A local greenhouse operator is getting $339,000 in government funding to grow beneficial bugs to help manage pests at other indoor farms.
The project at Fresh4Sunset Farms Ltd. in East Delta is one of 19 agritech initiatives and nine training programs around B.C. receiving a combined $15.5 million in investment, including nearly $5 million in support from the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI, in partnership with the federal government’s Pacific Economic Development Agency) plus more than $2 million cash and more than $8 million in-kind from industry.
The funding Fresh4Sunset Farms receives will go towards establishing a B.C.-based facility to produce beneficial insects for greenhouse biological control, reducing reliance on imports, shipping emissions and costs, while promoting sustainability according to the government’s announcement Monday (Feb. 24).
“The funding from BCCAI will help our farm incorporate advanced technologies, sustainable practices and data-driven strategies for breeding good bugs to fight pests. I am excited to share our data with other greenhouse growers, enabling new entrants to make informed decisions, optimizing treatment plans and reducing pesticide use,” Ravi Cheema, chief executive officer at Fresh4Sunset Farms, said in a press release.
“By fostering collaboration between universities and private companies, we will facilitate the sharing of knowledge and resources throughout B.C. and beyond.”
For the project, Fresh4Sunset Farms is partnering with Gill Labour Contracting Ltd. of Surrey and Cobalt Refrigeration of Abbotsford.
“In the face of President Trump’s tariff threats, it’s critical we invest in food security here in B.C.,” Delta North MLA Ravi Kahlon said in an NDP caucus press release.
“The products that Fresh4Sunset Farms creates will help reduce B.C. farmers’ reliance on imported insects, and help greenhouses to manage pests more sustainably.”
The projects and programs announced Monday will help companies scale up their technology, create more “made-in-B.C. solutions” and deliver more opportunities for training and upskilling, creating a stronger, more resilient agriculture industry, according to a government press release.
Together, they are expected to help upskill more than 800 people through new training and lead to 194 new jobs, in addition to creating growth for businesses, producers and processors.
"Our province is home to vibrant agriculture and technology sectors, and our government is standing strong to keep them safe during times of global uncertainty," Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Diana Gibson said in a press release.
"Through the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation, our government is bolstering our economy and leveraging our strengths to help local agritech and agrifood businesses bring more B.C. goods to market, advance food security and create good jobs for people by growing industry here at home."
Harjit Sajjan, federal minister of emergency preparedness and minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency, said forward-thinking innovators across B.C. are developing technology that is transforming agriculture in the province.
"By partnering with the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation, the Government of Canada is supporting local food producers, strengthening our supply chains and growing a skilled workforce," Sajjan said in a press release.
B.C Minister of Agriculture and Food Lana Popham added these partnerships are helping small and medium-sized businesses develop new technologies and tools to support farmers and enhance food.
"Supporting our province's food producers and agritech innovators is critical to building a sustainable, local food supply, as well as contributing to new jobs and economic growth in B.C.," Popham said in a press release.
