Research
The Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science (AFNS) is committed to achieving excellence in the discovery and dissemination of knowledge to meet the growing demands for safe and nutritious foods, bioproducts, and healthy human environments. Boasting nationally and internationally recognized professors and more than 250 graduate students, the Department offers world-class research programs in primary production and rangeland management, plant and animal sciences, food and agri-food products, and human nutrition and wellness.
AFNS attracted over $43 million in research funding during the 2010/2011 fiscal year. The academic staff, consisting of 64 professors, 27 adjunct professors and 54 postdoctoral fellows, was responsible for 276 refereed publications and nearly 500 extension publications/presentations. Professors with the department received numerous awards during this period, including the 2010 Alberta Science and Technology (ASTech) award, presented to Lloyd Dosdall for his development of pest-resistant canola, and the Premier’s Food For Health award, presented to Drs. Feral Temelli and Thava Vasanthan for their development of a cost effective method for extracting a cholesterol lowering substance from barley and oats.
Animal Science research spans a number of disciplines, including animal nutrition and metabolism, sustainable management, physiology, molecular genetics, genomics, reproductive efficiency and prenatal development, ethology, and carcass and meat quality. Research programs address issues of importance to the beef, dairy, swine, and poultry industries such as food safety, food quality, production efficiency and sustainability, and environmental health. >>more
Food Science and Bioresource Technology research takes an integrated approach to value-added utilization of agricultural commodities, targeting both food and industrial products. Research programs exist in food microbiology, food processing, food engineering and bioresource technology. Research addresses consumer demand for food safety and quality, develops food processing technologies, creates innovative food and industrial products, and develops valuable bioproducts from agricultural commodities and waste. >> more
Human Nutrition research explores the links between nutrition and human health. Research programs span a number of disciplines including nutrition and metabolism, physiology, immunology, epidemiology, nutritional assessment, community nutrition, and public health. Research activities are strategically focused on health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer, infant and child health and community nutrition, with the ultimate goal of preventing diseases and enhancing the quality of human life. >> more
Plant Biosystems research crosses many disciplines in the areas of plant physiology, biochemistry, plant breeding, pest biology and management, weed management, plant pathology, and rangeland management. Research programs cover both traditional and new crops including canola, triticale, barley, wheat, peas, potato, forage crops and saskatoon berries and address issues of crop improvement and production efficiency, sustainable agriculture and environmental health, and development of new plant-derived products for health and industrial applications. >> more