As part of a major restructuring process, the UBC Faculty of Agricultural
Sciences is inviting the community interested in the Oyster River
Research Farm to help it shape the future of the farm.
This faculty restructuring is in support of the recently launched
UBC vision, Trek 2000, which identifies a series of principles,
goals, strategies and operational timetables that will guide UBC
in education and research excellence.
“It is our hope that the restructuring and focusing of the faculty’s
activities will better serve B.C.’s agricultural community and create
new opportunities for the enhancement and promotion of agriculture,”
said Dr. Jim Thompson, associate dean of Research in the Faculty
of Agricultural Sciences.
As part of its plan, the faculty will consolidate its dairy cattle
research at the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre in Agassiz–which
includes a partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada–over
the next year. Loss of faculty members in the Animal Studies area,
the need for significant research infrastructure and the distance
between the Point Grey campus and the farm are all factors in consolidating
the faculty’s dairy cattle work at the Agassiz location.
“The faculty is committed to working with the local community and
others to develop a vision and a resource management plan for the
farm during 1999,” said Thompson.
“We will work with the staff and the community to form partnerships
that will allow the continuation of the community connections that
have been the hallmark of the farm’s contribution to the Courtenay-Campbell
River agricultural scene,” he added.
The faculty has identified academic, human resource, animal care,
land stewardship and community principles to guide the planning
process which will be undertaken in 1999. Highlighted are the commitments
that the faculty is making to support the Oyster River Enhancement
Society, to work with various agencies on environmental and riparian
protection and to support the continuation of educational activities
at the Montfort House Rural Resource Centre.
A community liaison group met this week with faculty representatives
to talk about the plans and provide feedback. The planning process
itself will begin in January and will be well publicized in the
community.
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