Funding supports barn upgrades to protect poultry from avian influenza risks
The Government of British Columbia is continuing its efforts to support poultry farmers and protect the province’s food supply. Through the Novel Tools and Technologies Program, poultry producers are receiving financial help to upgrade their barns and reduce the risk of avian influenza.
This program focuses on improving farm biosecurity. Biosecurity includes steps taken to keep diseases away from animals. By strengthening these measures, poultry farmers can better protect their chickens, turkeys, and egg-laying birds from harmful viruses.
The program has a total funding of $2.5 million and aims to support farmers installing modern technologies in their barns. These technologies include air filtration systems and ultraviolet light equipment, which help reduce the spread of viruses.
In 2025, 29 farms received more than $800,000 to adopt these tools. In addition, two research projects were supported with funding of up to $150,000 to explore new solutions.
The program has already shown positive results. Feedback from farmers who received funding in the first round indicates that more than 80% would recommend the technology to others. Some farmers reported that the upgrades played an important role in keeping their flocks safe during a recent high-risk avian influenza season. They also shared that they feel more confident about protecting their birds compared to previous years.
The current funding round is open from June 1 to June 30, 2026. Poultry farms located in the Fraser Valley, Langley, and Surrey regions are eligible to apply on this website https://iafbc.ca/novel-tools-and-technology/. Around 50 farms are expected to benefit from approximately $1.4 million in this phase.
The program is managed by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia. It aims to strengthen the agriculture sector while ensuring a stable and safe supply of poultry products for consumers.
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