B.C. begins 6-week engagement on ALR changes for food processing - Parksville Qualicum News
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Agriculture critic says B.C. 'absolutely' needs more processing for farmers

Agriculture and Food Minister Lana Popham said in an emailed statement to Black Press Media that the proposed changes are meant to “create jobs, attract investment, and encourage a provincial food supply that is secure, diversified, and resilient.”

“More food processing capacity of the right kind, rooted in B.C. agriculture, means more of that value stays here creating jobs, attracting investment, and supporting a food supply that is more secure, diversified, and resilient,” Popham said.

  • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
    1·
    6 days ago

    The government is proposing more food processing in the Agricultural Land Reserve on land that is “not well-suited for primary production.”

    It would allow food processors to build food-processing plants on Class 5-7 soil in the Agricultural Land Reserve as long as five per cent of the primary product used in the processing is grown or raised in the province. Class 4 soil could be used if the parcel is serviced by the date the rule is implemented, the government added.

    I always thought ALR was actually reserved for agricultural production. As in, sure, you can process it on ALR if that’s where it was produced. But produced elsewhere and then processed on ALR in processing plants? That’s very much NOT a land reserve. Anyone who can set up a processing plant can afford to pay taxes like the rest of us and set up their plant near a shipping route.