The 2021 floods in Abbotsford damaged the current facility
The B.C. government is building a new plant and animal health centre in Abbotsford.
The new facility will be located at 34252 King Rd. next to the University of Fraser Valley’s Abbotsford campus.
“This new centre will help producers prevent and respond to disease threats, protect our food supply and support public health,” B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said in a statement. “This is a forward-looking investment that will strengthen B.C.’s agriculture sector and safeguard food security for generations to come."
The facility provides diagnostic testing services to veterinarians, livestock producers, and other stakeholders.
These include tests for avian flu, bluetongue, and chicken anemia virus.
The provincial government started planning the new building in January 2023.
The new King Rd. building will replace the current one at 1767 Angus Campbell Rd., which received significant damage during the floods in 2021.
About four kilometres and a 10-minute drive separates the two locations.
The new lab will sit on about 86 acres of land and have an area of about 177,600 square feet. Remaining land will be left for ag production and research purposes, the Chilliwack Progress reported in May 2025.
At the time, the Agricultural Land Commission still needed to approve project.
B.C. has earmarked $496 million to acquire the land, construct the building and buy the necessary equipment.
The current timeline sees construction beginning in 2027, with enhanced services available by 2032.
Producer groups are pleased the government is investing in plant and animal health.
“Animal health and welfare for ranchers involves a comprehensive, proactive approach. It is also one of the biggest challenges facing livestock producers worldwide today. It is vital that we have modern, technologically advanced facilities to respond to and ultimately prevent future health concerns for our livestock,” said Kevin Boon, general manager of the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association.
And Navtej Bains, the vice president operations, marketing and procurement, with Westberry Farms, said the investment “gives growers confidence that we can protect our crops, respond quickly to plant health issues, and continue producing high-quality berries for local and global markets.”