Fredericton Research and Development Centre

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

850 Lincoln Road,
Post Office Box 20280
Fredericton, New Brunswick
E3B 4Z7

Telephone: 506-460-4300

Email: aafc.frederictonrdc-crdfredericton.aac@canada.ca

Latitude: 45.923397
Longitude: −66.606842

The Fredericton Research and Development Centre was established in 1912 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. It also includes the Benton Ridge sub-station 100 kilometers west of Fredericton near Woodstock, New Brunswick, which supports potato germplasm enhancement activities.

Potato research is the Centre's main focus as the province of New Brunswick is a recognized world leader in potato production. The scientific research at the Centre is in three areas:

• Potato agroecosystem bioecology
• Potato germplasm enhancement
• Enhancing the environmental performance of potato production systems

Facilities at the Fredericton Research and Development Centre

• One additional field research site for a total of 627 hectares, a potato breeding substation at Benton Ridge, near Woodstock, New Brunswick, about 100 kilometres west of the Research Centre. The Fredericton Research and Development Centre and Benton Ridge locations focus on:
  • Potato agroecosystem bioecology
  • Potato germplasm enhancement
  • Environmental performance of potato production systems
• Scientists are working in close collaboration with stakeholders including provincial departments, universities and industry
• AAFC node for bioinformatics excellence in science support
• Modern laboratory, greenhouse and office complex
• Specialized laboratories for potato quality evaluation; genomics and molecular biology; and soil physical, chemical and biological analysis
• Collaborative linkages with the International Potato Research Institute in Peru and other international potato breeding programs
• Weather-monitoring station established in 1913 jointly operated with Environment Canada as part of a national network
• Location for the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Potato Gene Repository, a gene conservation program containing Canadian and international potato germplasm which is part of the Department's Plant Gene Resources of Canada
• Potato insect reference collection which includes 32,000 aphid specimens
• Co-located at the Centre are:
  • An Environment and Climate Change Canada Scientist
  • An Environment and Climate Change Canada Mesocosm site for replicated scientific experimentation on effects of land management practices on running surface water quality and biota
  • North America's only AQUACOSM Network site for replicated scientific experimentation on the effects of environmental factors on standing water quality and biota
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada regional offices
  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Current research activities

Agri-based science solutions for the environment

• Investigating the nutrient and mineral properties of crops and soils
• Conducting research, in the laboratory. field scale, and watershed scale, on the production of greenhouse gases, soil quality and erosion, and water quality
• Assessing chemical and non-chemical methods for controlling insect pests
• Finding new methods to reduce the use of agri-chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) to lower production costs and environmental risks

Leading edge research for better products

• Developing new varieties of potatoes with superior traits for Canada's potato industry using traditional and leading edge technologies
• Developing new methodologies for early detection of viruses in seed potatoes
• Accelerating advanced scientific ways to improve or modify potato plants to protect them from diseases and pests, and preserve their nutritional properties during processing
• Gene mapping of traits and cloning of potato plants with important characteristics needed for processing, disease and pest resistance
• Using gene analysis technologies to identify potato varieties

Results of our research

First commercial potato variety released in 1950. Currently 18 Fredericton Research Centre-developed potato releases are in production across Canada and internationally.

Horticulture

• Broadened potato genetic diversity to help industry address new market trends, production constraints and a changing climate. The genetic diversity is now feeding research into varieties and has led to the diversification of potato products, including novel fresh market types such as creamers and pigmented flesh varieties that are prized by high-end restaurants
• Developed improved diagnostic tests for Potato Virus Y (PVY), an important virus affecting potato

Agro-ecosystem productivity and health

• Developed a new system to predict crop nitrogen availability from soil as a tool to predict fertilizer nitrogen recommendations for arable crops
• Contributed to the development of new fertilizer nitrogen recommendations for the major arable crops in the Atlantic region
• Developed a framework to understand how agricultural practices influence emissions of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas, in arable crop production in humid regions like Atlantic Canada as a basis for developing mitigation strategies

Biodiversity and bioresources

• Improved germplasm through innovative 'Accelerated Release' allows industry to evaluate and bring new varieties rapidly to market. Nine newly licensed varieties were listed under active seed multiplication and commercial sale in 2013 provincial seed directories, including two varieties (Vigor and Tarnick) adopted by a major manufacturer of potato chips and other snack foods in the Midwestern United States and Canada