Agricultural Economics - McGill

We are very grateful to have had Yu Na Lee from the University of Guelph present her fascinating work on food prices and child marriage in seminar yesterday. Thank you Yu Na, please come again!

Congrats to our students who did a fantastic job at the AAEA 2024 quiz bowl in New Orleans, LA!

🌼 Bee Like McGill: Help Our Pollinators 🌼

In recent decades, the number and species of insect pollinators is decreasing (1;12).

🦋 What are pollinators?

Pollinators are animals, mostly insects, and primarily bees, that transfer pollen between the male and female part of flowering plants (1). Pollinators include bees, moths, butterflies, wasps, beetles, and even bats!

🦋 Why are they important?

35% of global food production relies on pollinators, so pollinators, and especially honeybees, contribute directly to food security (4;9). This direct relationship means that the decline in pollinators can lead to parallel declines of plants (5). The estimated value of just honeybee pollination in Canada is about $2 billion (1). Not only do pollinators provide fruit and seed production, but pollinators also provide higher yields, better quality produce, and more uniform maturation (1).

But….
Wild pollinator populations are often too sparse for effective crop pollination, so they need our help (5).

🦋 What are the main contributors to sparse pollinator populations?

🐝 Loss, fragmentation, and degradation of habitats due largely to agriculture and urban development (5). This habitat reduction leads to loss or dissociation of important resources for food, and particularly for bees, reduces habitat for building nests.

🐝 The widespread use of pesticides. Pesticides can be toxic and even fatal to pollinators (7).

🐝 Declines in the diversity of flowering plants (3), and relatedly, the introduction of invasive non-native plant species ( 8 ). Substantial declines in flowering plants lead to pollen shortages, resulting in nutritional deficiencies, and consequently, decreases in colony populations (3).

🦋 What can you do to help?

✅ Reduce/eliminate household pesticide use, such as RoundUp (5;1). Let your yard be a little unkempt; it fosters biodiversity!

✅ Provide habitat connectivity through diversity patches. Grow native flowers, even if it’s on your apartment balcony (5).

✅ Educate yourself and others to drive action on the part of decision-makers! Bees are underrepresented in conservation planning and protection efforts, in part because the Canadian public lacks general bee knowledge (10;11). Visit the Macdonald Native Pollinator Habitat and the Mac Pollinator Meadow too see what biodiversity patches look like! (12)

References: http://tinyurl.com/2p82drfz

Author: Lillian Rachwal

Congratulations to the 2024 graduating Agricultural Economics class on presenting their research projects at the end of last semester. Very insightful and inspiring!

Wishing you all a belated happy new year!

Thanks to everyone who attended the Q&A session with 4 students pursuing graduate studies in agricultural economics and professional agrology! We certainly learned a lot and appreciate the 4 panelists connecting with the agricultural economics undergraduate students.

🍎APPLE CIDER FREE GIVEWAY🍎
November 23nd from 1pm to 2.30pm
We will be at the CC front entrance!

Meet 2 panelists attending the Ag Econ Society Q&A! Attend to connect with Agricultural Economics students and get your questions answered!

We're so proud of the agricultural economics undergraduate and graduate students who attended and received awards at the Scholastic Awards Reception yesterday. Congratulations to all students who attended the Reception!

Join us for Open House 2023!

Come experience life at McGill first-hand.

Date: Sunday October 22, 2023
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: SSMU building (Downtown Campus)

Register online: https://future.mcgill.ca/register/OpenHouse2023

Yesterday we had our first Agricultural Economics Society meeting of the year! We discussed the goals for the year and elected a new board for the 2023-24 year. Congratulations to Lilly Rachwal on taking on the role of President this year! We are very excited for more meetings and events.