camera that provides 30x optical zoom will provide us And, Church says, because each pixel with important information in these hotter summers,” he says. of an orthomosiac is geotagged, plant One of the reasons why the cattle at these ranch sites are so in - identification can be managed through GPS tegral to this work, he says, is because the faculty uses primar - entry. “You can walk right up to the plant, B.C. regional innovation chair in cattle industry sustainability ily Angus, which have black coats, over Charolais, which are using orthomosiac technology.” and associate professor of cattle research at Thompson Rivers light coloured. University, says drone technology will also help with estimat - “No one is really asking the question about how heat stress ing underground carbon sequestration by plants, the location will impact cattle long term,” he says. Given the increase of Li DAR and measurement of biomass and optimal times for moving temperatures globally—“we may see temperatures go up cattle to the next pasture. two, five or even 10 degrees over the next decade”—assessing REMOTE SENSING: "I’ll be compiling data using drones, which have an advan - heat stress is important work now, which will have long-term tage over satellites because satellite data is often compromised implications. Uses light in the form of pulsed light to because of cloud cover," he says. "With drones, you can fly low And it all started right here. measure ranges of variable distances and slow. John Church earned his undergraduate degree from through reflected energy. Multispectral “We regularly fly as low as 40 metres,” says Church, which the Faculty of ALES in 1991. He then went to Delhousie LiDAR sensors acquire data at different means that the cattle that are being monitored are far enough University—“it’s important to spread out your education,” wavelengths and the hyperspectral LiDAR away not be panicked by the noise of sight of the drone, but are he says—before returning to the Department of Agricultural, close enough to be monitored with the sophisticated imagery Food and Nutritional Sciences (AFNS) to study under Bob systems provide greater possibilities for available through the on-board cameras. Hudson who, according to Church is the “father of precision remote sensing of [plants]. According “Farmers have a saying, ‘Take calf, leave half,’” says Church. ranching”. to research conducted by the Finnish Top: John Church. “This type of pasture management will be more precise and, “Dr. Bob knew we didn’t have the tools to be precise, but he Geodetic Institute, hyperspectral LiDAR has Bottom: A thermal therefore, more cost effective.” knew they were coming,” says Church. “It’s exciting for me to reading of the heat a significant impact on remote sensing and emanating from cattle But there are bigger implications, of course … come back to the University of Alberta and realize his vision 20 other fields where target(ed) 3D detection that are not under heat In the summer of 2017 a heatwave struck California. In June, years later.” stress. media reports said that California was seeing some of the high - The idea of precision ranching was coined in the early and identification is crucial.

est temperatures ever recorded; three weeks later, Los Angeles COURTESY IMAGE TOP THOMPSON OF RIVERS UNIVERSITY '00s by a number of researchers in the Department of AFNS,

38 GREENHOUSE SPRING 2018 39 THE ALUMNI CLUB

This image is the NDVI map of the Kinsella Ranch. The red spots are Cameron Carlyle’s research sites .

“Analogous to precision agriculture, which is all about doing “We can monitor forage the best land management possible, is the work we are doing,” says Carlyle. “It is the right analysis at the right time, which production as well as carbon helps advance our work so much.” PHOTO BY CAIT WILLS in the soil.” “What may take a human a week in a pasture to review and analyze can be completed by a drone tour in about 20 min - utes,” he says. including Bob Hudson and Edward Bork, who is now the direc - By looking specifically at heat stress in cattle, and at vege - tor of the Rangeland Research Institute. tation, to determine the frequency of drought due to climate An entire herd of the famed Hays a final 20 females will complete the “The concept is quite simple,” says Bork. “It was a spin off of change, the research Church and Carlyle will conduct while HISTORIC BEEF Converter beef cattle breed now has transfer. ‘precision farming’; the latter of which generally tries to opti - Church is on sabbatical with the faculty should have signifi - CATTLE HERD a new home within the Faculty of The move happened in December mize the application of costly inputs into cropland—including cant impacts for landowners. Agricultural, Life and Environmental 2017, after the Hays family announced fertilizer, water and pesticides—across complex landscapes at “We can monitor forage production as well as carbon in the MOVES INTO Sciences. its intention to donate in 2015. Unlike just the right timing and rate of application in order to maxi - soil,” says Carlyle. “Ranchlands are such a large ecosystem they FACULTY OF ALES The herd was donated to the donating money, donating animals or mize crop production. can be used to sequester carbon,” and this research could have HAYS CONVERTERS faculty’s livestock genomics program land involves an emotional attachment, “Precision ranching, in turn, was conceived as the process financial implications for rangeland management, he says. by retired senator Dan Hays, the son says Barry Irving, manager of the of optimizing the timing and spatial distribution of livestock— “Could producers be paid a carbon offset to sequester carbon?” DONATED TO of the late senator Harry Hays, who research ranch. potentially containing multiple species like bison, cattle, elk LIVESTOCK GENOMICS developed the breed in southern “Especially a named herd like this and deer that have complementary diets—in order to simulta - WHAT’S NEXT Alberta in the 1950s. one that’s named after a family. It’s neously organize both animal production and long-term sus - Like all good scientific inquiry, this high-end technology PROGRAM BY Eighty breeding females and five like giving away a little of yourself,” tainability of rangeland resources.” raises as many questions as it answers. With these high-tech FAMILY THAT bulls are now housed at the Roy he says. A lofty endeavour, but one the Rangeland Research Institute drones at his fingertips, Church will be using his sabbatical DEVELOPED BREED Berg Kinsella Research Station, 150 The Hays Converter represents a handles adeptly by supporting research projects led by Church year in ALES to develop precision ranching for use by fam - kilometres east of Edmonton, where significant part of Canada’s agricultural and Cam Carlyle, who is an assistant professor of range - ers around the globe. Thanks to his ability to stay above the BY HELEN METELLA the faculty researchers and students history. It was the first beef breed land ecology in the Department of Agricultural, Food and ground, but get down to the dirt, he is confident these tools study beef cattle breeding with its developed by a Canadian livestock Nutritional Science . will help hone precision ranching in the 21st century. existing head of 850 cattle. This fall, producer, which was recognized as a

40 GREENHOUSE SPRING 2018 41 THE ALUMNI CLUB

In my view, this is a TRAINING PEOPLE HOW TO TRANSFORM THEIR WORLD fantastic opportunity for ESTABLISHED TO SHARE AGRICULTURAL EXPERTISE OVERSEAS, AGRITEAM NOW IMPROVES LIVES ON MULTIPLE FRONTS our genetics students. addition to his IN remarkable career as BY HELEN METELLA a lawyer, humanitarian and senator, Dan Hays became As a student at the University of Alberta, from the University of Calgary) and do- agriculture officials were approached involved in the livestock Bob Francis famously did not let a ing coursework for a master’s in agri- by Saudi Arabian royalty who wanted business as a breeder, significant opportunity slip by him just cultural economics. While also working someone to build a domestic sheep exhibitor and marketer. He because it involved several unfamiliar part time for Canada’s Department of industry for them, they remembered and his father operated tasks—and by nurturing that trait ever Agriculture, he learned that local sheep Francis and recommended him. a large mixed farm and since he has built a remarkable career. producers wanted Alberta to help them Despite negotiating with the Saudis Francis, ’80 B.Sc. (Ag) is the founder, import a planeload of bargain-priced for several years, Francis never final- ranch near Pekisko in the president and CEO of Agriteam, which breeding stock from New Zealand. ized a contract. “But it gave me the Foothills southwest of delivers management and technical Realizing the provincial government idea to set up a consulting company Calgary. expertise to 26 countries in a dizzying wasn’t interested in the rigmarole to do large-scale agricultural projects Harry Hays died in 1982, array of sectors. Its current projects of transferring sheep to individual overseas,” he says. but his son continued range from designing an HIV-AIDs producers in small batches, Francis His first contract was with an Asian to operate the ranch for surveillance system in Pakistan to created a business plan, found a development bank guiding the market- developing a computer system for land venture capitalist and chartered a DC-8 ing of livestock in Indonesia. That led to another 18 years. In 2000, titles in Columbia to training the new stretch jet to fly 806 purebred sheep to other overseas projects in agricultural Dan Hays sold the bulk police force in Ukraine. Alberta. At the time, it was the largest policy and extension training, such as of his ranch lands, but “The thread that connects all of this? importation of livestock by air into exporting Uruguayan meat to North maintained his herd of We do capacity building,” says Francis North America and, not surprisingly, America. This experience, like the ones Hays Converters. from his company’s headquarters in the Canadian government did not have before, helped create Agriteam, which SENATOR DAN HAYS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOHN ULAN Through the work being Calgary. “We help governments and in- a big enough quarantine location. was founded in 1986. stitutions build the capacity to perform “So we turned our family ranch While the company’s roots were in done by Livestock Gentec, the functions they need to do.” (in Priddis) into a private quarantine agriculture, Francis responded to new pure breed and registered under the eventual importation of European led by Graham Plastow, Francis’ zest for solving multifaceted facility,” says Francis. “I dropped out opportunities by rapidly diversifying, provisions of the Animal Pedigree Act breeds in the 1960s, and is now used a research relationship problems featuring many moving parts of grad school, sold enough sheep to a decision that set him apart from his in Canada. for commercial beef production by formed between Dan Hays surfaced early. pay off the Alberta investors and went competition, he says. The company Harry Hays’ decision to crossbreed just three breeders (in Quebec and and Plastow. That research, In 1979, he was completing two (into) farming.” now works in projects concerning agri- cattle was also controversial for the Manitoba), it is helpful in genetic in the case of the Hays bachelors of science (he also has one Several years later, when Canadian culture, the environment, education, time, when purebred selection was research. Converters, looks at the the common practice. However, Hays “It’s a crossbreed between two very Agriteam has programs around the world that help address issues of social injustice and inequality. wanted to develop a breed that would well-known genomes, the Hereford traits of the cows, including convert feed to lean meat as efficiently and Holstein,” says Irving. “The value carcass weight, marbling as possible in the harsh conditions of of that herd is that it unlocks the and milk production, as Western Canada’s rangelands. At the complexity of those crosses.” well as feed efficiency, time (1940s to 1960s), cattle could not Researchers at Livestock Gentec, the which are the results of be imported from Europe to Canada UAlberta-based centre that researches optimal genetics. because of fears of spreading foot and the commercial benefits of genomics mouth disease. in the livestock industry, are keen to The hope is that research By combining the genetics of the get started working with the Hays done on the Kinsella Hereford, Holstein and Brown Swiss Converters. ranch through Livestock breeds, Hays selected not just for “In my view, this is also a fantastic Gentec will result in hardiness, but for fast growth, sound opportunity for our genetics students transnational outcomes feet, easy calving and good milk to gain firsthand experience of for Alberta beef producers, production and fertility. managing genetic improvement for a Although the popularity of the Hays breed,” says Graham Plastow, CEO of says Plastow. Converter breed was usurped by the Livestock Gentec. SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

42 GREENHOUSE SPRING 2018 43 THE ALUMNI CLUB

“We are moving societies to a better state and are IN MEMORIAM having impact on government policy making.” The Faculty of ALES notes with regret the passing of its following alumni:

DOROTHY MURIEL ROSS NANCY-JEAN CORNELL HEUTHER ROBERT WILLIAM CROMARTY ‘36 BSc(HEc), of Edmonton, AB, (YORK) ‘57 BSc(Ag), ‘60 MSc, of Richland, WA, in September 2017 ‘49 BSc(HEc), of New Westminster, BC, in October 2017 HELEN MAUD GIBSON in February 2017 MARYETTA HARPER (THORNTON) ‘40 BSc(HEc), of Victoria, BC, PATRICIA SCHLOSSER ‘60 BSc(HEc), of Edmonton, AB, in February 2008 ‘50 BSc (HEc), of Edmonton, AB, in October 2017 ARDYCE MARGUERITE SYME in February 2018 (REYNOLDS) ROY LEONARD MILLAR ‘40 BSc(HEc), of Victoria, BC, ‘50 BSc(Ag), ‘52 MSc, of Prairie Village, About Pat Schlosser in October 2014 KS, in August 2017 A prairie girl at heart, Pat had a RENA ELVES (WISHART) WALTER LEROY MCNARY love of nature, which was reflected ‘41 BSc(HEc), of Calgary, AB, ‘51 BSc(Ag), of Camrose, AB, in her beautiful gardens and in February 2016 in September 2017 her reverence for the changing CHARLOTTE MARIAN RATTRAY ALEXANDER BAILLIE MORRISON seasons. Believing in giving back Agriteam works on projects involving agriculture, education, government restructuring and public health. ‘41 BSc(HEc), of Edmonton, AB, ‘51 BSc(Ag), ‘52 MSc, of Bountiful, UT, ‘‘to one’s community, Pat was part in April 2015 in February 2018 of a group of families who donated AMELIA C. AYRE (CHABAN) MARGARET ANNE BELL (HANSEN) a special parcel of land near Devon government restructuring and have hope. A lot of those problems are since he began working in this field. ‘42 BSc(HEc), of BC, in December 2016 ‘52 BSc(HEc), of Chandler, AZ, Alberta for future generations to public health. avoidable if we help those countries Both Thailand and South Korea were GERDINE MCPHEE in October 2017 enjoy. “The core aspects of business devel- develop and prosper,” he says. “We eligible for foreign aid back then, he ‘42 BSc(HEc), of Gibsons, BC, JOHN K. CHURCH opment and management of activities need to develop countries so compa- says. Both are now robust trading in March 2015 ‘52 BSc(Ag), of Calgary, AB, GUENTER WILHELM RIEDEL were common among all the sectors,” nies are prepared to invest there, to partners with Canada. SIDNEY BERNARD SLEN in October 2017 ‘62 BSc(Ag), ‘67 PhD, of Ottawa, ON, says Francis. “We just needed to hire generate opportunities and a tax base. Equally satisfying to Francis are ‘42 BA, ‘43 BSc(Ag), of Lethbridge, AB, PATRICIA JEAN DUGGAN in February 2018 specialists for different projects—so We need better skills; a better rule of the changes he sees in individual in December 2017 ‘53 BSc(HEc), of Atlanta, GA, RONALD CLYDE KRAUSE we hired lawyers, health specialists, law. Our aid program in Canada is one Canadians he employs. KATHLEEN DORIS IRVING in April 2017 ‘67 BSc(Ag), of Calgary, AB, people with master’s and PhDs in of the vehicles that can help those “We live in a nice, secure, well-man- ‘43 BSc(HEc), of Calgary, AB, JOHN MARKOVICH in October 2017 education.” countries develop.” aged part of the world. I take someone in September 2016 ‘53 BSc(Ag), of Edmonton, AB, DOUGLAS BRUCE PATTERSON Today, Agriteam employs almost Francis points to concrete examples from Canada to South Sudan to work FRANCES ELEANOR LELAH KOHN in November 2017 ‘70 BSc(Ag), of Calgary, AB, 100 full-time Canadians, another 300 of how development aid has already and they come back another person— ’44 BSc(HEc) of Delta, BC, JAMES ANDREW LORE in January 2018 to 400 on contract, and approximately transformed countries in the 32 years more enlightened, more global.” in December 2017 ‘54 BSc(Ag), of Carstairs, AB, KAREN DALE LOUIE (MIMURA) 1,000 local staff in field offices around LESLIE R. WETTER in December 2017 ‘77, BSc(HEc), of Calgary, AB, the world. It is hired by development ‘44 BSc(Ag), ‘46 MSc, ‘50 PhD, of in November 2017 banks, governments and non-govern- Saskatoon, SK, in December 2010 About Jim Lore THERESE GERMAINE BEAUDOIN mental organizations, and also works JOHN STUART BLACKIE Jim liked to quote the artist (LAPLANTE) in partnership with universities, such ‘47 BSc(Ag), of St. Albert, AB, Charlie Russell who said that if ‘78 BSc(HEc), of Edmonton, AB, as it’s doing on a maternal and child in November 2017 you can make your living doing in September 2017 health project in Tanzania with the NORMA ADELAIDE ROBERTSON what you like, you are one of BERTHA SOLVEIG EGGERTSON University of Calgary. (SMITH) God’s truly blessed. He always (ANDREASSEN) At first glance, the projects seem ‘48 BSc(HEc), of Edmonton, AB, said that he was one of those. ‘82 MSc, of Calgary, AB, wildly diverse, but in fact, “we are mov- in December 2017 ‘‘ in December 2017 ing societies to a better state and are WILLIAM PHILIP CAMPBELL CALVIN CECIL CIBART ANNE MARY HODGSON having impact on government policy- ‘49 BSc(Ag), of Nepean, ON, ‘55 BSc(Ag), of Regina, SK, (HUTCHINSON) making that, in turn, has an impact on in December 2017 in August 2017 ‘87 MSc, of Maple Bay, BC, people’s livelihoods,” says Francis. CONNOR L. EDWARDS EILEEN ETHNE QUINN (BRETT) in November 2017 “A lot of the problems we have in ‘49 BSc(Ag), of Three Hills, AB, ‘56 BSc(HEc), of North Vancouver, BC, DARLENE BARTKOWSKI, BSC(HEC) the world—radicalization and migra- in April 2015 in September 2016 ‘92 of Edmonton, AB, in January 2018

tion—are a result of people who don’t SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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2-06 Agriculture/Forestry Centre University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2P5

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