Research
Research has been an important part of the work of the Faculty since its early beginnings and serves two very important purposes. First, many of the results have been of major importance to the farmers of Alberta; and second, the research program is intimately associated with the post-graduate training of students.
Through the years, the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Home Economics has provided—and continues to provide—numerous opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in research at the University of Alberta. Today, research in the Faculty focuses on five domains of demonstrable excellence:
- Agri-food and Bio-products Development
- Ecosystem Management
- Nutrition and Metabolism
- International Development in Natural Resource Management and Environmental Sustainability
- Healthy Human Environments
To support the diverse range of educational and research opportunities in agriculture, forestry, and home economics, the Faculty is home to numerous research facilities.
The Agriculture/Forestry Centre on the University of Alberta campus is a top quality teaching and research facility that includes 6,000 square meters of laboratory space and equipment, including greenhouses, plant growth chambers, tissue culture rooms, food processing facilities, a biotechnology centre, and a human metabolic unit.
Off-campus research stations and research facilities, including but not limited to the Ministik Wildlife Field Station, the Swine Research and Technology Centre, the Alberta Poultry Research Centre, the Forest Genetics Lab, the Forest Entomology Lab, and the Devonian Botanic Gardens, house diverse animal populations, including dairy and beef cattle, swine, poultry, wapiti, deer, and bison. They provide field crop and plot research facilities, as well as range and water management capability. These research and teaching facilities receive generous support from the University of Alberta, all levels of government, industry associations and the private sector.