In 2018, Health Canada proposed to phase out all agricultural uses of thiamethoxam and clothianidin neonicotinoids. However, after a comprehensive review, Health Canada decided (in March 2021) not to implement any changes for the use of neonicotinoids in canola production. While many stakeholders in the Canadian agriculture industry are pleased that Health Canada changed its […]

The broad objectives of this project are: I. To reduce the risk of emerging infectious diseases related to poultry; and II. To improve Alberta poultry industry productivity and profitability. To reach these broad objectives we will address 3 specific objectives: 1) Determine what the knowledge needs of the poultry industry are and how knowledge is […]

Efficient animal production with a reduced environmental impact requires healthy animals, higher performance, increased feed conversion, and the use of available nutrients. The improvement of those traits could be accomplished by understanding how the gut microbiome plays a vital role in nutrient digestion and feed efficiency. Also, applying a reliable sorting tool allows identifying pigs […]

One of the practical methods for treating powdery mildew is to use a UV lighting system carried by an autonomous robot. The height of the plants can be different from one greenhouse to another or even within the same greenhouse. Hence, having a varying-height UV lighting system would be essential. . To enhance the robot’s […]

The goal of the study is to track Chinook Salmon migrations and determine the factors that influence an individual’s migration decisions. We will catch juvenile Chinook Salmon and release them back into the ocean after placing small electronic devices inside their bodies that will allow us to track their migrations. As a result, we will […]

This project aims to improve the success rate of bringing innovation to market by determining the effectiveness of various types of non-financial support mechanisms. Ag-West Bio’s services include mentorship, business planning, technical resources and training to startup companies in food and agricultural biosciencs. However, the path for agriculture technology is unique. Compared to other types […]

The goal of the research is to develop and optimize in-planta assays for evaluating low-risk disease suppression compounds/formulations produced by Suncor and Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) techniques. The screening projects will be conducted in controlled environment growth facilities, with the goal of eventually moving the trials into a greenhouse environment. Current agriculturally important plant pathogens that […]

North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is a medicinal crop that was used by indigenous people in North America to treat aliments from headache to indigestion. Today, most of the North American ginseng is produced in shaded gardens in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is a prized health supplement in traditional Asian medicine, making this an […]

The goal of the partnership is to develop genomic tools to enhance BC’s new sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) aquaculture industry. Specifically, we will expand the parentage analysis project launched in 2019, produce a new genetic test that we can use to determine the sex (male vs female) of each fish, and use whole genome sequencing to […]

The University of Lethbridge and the Alberta Beekeepers Commission are working together to improve the health of Alberta’s honey bees. Beekeepers in Alberta face high levels of colony winter loss, and they have also had difficulty accessing quality imported queens. ‘Poor queens’ are one of the most common reasons for winter loss cited by beekeepers. […]

Dans la foulée du déluge de juillet 1996, une grande partie des rives de la rivière à Mars furent enrochées, ce qui leur assure une relative stabilité. Toutefois, si les enrochements permettent bien de contrôler l’érosion des berges, les études démontrent que ces ouvrages sont la cause d’environnements artificiels et écologiquement pauvres. Selon les études […]

The goal of the project is to develop a slow-release fertilizer in a chemical reaction wherein salts are impregnated into the pores of a feedstock material; either biomass or biochar. This will not only allow for prolonged nutrient retention and absorption by plants in the soil, but it will also act to sequester carbon in […]