Facilities

Central Laboratories Located in the Agriculture/Forestry Centre on campus, the Central Laboratories provide facilities for plant and animal genomics and proteomics research, proximate feed and food analysis, plant growth facilities including greenhouses and growth cabinets, plant pathology lab, gas chromatography, LC-MS and HPLC, biofermentation facilities, Food Laboratories, Food Microbiology Laboratory, Microscopy Laboratory - light and fluorescence microscopy including compound and inverted stage microscopes with imaging software, plant and animal tissue culture facilities, spectrophotometers (UV/vis, fluorescence and atomic absorption), low and medium-level radioisotope laboratories, and computerized sensory evaluation rooms.

Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation: Formally known as the Health Research Innovation Facility (HRIF) the Li Ka Shing Centre is home to multiple faculties including the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and ALES as well as the Alberta Diabetes Institute. The Department of AFNS occupies space on the second floor and fourth floor and is home to the Division of Nutrition. Facilities include office and laboratory space, the Human Nutrition Research Unit and a Whole Body Calorimeter.

Edmonton Clinic Health Academy (ECHA): The Edmonton Clinic is a collaborative project between the University of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, and the Government of Alberta and includes two buildings – ECHA, a student-focused centre administered by the U of A designed to accommodate interdisciplinary teaching and research in health and, the Edmonton Clinic South, a patient-centred ambulatory care facility operated by Alberta Health Services. Faculty, staff, and students working in Community Nutrition as well as the Integrated Dietetic Internship are located on the fourth floor of ECHA. The building is also home to the Alberta Institute for Human Nutrition.

Civil Engineering Building (CEB):, The Department of AFNS occupies office and laboratory space on the third and fifth floor and is home to the Lipid Products Research Alberta (LiPRA) program.

Research Stations:

Edmonton Research Station (ERS): Located on two quarters of land just south of main campus in the heart of Edmonton, the ERS includes:

  • Agri-Food Discovery Place: Opened in 2008, AFDP is a $25 Million laboratory and pilot-plant facility including a level 2 biocontainment and solvent processing facility, enabling research in meat safety, crop use for food and crop use for industrial products.
  • Poultry Research Centre: The PRC supports research programs in reproductive efficiency in poultry, controlled environment research, nutrition, production efficiency and economics, value-added product development, and packaging and food safety research. Facilities include the Alberta Chicken Producers Poultry Technology Centre, Alberta Hatching Egg Producers Hatchery, Alberta Egg Producers Environmental Chambers, Broiler Breeder Research Facility, Battery Housing Broiler / Turkey / Layer Rearing Facility, Broiler / Turkey / Layer Broiler Breeder Floor Pens, Carcass / Egg Quality Laboratory, and Laying Hen Housing.
  • Dairy Research Technology Centre: The DRTC is a 350-foot long dairy barn including 146 tie stalls and a pipeline milking system housing a herd of about 140 Holstein cows. The unit supports research in production efficiency and sustainability, reproductive efficiency and nutritional quality of milk.
  • Swine Research and Technology Centre: Including animal facilities, laboratories, a surgery and interpretative centre, the SRTC provides facilities to support research and teaching in nutrition and metabolism, feeds and feedstuff utilization, and reproduction and breeding herd management.
  • Crops and Land Resource Unit:  Supports teaching, agronomic and breeding research to improve the sustainable production and quality of forage, cereal, oilseed and horticulture crops. 
  • Laird W. McElroy Metabolism and Environment Research Unit: The “Met Unit” includes large animal metabolic rooms, controlled environmental chambers, a calorimetry system and isotope and surgical facilities.
  • Enclosed Composting Facility
  • Feedmill

Rangelands Research Institute – Mattheis Ranch: This 12,300 acre ranch, located near Duchess, AB, is largely native rangeland with just 700 cultivated acres. It offers a diversity of ecosystems and habitats, a rich variety of plant life, riparian areas and several wetlands created specifically for wildlife habitat. Edwin and Ruth Mattheis donated the facility in December of 2010 in order to broaden the knowledge and understanding of ranching ecology and management.

Kinsella: Established in 1960 as a beef cattle breeding facility, the Kinsella Research Ranch is a $6 Million facility located 150 km southeast of Edmonton. In 2008 the land area was increased from 6,700 acres to 12,000 acres, (4,860 ha) enabling animal capacity to increase from 450 to 850 head of cattle. Current number of cattle on the ranch is 650, including the University of Alberta beef herd and the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada herd relocated from the OneFour Substation. More information on the Kinsella herds and the research being conducted at Kinsella can be found at Agricultural Genomics & Proteomics Unit. Through a generous donation of $12 Million from the Alberta Government in 2009, the ranch is undergoing major infrastructure upgrades. The funds are also being used to establish new infrastructure at the St. Albert Research Station.

St. Albert Research Station: Located just north of St. Albert, the St. Albert Research Station is an 800-acre farm given to the University in 2008 as a gift from the Bocock family. The farm is primarily used for agronomic and environmental research. Funding from the Alberta Government is enabling the construction of new infrastructure on the site, including a field research centre complete with meeting space, machine shop and equipment storage.

Ministik Field Station

Facility Donors