Government  is building a new plant and animal health centre to keep people safe by stopping diseases such as avian flu before they spread, protecting British Columbia’s food, farmers, animals and communities.

Farmers and families in the Township of Langley will be better prepared for flooding with work underway to improve pump capacity on flood plains and irrigation systems that will strengthen the area’s food security.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed 52 farms have been infected with the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in B.C. since Oct. 20, 2023.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed that birds at eight commercial poultry farms in the Fraser Valley and two small flocks in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the Regional District of Mount Waddington have tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus bringing the total to 16 confirmed cases since Oct. 20, 2023.

Farmers in Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford will have access to $1.5 million to implement practices that create benefits for food production and the environment.

The B.C. government is planning to build a new Plant and Animal Health Centre to provide diagnostic services that support agricultural producers, food safety and the growth of a resilient food system in the province.

Seventeen British Columbians with diverse backgrounds and expertise in food production will help farmers access the latest technology, create more resilient farms and increase sustainability through their roles on the Minister’s Advisory Group on Regenerative Agriculture and Agritech (RAA).

From: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-oceans.html)