Agassiz Research and Development Centre

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

6947 Highway 7
Post Office Box 1000
Agassiz, British Columbia
V0M 1A0

Telephone: 604-796-6100

Email: aafc.agassizrdc-crdagassiz.aac@canada.ca

Latitude: 49.242859
Longitude: −121.763138

The Agassiz Research and Development Centre was established by the Government of Canada under The Experimental Farm Station Act in 1886. The Centre consists of two independent research sites: Agassiz and Summerland. It is also associated with a satellite location—the Clearbrook sub-station, located 50 kilometres away in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

The scientific research of the Agassiz Research and Development Centre addresses national agricultural priorities in the areas of horticultural and field crop production and protection. These priorities include helping to adapt and remain competitive in domestic and global markets. The research mainly focuses on peri-urban agriculture, which seeks to improve understanding of the flows, interactions and impacts of agriculture systems within densely populated regions.

Facilities at the Agassiz Research and Development Centre

• Research greenhouses
• Weather station (data recording since 1889)
• Heritage Stone Barn (built in 1893)
• Arboretum
• Modern laboratory and office complex utilizing geothermal storage for heating and cooling
• Cell culture laboratory
• DNA analyzer
• Geographic Information System (GIS) laboratories
• Insect rearing rooms
• Drainage lysimeter

Current research activities

Research for healthier crops

• Identification and development of bio-control agents and integrated pest management strategies to reduce the impacts of insect pests and utilization of pesticides on high value berry, field and greenhouse vegetable crops
• Analyses of host-pathogen interactions and evaluation of cultural management practices to reduce the impacts of fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens of high value fruit and vegetable crops
• Modeling of nutrient flows in coastal British Columbia agro-ecosystems to identify pathways for reducing nutrient losses to the environment and greenhouse gas emissions
• Evaluation of effects of production practices on soil biochemistry, fertility and nutrient dynamics to maintain productivity while minimizing environmental impacts
• Analysis and development of innovative production practices to improve yields and quality, including antioxidant contents, of berries and greenhouse vegetables
• Evaluation of new pest and weed control products to address immediate needs for pest and disease control in small-acreage/high value crops (Pest Management Centre – Minor Use Pesticides Program and Reduced Risk Program)
• Assessing blueberry, strawberry and raspberry varieties that adapt well to Canada's Pacific Northwest, with emphasis on natural disease and insect resistance

Results of our research

Agro-ecosystem resiliency

• Developed a novel online computer model for farmers and experts that provides real time decision support for precise management of nitrogen
• Identified irrigation, fertilization and cover cropping practices for red raspberry production that reduce risks of nitrate leaching to groundwater without impacting fruit yields
• Demonstrated the high risks of nitrate leaching associated with utilization of manure as fertilizer amendment when replanting red raspberry fields
• Increased nitrogen and phosphorous efficiency and reduced environmental impact of dairy farming through the novel dual manure stream concepts for dairy farm cropping systems

Horticulture

• Developed a new watering technique that accurately administers water in real time for more efficient production of greenhouse vegetables and ornamentals crops. This has led to the development and adoption of advanced irrigation control systems
• Introduced over ten new small fruit varieties (increased yield, shelf life, crop persistence), widely adopted by domestic and international industry
• Developed two new biological control agents for greenhouse vegetables for improved production and reduced pesticide use
• Reduced the impact of economically important pests through discoveries in pheromone biology and genomics of cranberry tipworm and blueberry gall midge
• Improved control of wireworms and reduced the use of environmentally adverse pesticides with innovative integrated pest management programs
• Registered two new bio-pesticides to control soil pests including wireworms and cabbage loopers
• Identified new nematode pests of highbush blueberry
• Demonstrated the utility of compost amendments as alternatives to chemical fumigants for reducing parasitic nematode populations and improving early growth of red raspberry
• Contributed to over 200 new minor use pesticide registrations through field trials of various pesticides, herbicides, growth regulators for horticultural crop protection in British Columbia over the past ten years