AgRefresh

Image - Submitted by City of Abbotsford Planning Department

Calling all Stakeholders... The City of Abbotsford is initiating a comprehensive planning process called AgRefresh, to review municipal agricultural policies, bylaws and regulations, and to establish a framework for ongoing bylaw compliance.

​Abbotsford Council recently confirmed the importance of hearing from the agricultural industry, community, and residents, and directed staff to begin engagement. Additional project information can be found online. 
 
To help the City understand your views on the challenges and opportunities related to agriculture in Abbotsford, you are invited to an AgRefresh Agricultural Industry and Stakeholder Workshop on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at the AgRec Gallery at Abbotsford Exhibition Park, 32470 Haida Drive, from 9:00 am to 11:30 am.  
 
If you cannot attend the workshop, you are welcome to attend the public open house on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at Matsqui Elementary School, 33661 Elizabeth Ave, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

About the Program...

Abbotsford is the largest municipality in BC with a total area of 389 km2 where approximately 75% of the land is located within the ALR, making agriculture a significant part of the City’s economy and character. Abbotsford is one of the most intensively and diversely farmed areas in Canada, supporting a wide range of crop and livestock productions.   

The agricultural industry is quickly changing and experiencing intensification. Many farmers are looking to add value to their product to remain competitive by introducing on-farm processing, farm retail and agri-tourism opportunities. This value-added approach increases the industrialization and urbanization of farming, thus blurring the lines between rural and urban land uses.  

In 2011, an Agriculture Strategy was developed with a vision of continued health and growth of agriculture. In 2012, the BC Ministry of Agriculture completed an Agricultural Land Use Inventory of agricultural activities in Abbotsford. AgRefresh will build upon this work with a new framework for agricultural planning and compliance.  

For further information or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
Tel: 604-864-5614
Email: [email protected]
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Abbotsford BC, Agricultural Land Reserve Map

Image - ALR Map of Abbotsford By Lenore Newman, Ph. D, UFV Department of Geography