BC town wants to develop municipal land for forestry and ag opportunities

Oct 26, 2021

The British Columbia town of Qualicum Beach wants to create a rural innovation hub on 44 acres of municipal land that will provide value-added opportunities for forestry and agriculture.

Although the parcel of land is in an area with a long growing season, it is not thought to have the best quality of soil for outdoor farming—so greenhouses may be the best option.

Qualicum Beach is looking for proposals to design, develop, own, operate and finance a light industrial forestry and/or agricultural development in an effort to encourage new value-added activities in the area.

The end-result of the project is to create local jobs and businesses, increase economic activity and support current area suppliers and shops. Along with taxes generated via any new commercial building project, land sales or long-term leases are also on the table.

A portion of the land is within the BC Agricultural Land Reserve, with another section containing a decommissioned landfill topped with clay.

The town said initial proposals must be in by November 3, 2021, with additional proposals to be considered quarterly per year.

Video: Sow Welfare and Group Housing Systems - Dr. Laya Alves

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Laya Alves from the University of São Paulo, in Brazil, discusses how animal welfare regulations are evolving globally and their impact on pig production systems. She explains challenges in group housing, pain management, and euthanasia decisions, while highlighting the role of training and management in improving outcomes and economic sustainability. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Translating welfare requirements into daily farm routines without compromising economic sustainability remains one of the biggest challenges faced by producers globally today."

Meet the guest: Dr. Laya Alves / laya-kannan is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, focusing on animal welfare in pig production, including pain management, euthanasia, and economic decision making. Her work integrates welfare science with practical farm management and sustainability. She collaborates globally to develop applied tools for producers.