Without the generosity of our friends, alumni and supporters, the Faculty would be unable to conduct the important research, education and community outreach programs that are central to our mission and the learning opportunities of our students.

The following descriptions reflect some of the projects our Faculty has been able to accomplish thanks to the generosity of alumni, friends and community-minded companies and organizations.

• UBC Farm - Sharing the Harvest
• WESTGEN - The WESTGEN Calf Research Facility
• Specialty Bird Research in the Fraser Valley

UBC Farm - Sharing the Harvest: A partnership between the UBC Farm, UBC Food Co-op and VanCity Credit Union

Thanks to VanCity Credit Unions annual EnviroFund Grant, the UBC Farm and UBC Food Co-Op were awarded $35,000 in the Fall of 2004 for their project proposal, Sharing the Harvest. Grants were awarded to community groups who were working on projects in one of the following areas Sustainable Agriculture Food and Farmland Issues; Water Quality and Consumption; Wildlife Preservation and Habitat Restoration. Tying into the Sustainable Agriculture category, with this gift, the UBC Farm and UBC Food Co-Op have been able to expand on existing education and outreach initiatives to promote the relationship between ecological restoration, community service and tasty food. Some of the successes achieved over the course of the grants year include:

• Piloting a fresh produce box delivery program to members of the campus community
• Collaborating with 17 First Nations Aboriginal health organizations in Vancouvers Downtown Eastside community who are working together in a community garden on site at the UBC Farm
• Hosting 3 outdoor festivals at the UBC Farm for community members across the Lower Mainland

For more information, please visit the UBC Farm's website

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WESTGEN - The WESTGEN Calf Research Facility

Thanks to a $175,000 gift from WESTGEN, a leading cattle genetics company in Western Canada, to the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, a new calf research facility has been constructed at UBC's Dairy Education and Research Centre in Agassiz. The Centre is currently replacing a number of old buildings leased from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. This generous donation has helped the Centre construct a modern facility that houses calves and equipment for studies in calf behaviour, nutrition and welfare.

We are committed to working with you to ensure your generosity is recognized in a meaningful and appropriate manner. Thank you for helping us make land, food and community healthy and sustainable.

For more information, please visit the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre's website.

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Specialty Bird Research in the Fraser Valley

The UBC Avian Research program received a significant boost in advancing its specialty bird research in the Fraser Valley over the next 10 years. Thanks to a $1.5 million contribution from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, the program is assisting the BC Specialty Bird industry to be competitive, to overcome constraints to growth and to be sustainable. Areas of research relate to economics and marketing, breeding stock, biology and genetics, environment, production management, food science, bio-security and disease impacts and control. Lead scientist, Dr. Kim Cheng is working in the Fraser Valley with a committee representing the Specialty Bird industry, UBC, Pacific Agricultural Research Centre, and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. 

For more information, please visit the Avian Research website.