students in a conservation research field

Conservation deal protects Mattheis Ranch

Deal will see 12,000-acre ranch near Duchess permanently protected and $3.8 million used to fund ongoing research

Reading Time: 2 minutes The University of Alberta and Western Sky Land Trust have signed one of the largest-ever conservation easement agreements in the province. The deal not only guarantees the university’s 12,000-acre Rangeland Research Institute-Mattheis Ranch will be conserved forever, but also creates a $3.8-million research fund. Western Sky Land Trust is providing the money, but the agreement […] Read more

Two U of A students given young scientist awards

Reading Time: < 1 minute Two student scientists were announced as winners of the R.O. Ball Young Scientist award at the recent 2015 Banff Pork Seminar. The award, named after researcher and former seminar director Dr. Ron Ball, recognizes graduate students who provide a best overall combination of good and relevant science, a well-written abstract, and excellent presentation. The first […] Read more


research scientist in a lab coat

Digital meat-grading scanner making its way to the processing floor

The device developed at U of A uses near infrared 
and visible light to detect fat and meat colour

Reading Time: < 1 minute Grading is an important step for processors, and the industry has traditionally used human graders to measure qualities such as marbling, as well as fat colour and texture. But processors are now moving towards electronic grading tools and technology. Technologies such as the Computer Vision System’s BeefCam module have achieved up to 64 per cent […] Read more

man in antique agricultural museum

Curator of ag faculty museum has a passion for preserving history

Reading Time: 2 minutes Fourteen years ago, Jack Francis began a letter-writing campaign, urging the University of Alberta to create a museum to house artifacts from its ag faculty. And when he got a positive response, he stepped up to the plate. “If one suggests something, you have to do something about it and help support it,” he said. […] Read more


discussion panel at the University of Alberta

U of A agriculture school celebrates centennial

Faculty has made extensive contributions provincially, nationally and internationally

Reading Time: 2 minutes It’s a big birthday party that will go on all year, and hundreds of people are invited. The University of Alberta’s agriculture faculty will be celebrating its centennial until November 2015. The school opened in 1915 with only 16 students but today, the rechristened faculty of agriculture, life and environmental sciences (ALES) has 1,500 undergraduates, […] Read more

Alberta Barley scholarships awarded

Reading Time: < 1 minute Larisa Jancewicz, Laurel Perrott, and Alireza Akhavan, are the recipients of the first annual Alberta Barley scholarships. Perrott is from Whitecourt, currently works as an agronomic adviser for Cargill in Vermilion, and is about to begin her master’s program at the University of Alberta. She will be researching intensive agronomic practices to maximize feed barley […] Read more


lab scientist

U of A at forefront of effort to create super-kibble

University has expertise in what’s good for Fido and Ginger — and will
 soon have a new $1.5-million machine for making better kibble

Reading Time: 2 minutes An increasing number of North Americans now view their pets as their children — and that’s not only made the pet food industry a very big business, but is changing what goes into their feed bowls. “Just like you see an increasing emphasis in the human population relating to food and health, the same is […] Read more

Man in suit with a green leaf background.

Stan Blade chosen new agriculture dean at U of A

Reading Time: 2 minutes A veteran of Albertan agricultural research has been named the next dean of the faculty of agricultural, life and environmental sciences at the University of Alberta. Stan Blade, currently chief executive officer of Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions, will assume his new role Aug. 1, replacing John Kennelly, who will remain in the department after a […] Read more