A new plant and animal health centre has been confirmed for Abbotsford, with the province providing up to $496 million to buy the land, build the new facility and purchase equipment.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027 with services by 2032.
The announcement was made Tuesday (Oct. 14) at WestGen Genetics Centre, near the location of the current centre at 1767 Angus Campbell Rd.
Provincial Agriculture Minister Lana Popham and Health Minister Josie Osborne were on hand for the announcement.
City council voted in May of this year to support an application to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) for the new 177,600-square-foot (16,500-square-metre) centre at 34252 King Rd.
The 86-acre property is currently used for pumpkin farming, with a home located at the northeast corner.
It will be subdivided to create one 46-acre parcel and one 40-acre parcel to allow the acquisition of the southern 39-acre parcel from the current land owner.
The property is in the Agricultural Land Reserve and required approval from the ALC for it to be used for non-farm use.
A staff report to council stated that the current plant and animal health centre has been operating in Abbotsford for 25 years but experienced water damage during the November 2021 floods. As well, a larger facility is needed in the future.
The facility provides diagnostic testing services to detect and prevent the spread of plant and animal diseases in B.C. such as avian influenza, West Nile virus and chronic wasting disease.
The centre also includes a crematorium, which is used to dispose of animal carcasses that have underdone diagnostic testing.
More than 60 scientists work in the current facility, which handles more than 10,000 case submissions and 100,000 tests annually.
"This new centre will help producers prevent and respond to disease threats, protect our food supply and support public health. This is a forward-looking investment that will strengthen B.C.’s agriculture sector and safeguard food security for generations to come," Popham said on Tuesday.
Osborne said the centre ensures safer food in the province by "monitoring food sources, tracking emerging threats and guiding swift responses."
Mayor Ross Siemens thanked the province for keeping Abbotsford as the home for the facility.
“This plant and animal health centre will continue providing farmers with support for keeping their farms healthy, safeguarding their livelihoods and strengthening food security across B.C.," he said.
