By Jenny Holly Hansen | WBN News | April 20, 2025

The Province of British Columbia has confirmed plans to build a new state-of-the-art plant and animal health laboratory in Abbotsford, replacing the aging facility that was damaged during the devastating 2021 Sumas Prairie flood. This long-anticipated project is being hailed as a significant step forward for agricultural resilience, disease prevention, and emergency preparedness across B.C.

The new facility will be significantly larger than the existing lab, which is currently located on the Ministry of Agriculture and Food campus in Abbotsford. While the full specifications and timeline have not yet been disclosed, provincial officials emphasized that the new structure will be built to modern flood protection standards and will include advanced testing and research capabilities to better serve B.C.’s farming and food production sectors.

The original lab was a critical hub for animal disease diagnostics, plant pathology, and surveillance of foreign animal diseases. Its partial shutdown following the 2021 atmospheric river event left gaps in the province’s ability to respond quickly to biosecurity threats, a concern that was echoed by farmers and food security advocates.

Once completed, the new facility will not only restore these vital capabilities but expand them. In addition to traditional diagnostics, it will support innovations in food safety, environmental monitoring, and animal welfare. The lab will also be a key resource in helping to prevent and contain future outbreaks—ranging from avian influenza to invasive crop pests.

Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens welcomed the announcement, noting that the new lab underscores the province’s commitment to rural resilience and agricultural excellence. “This is a significant investment not just in infrastructure, but in the health and vitality of our agricultural community,” Siemens said.

With Abbotsford serving as a backbone of B.C.’s agricultural economy, the new lab is expected to strengthen food system reliability province-wide. It also reflects lessons learned from the 2021 flood, which caused more than $1 billion in agricultural losses and underscored the importance of strategic, future-ready planning for critical infrastructure.

Construction details and project timelines are expected to be released later this year, with community and stakeholder input playing a role in shaping the lab’s future role in the region.

Let’s Keep Talking:

Jenny is a business insurance broker with Waypoint Insurance.

She is also a business development consultant with Impresario Partners, helping Canadian Business expand overseas.

She can be reached at 604-317-6755 or jholly-hansen@wbnn.news. Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-holly-hansen-365b691b/.  Connect with Jenny at BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jennyhollyhansen.bsky.social

Let’s Meet Up:

Jenny Holly Hansen is a cohost with Chris Sturges of the Langley Impact Networking Group. You are welcome to join us on Thursday’s from 4pm to 6pm at: Sidebar Bar and Grill: 100b - 20018 83A Avenue, Langley, BC V2Y 3R4

TAGS:  #Jenny Holly Hansen #Abbotsford is Awesome #Biosecurity #2021 Sumas Prairie Flood #Animal Disease Diagnostics #Plant Pathology # Mayor Ross Siemens

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