Campus Agricultural Center
Rooted in place, grounded in purpose.
An incubator for innovation, a hub for community-centered education.
Located near the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains and just two miles north of the University of Arizona's main campus, the Campus Agricultural Center is a 160-acre research, teaching, and extension facility in the heart of metropolitan Tucson.
About
Originally acquired in 1909, the Campus Agricultural Center, part of the Southern Arizona Experiment Station, serves the university's evolving land-grant mission to deliver new knowledge and technologies to support our region's social, environmental, and economic resilience.
More than an urban farm, the Campus Agricultural Center is currently home to over 70 different multidisciplinary research studies across its fields, laboratories, and greenhouses. The facility has played a critical and unique role in advancing purpose-driven science and education in areas as diverse as food security; energy and water use efficiency; veterinary medicine; biotechnology; human health and wellness; as well as animal, plant, fungal and microbial food production.
Frequently Asked Questions
Horses need their rest and sleep lying down. Please do not disturb them. If you have a concern, please reach out to 520-621-3246.
College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) protects the horses from serious insect bites by fitting them with masks that are comfortable and easy to see through.
CVM carefully manages the feeding and well-being of the horses. Please do not feed them, as they can become ill.
For your safety, and theirs, please do not touch or pet the horses. Not all animals enjoy being touched.
The cattle and sheep are well acclimated to our Arizona temperatures and have constant access to both shade and fresh water. Their welfare is monitored daily by College of Veterinary Medicine or School of Comparative and Animal Sciences staff, and care is overseen by UA’s veterinarians and animal welfare compliance agencies.
If you have questions about gardening or plant health, please reach out to the Pima County Master Gardeners at 520-626-5161 or go to https://extension.arizona.edu/programs/pima-county-master-gardeners
Helping to produce career-ready veterinarians.
We provide students within the College of Veterinary Medicine a home for hands-on experiential learning. Campus Agricultural Center is where these students learn general handling skills, animal husbandry, physical examination techniques and clinical skills with the university's teaching herd - comprised of horses, sheep and cows.
Food Product & Safety Laboratory
The Food Product and Safety Laboratory is a USDA-inspected meat processing facility at CAC, which will be completely renovated and expanded in early 2025. Capabilities include animal harvest, meat cut fabrication, value-added meat processing, smoking and cooking, and alternative packaging systems. Facilities include a modern lecture hall, analytic and microbiological laboratories, research kitchen and sensory testing, demonstration kitchen, and a retail store.
