diff --git a/azure-pipelines.yml b/azure-pipelines.yml
index b8248c4a..e27b0846 100644
--- a/azure-pipelines.yml
+++ b/azure-pipelines.yml
@@ -24,13 +24,8 @@ steps:
 - bash: echo "##vso[task.prependpath]$CONDA/bin"
   displayName: Add conda to PATH
 
-- bash: conda create --yes --quiet --name pp_env
-  displayName: Create Anaconda environment
-
-- bash: |
-    source activate pp_env
-    conda install --yes --quiet --name pp_env pip numpy mkl scipy python-dateutil pandas scikit-learn dendropy sharedmem numba matplotlib networkx mash hdbscan rapidnj
-  displayName: Install Anaconda packages
+- bash: conda env create --quiet --file environment.yml
+  displayName: Create Anaconda environment and install dependencies
 
 - script: |
     source activate pp_env
diff --git a/environment.yml b/environment.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..62a5ce8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/environment.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+name: pp_env
+channels:
+  - conda-forge
+  - bioconda
+  - defaults
+  - r
+dependencies:
+  - pip
+  - numpy
+  - mkl
+  - scipy
+  - python-dateutil
+  - pandas
+  - scikit-learn
+  - dendropy
+  - sharedmem
+  - numba
+  - matplotlib
+  - networkx
+  - mash
+  - hdbscan
+  - rapidnj