Province revises ALR regulations to make room for vertical farming – North Island Gazette
According to Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun, vertical farming allows Eco Dairy’s 2,000 square foot building in Abbotsford to produce animal feed equivalent to 10 acres of farmland.
He used the company as an example of why regulatory changes were coming to the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) at a provincial press conference on February 19.
“We’ve been excited about this for a while,” Braun said. “The changes to the ALR Regulations provide much-needed certainty and predictability for organizations to invest in and grow agri-tech in our community.”
Vertical farming — where crops are grown in stacked layers to maximize space, reduce energy costs and emissions — is a form of agricultural technology the province has planned for ALR-zoned properties as part of its economic plan. StrongerBC.
Not only could this increase the productivity of small fallow land, but it could help British Columbia become a “global player” in the agricultural technology market, according to a provincial press release.
Local governments and the province have already heard from businesses interested in investing as a result of this regulatory change, said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation.
“We’re going to see investments in British Columbia, and that will be positive for the communities, but it will also be positive for our food security going forward,” Kahlon said.
Agri-tech operations are more sustainable and use fewer resources thanks to innovative technologies such as robotic harvesting and controlled indoor growing systems, the provincial news release says, noting that there are already 150 agri-tech companies. operating in British Columbia.
The change aims to help solve “the global puzzle of food security and the food economy”, said Lana Popham, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. She said the pandemic and the recent devastating November floods in Abbotsford showed the vulnerability of food supply chains.
Braun said Abbotsford has struggled to attract agri-tech companies due to uncertainty surrounding ALR regulations; Popham said the changes will add clarity for potential investors.
The province has an agri-tech land strategy based on recommendations from a 2019 meeting of the Food Security Task Force regarding land use policies. About $7.5 million has been invested in grants for agri-tech companies in 2021.
The BC government will also launch a Regenerative Agriculture and Agritech Network to help farmers use the latest technologies to increase production, sustainability and profitability.
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patrick.penner@missioncityrecord.com
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