CDC North marks 75 years of agricultural research in Alberta

Alberta’s Crop Diversification Centre North (CDC North) is celebrating 75 years of agricultural research, marking a milestone for a facility that has played a role in crop health, disease monitoring, and applied research since the 1950s.

Located north of Edmonton, the site began as a tree nursery in 1951 and has expanded over the decades into a 340-acre research facility. Today, it is home to the Alberta Plant Health Lab, the Bee Health Unit, nine greenhouses, and Western Canada’s only seed potato repository.

The centre works with industry groups, researchers, and post-secondary institutions on projects related to crop production, plant health, and disease surveillance.

Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Tara Sawyer said the facility’s work has had a significant impact on Alberta agriculture over the past 75 years, particularly in the areas of crop health and disease management.

Over the years, CDC North has been involved in a number of initiatives that have supported Alberta producers. At its peak, the provincial tree nursery program distributed roughly 3.5 million seedlings annually for shelterbelts on farms across the province. The Alberta Plant Health Lab, located on site, also provides diagnostic services for issues such as Dutch elm disease.

The facility is also home to a clubroot disease nursery operated in collaboration with the University of Alberta, supporting ongoing research into one of canola production’s most persistent disease challenges. The partnership has also included research related to emerging crop diseases, pests, and environmental pressures.

While the facility has changed considerably since its beginnings as a tree nursery, its primary role has remained largely the same: providing research, diagnostic services, and technical support for Alberta’s agricultural sector.