Chers collègues
Il me plaisir d’écrire quelques mots à titre de président. Dans un premier temps j’aimerais remercier Travis qui a réalisé un travail formidable au cours de la dernière année. Les différentes réalisations de l’an dernier donnent des bases solides pour mon mandat. Durant mon mandat je vise à consolider et à augmenter le membership en utilisant une approche dynamique visant les jeunes professionnels-les. Donc, au cours de l’année, je vise à travailler sur la visibilité de l’association par le biais entre autres des réseaux sociaux. Le déploiement des différentes actions sur les réseaux sociaux sera coordonné par nouveau comité « réseaux sociaux » composés de trois membres. Des actions seront faites dans les prochains mois, surveiller vos réseaux sociaux et je vous invite à faire suivre à vos propres réseaux l’information.
Je profite de l’occasion pour vous mentionnez que je suis présentement incoming président du CIGR. Ma présidence débutera en décembre 2026 pour un mandat de deux ans. Ce positionnement permettra de profiter d’une synergie qui, je l’espère, fera rayonner notre profession.
It is my pleasure to write a few words as president. First, I would like to thank Travis, who did a fantastic job over the past year. The various achievements of last year provide a solid foundation for my mandate. During my term, I aim to consolidate and increase membership using a dynamic approach targeting young professionals. Therefore, throughout the year, I intend to work on increasing the association's visibility, particularly through social media. The implementation of various social media initiatives will be coordinated by a new three-member "Social Media" committee. Actions will be taken in the coming months, so please monitor your social media feeds and I encourage you to share this information with your own networks.
I would also like to take this opportunity to mention that I am currently the incoming president of the CIGR. My presidency will begin in December 2026 for a two-year term. This position will allow us to benefit from a synergy that I hope will enhance the reputation of our profession.
Stéphane Godbout
Président CSABE-SCGAB
Canadian Society for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
2026 Annual General Meeting
July 19-22, 2026 | Saskatoon, SK
Dear Colleagues and Guests,
The Canadian Society for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CSABE/SCGAB) is the technical society for all professionals and students interested in the application of scientific and engineering principles for the sustainable production of agri-food, bioproducts, and bioenergy. CSABE/SCGAB members are interested in energy production & conservation, soil & water engineering, power & machinery, bioprocessing, agri-food preservation & processing, information technologies (AI/ML), forest engineering, structures & environment, aquaculture, environmental quality, biocomposites, waste valorization and circular bioeconomy, and safety & ergonomics.
We are pleased to issue this “call for abstracts” for the 2026 conference in Saskatoon. We will gladly accept presentations relating to any of the topics listed above and encourage your input on the selected theme of providing “Bioresources to Wealth – a Circular Approach”.
Please mark the CSABE/SCGAB 2026 AGM in your calendars and we look forward to seeing you in Saskatoon.
Important Dates:
Abstract Due Date: March 1st, 2026
Notice of Acceptance: April 15, 2026
Early bird rates ending: June 1st, 2026
Authors registration deadline: June 8th, 2026
Abstract Submission: https://www.conftool.com/csabe-scgab2026
Author Guidelines: https://csabe-scgab.ca/saskatoon2026-papers/author-guidelines
Sincerely,
Venkatesh Meda (Chair)
CONTACT: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dalhousie University has officially launched the Atlantic Institute for Digital Agriculture (AIDA), a new regional hub dedicated to advancing digital and precision agriculture across Atlantic Canada. The Institute was initiated by Dr. Qamar Zaman, who leads Dalhousie’s long-standing precision agriculture research program and builds on decades of applied engineering and agronomic research supporting Atlantic Canadian producers. The launch event and accompanying workshop took place on November 25, 2025, at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in Truro, Nova Scotia, marking a significant milestone in applied agricultural engineering and technology innovation in the region.
AIDA brings together researchers, farmers, industry partners, and government to collaborate on technology solutions tailored specifically to the diverse conditions and commodities of Atlantic Canadian agriculture. With a focus on region-relevant crops and systems, including wild blueberries, potatoes, grapes, tree fruit, dairy, eggs, and livestock, the Institute aims to co-develop tools to address real-world challenges such as variable soils, unpredictable weather, labour shortages, and tight economic margins.
Under the leadership of Engineering Professor Dr. Travis Esau, the inaugural Director of the new Institute, AIDA, builds on Dalhousie’s strengths in sustainable food systems, precision technologies, and interdisciplinary research. The Institute integrates expertise from engineering, agronomy, soil science, climate science, economics, and computer science, and applies advanced technologies, including drones, robotics, IoT sensing, AI and machine learning, and GIS, to enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience.
By creating a dedicated platform for co-innovation and knowledge exchange, AIDA aims to accelerate the development and adoption of digital agriculture solutions that are built with Atlantic farms in mind—not simply adapted from elsewhere. This place-based approach reflects longstanding partnerships between Dalhousie researchers and regional producers, and positions Atlantic Canada as a leader in sustainable, data-driven agricultural technologies.
Professor Chandra Madramootoo of McGill University has been elected by member countries of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to serve as Chair of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG). He will also serve as an ex-officio member of the WASAG Steering Committee. WASAG is responsible for development of policies, strategies and programmes, that improve the capacity of FAO member countries to adapt systems required for reducing the impacts of water scarcity within a changing climate. Water scarcity affects hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers and inhabitants in Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, the middle-east, Central Asia, and South Asia.
Professors Chandra Madramootoo and Michael Ngadi participated in the 7th Conference of the Pan African Society for Agricultural Engineering, October 22-24, 2025 in Fes, Morocco. Professor Madramootoo gave a keynote address on Water Management for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture in Africa.
School of Engineering at University of Guelph which was part of College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) is now a College of Engineering (COE). The inaugural COE has four departments which are:
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Water Resources Engineering;
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering;
Department of Interdisciplinary Engineering;
Department of Mechanical Engineering.
- Prasad Daggupati
Mathchallenges – John Morgan
All quiet here as the Canadian Mathchallengers Society roles out the 2026 BC competition.as always we need volunteers contactThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Regional competitions are at SFU, Camousun University, Okanagan College Kelowna and University of the Fraser Valley Abbotsford, from February 18 to 21. In classroom competitions for students and school teams that can't get to a competition or out of province of BC loations start after February 25.The provincial finals are May 2 at UBC.
Joint Symposium, BioMass Cluster Canada BMC and Bioindustrial Innovation Canada BIC Symposium
A joint symposium was held in Ottawa November 26-28, 2025. The conference was titled Green Gold: Biomass and Bioproducts to Fuel the Sustainable Bioeconomy. The cohosts were BioFuelNet’s BioMass Canada (BMC) and Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC). The objective was to facilitate knowledge exchange on current biomass and bioproduct research, strengthen collaboration between researchers, industry partners, and policymakers. With active participation of Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, the symposium identified gaps, opportunities, and next steps for research to advance circular economy.
The doctoral candidate Omid Gholami Banadkoki UBC Chemical & Biological Engineering defended his dissertation titled “Pelletization and Thermochemical Characterization of Vegetable Crops Foliage” December 15, 2025. This research investigates the valorization potential of residues from tomato, eggplant, cucumber, summer squash, soybean, and corn, as non-woody lignocellulosic residues for bioenergy applications.
Kanageswari Singara Vello doctorat thesis
In August Kanageswari (Kanages) Singara Vello of the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering successfully defended her doctoral thesis “Minimal thermal treatment of cellulosic biomass to produce torrefied pellets".
Kanages demonstrated that overall mild torrefaction temperature (around 250oC) and shorter retention time (15 minutes) preserved wood polymers and made pellets hydrophobic ready for transport and storage. This presents an opportunity to produce durable, binder-free pellets with improved moisture resistance compared to untreated pellets. Currently Kanagges is in Malaysia spending time with family and having a well reserved rest.
2025 Annual International Meeting of the ASABE in Toronto
Shahab Sokhansanj, P.Eng. of UBC attended the Annual International Meeting of the ASABE in Toronto (July 13-16). During the meeting Shahab made an oral presentation titled” Circular Bio Economy Canada Report”. Shahab mentioned that Agricultures contribution to Greenhouse Gas emissions in Canada is 10% compared to oil and gas at 26% transportation sector at 25%. However agriculture has tough time to make any substantial contribution to reduction in green house emissions in Canada when compared t the contributions from buildings and transportation.
