ALR processing rules changing

The province is set to announce changes to rules governing food processing in the Agricultural Land Reserve in response to strong demand for locally produced food.

“Processing and farming have never been strangers,” BC agriculture minister Lana Popham told the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce’s annual agriculture bus tour on June 5. “The question before us is not whether or not food processing belongs in BC’s agricultural landscape. I think we all think it does. The question is how can we grow the capacity of food production in a thoughtful way.”

Current rules require food processors within the ALR to source 50% of their inputs from the farm where they operate.

However, Popham says 90% of businesses that apply for an exemption to the rule receive approval from the Agricultural Land Commission.

“This is a system that says, ‘yes,’” she says, and with the province seeing record investment in food processing, the time is right to make changes.

Details will be announced “in the next few weeks,” she says.

The move follows recommendations of the Premier’s Task Force on Agriculture and Food Economy, which urged the province to establish an independent body to review the purpose and effectiveness of the ALR “with the goal of protecting and preserving farmland and supporting food producers and processors” and to develop “a land strategy for food processing.”

Revisiting the 50% rule has been a long-standing request of the BC Agriculture Council, which co-chaired the premier’s task force.

Speaking during lunch, Popham also tipped an announcement on flood mitigation.

Water levels during the devastating 2021 flooding of Sumas Prairie were marked on the wall of the tour’s first stop, Bos Sod Farms Inc., which is providing turf for the seven FIFA World Cup matches that kick off at BC Place beginning June 13.

“Seeing the black pen marks of the level of the flood lines, it took my breath away a bit,” Popham says.

Discussions with the federal government regarding flood mitigation over the past four months have been very productive, she says.

“We’re very confident compared to where we were six months ago,” she says.

The pending announcement won’t lead to an “overnight fix” but will “bring back some hope,” Popham says.

The tour also visited animal feed supplier Nature’s Pride Nutrition and Singletree Winery.

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