Government is building a new plant and animal health centre to keep people safe by stopping diseases such as avian flu before they spread, protecting British Columbia’s food, farmers, animals and communities.
“B.C. farmers, producers and processors rely on fast, accurate testing to keep their animals healthy and their operations running smoothly,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “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."
The new plant and animal health centre will be the backbone of B.C.’s food safety system, helping farmers and veterinarians quickly detect and respond to animal and plant diseases that could threaten animal safety, food supply and public health.
“All farmers and ranchers in the province rely on the excellent veterinary and diagnostic work done at the plant and animal health centre,” said Jennifer Woike, president, BC Agriculture Council. “Building a new and updated centre is an extraordinary commitment to ensure the continued health of livestock and crops and, by extension, the health of all British Columbians.”
The current centre suffered extensive damages during the 2021 floods in Abbotsford and needs to be replaced to meet the increasing demands for testing. The centre handles more than 10,000 cases annually from farmers and organizations, helping to detect, monitor and prevent diseases such as avian influenza, West Nile virus and chronic wasting disease. Staff at the lab conduct, on average, 100,000 tests annually.
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