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For more than 25 years, Pacific Ag Research has been one of California's leading agricultural research and consulting companies. |
Founded by Dr. Frank Sances in 1980, in San Diego, California, Pacific Ag Research relocated to the Central California Coast in 1993, where it is now headquartered on a six acre research farm in the Edna Valley, just south of San Luis Obispo, California. In addition to this primary site, Pacific Ag Research has acreage in Arroyo Grande, California, and winter offices in Yuma, Arizona. These locations uniquely place it in the heart of the agricultural marketplace it serves.
Pacific Ag Research focuses on issues involved in growing high cash crops such as strawberries, lettuce, broccoli, tomatoes and many others. Pacific Ag has worked with clients and conducted active projects throughout California and Arizona, North Carolina and Florida, as well as in Mexico, Central America, and in Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, France, Japan, and Israel. Corporate clients include the major agrichemical manufacturers in the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim. In addition to this business clientele, governmental agencies such as USEPA, CalEPA, California Department of Transportation, and the USDA have used the technical expertise and know how of the staff at Pacific Ag Research.
Pacific Ag Research is owned and operated by Dr. Sances, who holds a Ph.D. in Entomology and Plant Physiology from the University of California, Riverside. He has published dozens of technical papers nationally and internationally, and is an active member in numerous professional organizations. Having worked extensively in this field since 1977, Dr. Sances has broad contacts in the agricultural industry and government, and is a recognized expert in the production and pest management of high cash vegetables and small fruits.
Key staff members at Pacific Ag Research include the following professionals:
Frank Sances, Founder and Research Director Ken Ward, GLP Biologist Nathan Deal, Lead Biologist David Akey, Entomologist Neelesh Gharmalkar, Microbiologist Oscar Cuevas, Applications Specialist Ed Salla, Agricultural Engineer
Dara Hadley, Controller Adalberto Arevalo, Farm Manager Sarah Safir, Communications Manager Pete Marine, Florida Ag Research Operations Manager Hovhannes Mouradian, , Florida Ag Research Engineer Pacific Ag’s state of the art laboratory facilities include a complete plant pathology laboratory, a new entomology lab and insect rearing facility, and a chemistry lab with gas chromatography and general chemistry capabilities for research project support. Lab projects include pesticide residues in plant tissues, wine fermentation studies, and analysis of mineral constituents in soils and fertilizers. In addition to these activities, Pacific Ag Research also operates an engineering lab dedicated to developing and testing specialized agricultural equipment. Extensive libraries of statistical and field testing software for efficacy data management and field residue GLP projects are maintained. Perhaps the most impressive of the equipment assets at Pacific Ag are the light and heavy field application spray and soil fumigation rigs. These modern machines are complete with supply trailers, tow vehicles and personnel, that are all highly mobile, allowing them to operate within a 500 km radius of their headquarters. This zone of activity and influence encompasses the most important agricultural areas in the Western United States.
Pacific Ag Research's areas of expertise include:
Pest, weed, and fertility management of high cash crops
Diagnosis and study of plant diseases
Integrated Pest Management systems for coastal and desert insects
Development and analysis of new agricultural products
Pesticide residue management on food crops
Environmental fate studies under the standards of Good Laboratory Practices
Development of new strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry germplasm
Field testing of new seed types for vegetable cultivars
Organic and alternative farming systems
