Western Regional Research Center
{{Short description|Regional laboratory within the Agricultural Research Service}}
{{Infobox laboratory
|name = Western Regional Research Center
|research_field = Agriculture
|director = [https://www.ars.usda.gov/people-locations/person/?person-id=3681 Dr. Tara McHugh]
|city = Albany, California
|address = 800 Buchanan Street
|nickname = WRRC
|website = [http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=20-30-05-00 Western Regional Research Center]
|operating_agency = United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service}}
The Western Regional Research Center (WRRC), located in Albany, California, is one of four regional laboratories within the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. The WRRC has six research units, which conduct research into food production, processing, safety, bioproducts and invasive species control.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/PandP/docs.htm?docid=21330#units|title=Western Regional Research Center (Albany, CA) : Albany Location Contacts|website=www.ars.usda.gov|access-date=2016-02-15}}
History
The Western Regional Research Center (originally named Western Regional Research Laboratory) was established following the passage of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 that created scientific research centers in the nation's four major crop-growing centers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/usda-flavor-chemistry.html|title=Flavor Chemistry Research at the USDA National Historic Chemical Landmark|website=American Chemical Society|access-date=2016-02-15}} The others are the Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, the Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Northern Regional Research Center (now National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research) in Peoria, Illinois. Groundbreaking for the WRRC took place in June 1939, and the building was occupied beginning in 1940.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thereporter.com/article/ZZ/20150902/NEWS/150908774|title=Albany's USDA research laboratory to celebrate 75 years|website=www.thereporter.com|access-date=2016-02-15}}
Organization
There are currently six research units of the WRRC:
- Bioproducts Research: expanding use of crops by developing biobased products and biofuels{{Cite web|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=20-30-05-25|title=Bioproducts Research : Home|website=www.ars.usda.gov|access-date=2016-02-15}}
- Crop Improvement and Genetics Research: enhance productivity and value of food and biofuel crops{{Cite web|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=20-30-05-15|title=Crop Improvement and Genetics Research : Home|website=www.ars.usda.gov|access-date=2016-02-15}}
- Exotic and Invasive Weeds Research: develop and transfer biologically based approaches to invasive weed management{{Cite web|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=20-30-05-35|title=Exotic and Invasive Weeds Research : Home|website=www.ars.usda.gov|access-date=2016-02-15}}
- Foodborne Toxin Prevention and Detection: enhance food safety and biosecurity by developing methods for analysis, prevention and elimination of toxins{{Cite web|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=20-30-05-30|title=Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention : Home|website=www.ars.usda.gov|access-date=2016-02-15}}
- Healthy Processed Foods Research: enhance the healthfulness and marketability of foods{{Cite web|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=20-30-05-10|title=Healthy Processed Foods Research : Home|website=www.ars.usda.gov|access-date=2016-02-15}}
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research: improving safety of the food supply through basic and applied research{{Cite web|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=20-30-05-05|title=Produce Safety and Microbiology Research : Home|website=www.ars.usda.gov|access-date=2016-02-15}}
Awards and recognition
The WRRC was dedicated as a National Historic Chemical Landmark in 2002 for the development of time-temperature tolerance studies for frozen food production{{Cite web|url=http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/frozenfoods.html|title=Frozen Foods Research Time-Temperature Tolerance Studies - National Historic Chemical Landmark|website=American Chemical Society|access-date=2016-02-15}} and in 2013 for developing flavor research methods and standards.
See also
References
External links
- [http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=20-30-05-00 Western Regional Research Center] — official website
- [http://agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov/2015/oct/wrrc/ Western Regional Research Center (75th anniversary)] - USDA ARS AgResearch magazine
{{authority control}}
Category:Agricultural research institutes in the United States
Category:United States Department of Agriculture facilities