Rooted in Research, Tested in the North

North Peace Applied Research Association Serving the County of Northern Lights and MD of Peace No. 135

Northern Alberta’s unique soil and climate demand unique agricultural solutions. Strategies used elsewhere often don’t work here, so local farmers founded the North Peace Applied Research Association (NPARA) in 1988 to pioneer the hyper-local research needed to thrive.

“Producers here were seeing research from other parts of Alberta that just didn’t match our conditions,” said NPARA Manager and Extension Coordinator Josée Aitken, “They knew we needed to do our own research to account for the reality of growing in the North.”

That foundation drives NPARA today: delivering applied research and practical outreach to keep the local agricultural industry strong and sustainable.

“We’re here to serve producers in the County of Northern Lights and the MD of the Peace,” said Aitken. “Everything we do is built around our unique climate, geography and soil conditions.”

As a non-profit, NPARA offers a wide range of services that support crop, livestock and mixed operations. From providing region-specific data to organizing extension events, the goal is to give producers the tools they need to succeed.

“We organize anywhere from 10 to 30 extension events each year,” said Aitken. “We bring in speakers from across Canada and sometimes internationally to talk about productivity, environmental stewardship and profitability.”

NPARA also conducts local research trials, giving producers the opportunity to see how practices and technologies perform under northern conditions.

“We test various strategies and approaches others have found success with to see if they work here under our conditions. This way, we can share our findings, so our farmers can decide if it’s worth it to invest time or money into a particular approach,” said Aitken.

Beyond research, NPARA supports producers through environmental farm planning, funding applications and access to specialized equipment. Ultimately, NPARA works to reduce risk and encourage innovation.

“A big part of what we do is helping producers make informed decisions,” said Aitken.

Community connection is another key part of NPARA’s impact. By sharing unbiased results and creating opportunities for engagement, the organization strengthens both the agricultural sector and its relationship with the broader community.

“We want to ensure producers can trust the information they’re getting,” said Aitken. “We work hard to earn their confidence by providing research and information they can rely on.”

This connection comes to life at events held throughout the year, many of which are open to anyone interested in agriculture.

One of the most anticipated events is NPARA’s annual Farm and Field Tour, which is scheduled this year for July 29. It gives producers and community members the chance to see research in action and connect directly with experts.

“It’s a great opportunity for people to come out and see what we’re doing firsthand,” said Aitken. “You don’t need to be a member to attend. We want people to get involved and learn.”

Want to get involved? Memberships range from $40/year to $200/year. Sponsorship packages range from $100 to $8,000.

For more details, see npara.ca/membership/#services