Since the introduction of radio and television, fans have had a connection to those they know in the media. These connections are called “parasocial relationships” and they are one-sided relationships, usually between a fan and a celebrity, that is usually not face-to-face. With the advent of social media, any person, or company, can become a […]

Given the current global environmental crisis, developing sustainable solutions to enhance or replace our current agricultural practices is critical: the agricultural sector exerts important environmental pressure through its aggressive land, water and pesticide usage combined with the ever increasing demand on food supply. Mitigating this problem requires developing more sustainable and efficient agricultural techniques. Precisely, […]

A typical individual will encounter countless instances in their life where various stressors, such as the consumption of alcohol, ingestion of pain relieving medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or experiencing stress itself, may damage ones intestines in a way they never knew was possible. All of these stressors have been associated with increased […]

Crop losses and the economic impact caused by canola insect pests is substantial, depending on outbreak conditions. With the predicted de-registration of two key insecticides, canola producers are potential subject to greater economic losses. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), also known as predatory nematodes, are commercially available biocontrol agents for the management of insect pests. Although below-ground […]

Modern pesticides have revolutionized agriculture. However, growing concerns with pest resistance, environmental run-off, and a lack of capacity to deal with abiotic stresses associated with drought or extreme heat (critical issues with regards to climate change) demand new solutions. Suncor has developed new plant immune aids that address these challenges by fortifying the immunity of […]

In this project, computer based models will be developed to support operational harvest planning suitable for the use by a large forest products company operating in British Columbia, Canada. The models aims to enhance decision making processes related to equipment/crew allocation, scheduling, transportation and vehicle routing. Findings of this project will have the potential to […]

Dairy cattle are exposed to stressors that negatively impact health, fertility, welfare and production. Health and climate experts predict that exposure to stressors (i.e. pathogens and extreme temperature events) will increase as climate conditions continue to destabilize. Due to increased antimicrobial resistance, there is urgent need to explore alternative strategies to promote animal health; it […]

Rural and indigenous communities in Canada experience energy poverty due to poor quality housing, lower incomes, high fuel costs, limited access to natural gas, and in some cases no access to grid electricity. Ecotrust Canada’s Community Energy Initiative seeks to address Energy Poverty by improving access to affordable heat in rural and indigenous communities across […]

The cannabis boom in Canada is reaching a full swing. At the same time, the research on agricultural and medicinal cannabis is still lagging behind. Cannabis is typically grown at high density in the contained environment. Such conditions lead to high pathogen pressure. Fungal pathogens like those causing powdery mildew, grey and white mold result […]

In collaboration between Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and Beaver Meadow Farms (BMF), we propose to investigate the invasive foreign red seaweed Mazzaella Japonica as a food additive for ruminant livestock, primarily cattle. BMF is a multi-faceted agricultural company based on northern Vancouver Island built around organic pasture-raised cattle but also the harvest of storm-cast Mazzaella […]

There are major areas of uncertainty concerning the exploitation and management of the sea cucumber (C. frondosa) industry in Atlantic Canada. This research project will address these gaps and give stakeholders a better understanding of C. frondosa, in order to make the best possible decisions relative to its management and conservation. The proposed research will […]

We have developed a model that simulates currents, nutrient distributions, and plankton growth in the Salish Sea. This project focuses on continued development of that model and its application to answering scientific questions. These questions include: 1) How much does the timing and amount of plankton growth vary from year to year, and what factors […]