220 acres of highly productive farmland ear-marked for industrial development.
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – June 24, 2022: BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) is deeply concerned by the recent reports that the lands that have been farmed by Heppell’s Potatoes for more than three generations are now at risk of industrial development, announced BCAC Executive Director, Danielle Synotte.
“This is yet another example of how prime agricultural land in this province is under significant pressure from urban and industrial expansion,” says Synotte. “BCAC fully supports the efforts to see this vital piece of productive farmland recognized as part of the Agricultural Land Reserve.”
The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), comprising 4.6 million hectares or only about 5% of British Columbia’s total land mass, is protected for agricultural production under the Agricultural Land Commission Act. Unlike other farmland in B.C., this parcel is not protected by the ALR. Not only is the land not in the ALR, the landowner – the Federal Government – is not bound by the ALR’s farmland protection system.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the recent extreme weather events and accompanying public concerns about food security, governments and the public have started to re-evaluate the way they see and value agriculture as well as the entire supply chain.
“The continuity of BC’s food supply is vitally important to all British Columbians” said James Donaldson, CEO of BC Food & Beverage. “If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the supply chain is fragile, and there are a number of critical interdependencies that make the supply chain work. Removal of important farmland is a potential disruption that our province can ill afford,” Donaldson added.
Synotte adds, “If these lands are recognized as part of the Agricultural Land Reserve, it would send a powerful signal that agriculture is valued in British Columbia and that different levels of government can cooperate effectively to ensure our communities’ food security.”
To learn more about the issue and to sign the petition, please CLICK HERE.
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Media Contact:
Amy Dhanjal
Manager of Communications & Public Relations
BC Agriculture Council
604-854-4454 | communications@bcac.ca
