Agriculture Research in the West
Pacific Ag Research is headquartered in San Luis Obispo, and maintains seven California stations in different microclimates for studies in pest management, fertility and crop yield, greenhouse research, and consultations with agribusiness and grower cooperatives. This western research program represents U.S. EPA Region 10. 
Pacific Ag Research performs a wide variety of research focusing on fruiting vegetables, leafy greens, cucurbits, strawberries, brassicas, and wine grapes in lab, greenhouse, and field settings. Owing to its location in the heart of California’s Central Coast viticulture industry, an experimental winery tests grape harvests from research trials to identify potential effects of test substances on important enology variables such as momentum of fermentation, taste, shelf life, and many specific sensory attributes of the finished wine.
One hundred and fifty miles north of the San Luis Obispo headquarters are the Pacific Ag Salinas Valley research stations. Here, two different farm sites study soil and foliar pathogens, coastal insect pests, weed management, and new genetics with a particular emphasis on leafy greens. Fruiting vegetables, strawberries, wine grapes, and artichokes also play a key role in this region. A 65-acre Central Valley location near Five Points provides a third specialized climate of California agricultural production. Here, a multi-discipline field research team conducts trials in tree nuts, citrus, wine and table grapes, watermelon, winter leafy greens, processing tomatoes, corn, and cotton. New Nematology Research Facility in the Central Valley
In 2024, Pacific Ag Research launched a nematode research laboratory on the West Coast at its Five Points, California facility in the San Joaquin Valley. The new field lab helps nematicide developers, plant breeders, genetics researchers, grower cooperatives, and government agencies in getting R&D trials out of controlled greenhouse environments and into real-world settings through extensive nematology field trials and supportive laboratory services. The nematology lab provides growers and field scientists with services including sampling, nematode counts, identification, and monitoring.
Regulatory & ReportingIt is well known that California closely regulates the testing of experimental products. In order to manage governmental compliance, our West Coast team has a full-time regulations and permits manager that functions as a legal liaison and client advocate with regulatory requirements of test substance transport, use, storage, and disposal. In testing of experimental products, these services include: Research Authorizations (RAs), Notices of Intent (NOIs) to apply, advanced notice of crop disposal following completion of the field research, and regulatory guidance with required paperwork.
All reports contain summaries of experimental methods, statistical comparisons of variables, and graphical representations that assist in the interpretation of otherwise complex results. Greenhouse Trials
Pacific Ag Research has 14 stand-alone greenhouses totaling one acre of greenhouse space, including houses suitable for regulated trials (APHIS - PPQ - BRS & CDFA) and Hydroponic capability.
Most commonly grown crops are possible. This is an abbreviated list of capabilities. If there are specific needs for other CRO services, please Contact Us directly for more information. Commonly Researched Trials at Pacific Ag Research
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Pacific Ag Research1840 Biddle Ranch Road
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Office: (805) 594-1800 Fax: (805) 594-1808 Career Opportunities 
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