Making beef more sustainable is one of the hottest topics in agriculture lately — and Gleise M. Silva is at the heart of it.
As the first BCRC-Hays Chair in Beef Production Systems, Gleise will translate the latest research to Canada’s beef and cattle producers — all with the goal of helping them save money, maintain forage lands and advance the Canadian beef industry’s leadership in sustainable production. Over the next 10 years, Gleise will work with faculty researchers, graduate students and support staff to lead cutting-edge research to support the industry.
Before she officially makes the move to Edmonton from Florida, we caught up with Gleise to learn what gets her fired up about the future of beef.
How do you describe your work to people who don’t work in your field?
I study ways to raise beef cattle efficiently while protecting animal well-being, and the environment, including producers and society interests.
What’s one big problem you want to solve through your work?
We have to find ways to increase beef production and profitability by using fewer resources and minimizing waste. One project to be started is to explore how to reduce the cost of feeding beef cattle during the winter.
What excites you about working with the beef industry?
Many things excite me about working with the beef industry. Being able to produce high quality food to supply the world, while promoting sustainability and social development amazes me.
What are some of the innovative ways beef cattle producers are increasing their production while minimizing waste/resources?
Beef cattle genetic improvement, nutritional management, enhancement of animal health and well-being, and grassland management are some of the ways beef producers are innovating to improve animal efficiency. By increasing animal efficiency, we reduce waste/resources per unit of animal product.
What does the word “innovation” mean to you?
Innovation could be thought of as something we can create or reinvent to make a difference in a determined field. It is to find ways to solve daily problems.
What’s next for you? Do you have any new projects on the horizon?
I look forward to moving to Canada and Edmonton and starting at the U of A! I have many plans to collaborate with my colleagues at the U of A and other institutions in Canada to develop multidisciplinary work.