Hungry for knowledge about agriculture? Would you like to learn more about how food and farming is improved through local research? Then head over to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre (PARC). The Centre is hosting an open house on Saturday, July 25, to coincide with the Agassiz Farms Cycle tour.
The public is invited to attend this free event between 9 am and 4 pm and explore the links between science and farming through interactive exhibits, tours, and activities. Find out how the experts at PARC-Agassiz are helping the sector to produce healthier, safer, higher quality, and more sustainable food for Canadians.
“We’re happy to once again invite the community to drop by and learn about what we’ve been doing for Canadians,” says Dr. Sankaran KrishnaRaj, Associate Director of Research, Development and Technology at PARC-Agassiz. “Hosting an open house is a great way for our employees to meet the public and talk about how our research supports food production locally, across Canada and around the world.”
Whether it’s integrated pest management, horticulture, or nutrient management, research at the Centre covers a range of topics important in the Fraser Valley and beyond. Meet our research technicians, field and greenhouse crew, biologists, and scientists and explore the links between science and farming through interactive exhibits, research displays and a tractor tour of the research plots.
Highlights will include a cake cutting, ice cream, samples of fresh berries, and opportunities to learn about plants, soils, bugs, and more! This year’s open house will also feature speaker presentations every half hour, beginning at 10 a.m. Visitors are invited to sit in on the 10-15 minute talks that will cover topics such as pest management, crop health and the history of the Centre. Two of these talks will highlight soil research as AAFC celebrates the International Year of Soils, along with other organizations worldwide.
Additionally, visitors can browse historical displays or enjoy a stroll in the Centre’s arboretum, which was first established in the 1890s. Representatives from industry groups will also be on site to share information about agriculture in the Fraser Valley.
PARC-Agassiz Open House, 6947 Highway 7, Agassiz, July 25, 2015, 9am-4pm. Rain or shine, and parking is free.
(Please note that the UBC Dairy Education & Research Centre, located on the PARC-Agassiz property, will also be participating in the Agassiz Farms Cycle tour.)
Quick facts:
• PARC-Agassiz is one in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) national network of 19 research centres. It is one of the original five research centres established with the creation of the Department of Agriculture in 1886.
• The Centre is a unique mix of modern state-of-the-art research facilities interspersed across 310 hectares of history.
• The 68th UN General Assembly declared 2015 the International Year of Soils (IYS). The IYS 2015 aims to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions. To learn more, visit http://www.fao.org/soils-2015/en/.
Event details:
PARC Open House
Saturday, July 25, 9:00am-4:00pm
6947 Highway 7
Agassiz
Admission and parking are free