Research projects

Overview

Climate change (CC) is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today. Climate is arguably the most important agro-ecosystem factor for crops, but also for fungi. Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are reducing crop resilience, making them more vulnerable to pests, which leads to increased pesticide application rates—pesticides that can harm public health and the environment. The agricultural use of certain pesticides has been phased out, particularly those classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Pesticide residues can nevertheless be found in a wide variety of foods, including animal feed, and subsequently in the tissues of animals intended for human consumption. Climate is the most influential factor in the life cycle of fungi and their ability to colonize crops, survive, and produce toxins. Mycotoxins are a group of harmful toxins produced by certain types of fungi, including molds. The negative effects are well known in livestock at high doses (liver and kidney disorders, vomiting and anorexia, immunosuppression, reproductive problems), but less visible effects, such as those on the digestive tract, are underestimated. Mycotoxin management is therefore a top priority for livestock producers worldwide, and the anticipated increase in carbon emissions poses a real threat. Industries are under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, and agriculture is no exception. Ingredient production accounts for 60 to 70% of the carbon footprint of pork and poultry production in Canada. In Eastern Canada, corn production is the largest contributor to carbon emissions, as it relies heavily on intensive annual monocultures that use high-carbon-impact inputs such as pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers, which harm soil health. It is therefore becoming important to consider replacing it in animal feed. In Canada, 8.2% of CO2 emissions are attributable to agriculture, while 40% are attributable to food loss and waste (FLW). This FLW accounts for 60% of all food produced. FLW has impacts on climate change, and the sector must reduce it. Current methods of food waste disposal include composting, anaerobic digestion, and landfilling, but animal feed is by far the best option in the context of climate change. Feeding food waste to livestock is an age-old practice that is emerging as a preferred solution in strategies to reduce climate change impacts in many countries, but this is not without risks. 

The CAP-Climat Chair will focus on contaminants—whether organic (e.g., POPs, mycotoxins) or inorganic (e.g., heavy metals)—that are 1) exacerbated by climate change or emerging, and 2) associated with the use of food waste byproducts in animal feed, specifically in food and animal products. It will assess the current state of contamination, evaluate mitigation strategies for chemical contaminants such as fermentation, and finally conduct risk analysis.