A new $5 million fund announced Thursday in Chilliwack will help B.C. farmers protect their poultry and livestock from animal diseases like avian influenza, swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease.

鈥淚 am pleased to officially announce that the B.C. government is investing $5 million in the B.C. poultry and livestock sector with the renewed focus of reducing the spread of animal disease and improving food security for British Columbians,鈥� said Pam Alexis, minister of agriculture and food.

Details like how and when the funding will flow weren鈥檛 available, but the new program is about fostering 鈥渞esilience鈥� in the ag sector, as part of a larger $200-million investment in food security initiatives recently announced.

Langley East MLA Megan Dykeman who is also a farmer, said animal diseases when they hit can have a 鈥渞ipple effect鈥� throughout the food supply chain.

鈥淭his investment will enable our farmers and ranchers to plan, prepare and prevent and mitigate for these diseases on their farms,鈥� she said.

The funding will go to a mix of 鈥渆mergency planning and training鈥� for the livestock and poultry sector, and equipment in response to outbreaks, as well as research, and implementation of biosecurity and mitigation measures.

The ag sector will be able to respond 鈥渜uicker and better鈥� to disease outbreaks with this key support, said Alexis.

鈥淎nimal diseases, such as avian influenza, have a huge impact on farmers,鈥� said Mark Siemens, president of the BC Egg producers association.

They鈥檝e learned the virus is now a 鈥測ear-round鈥� concern causing farmers 鈥渕ental strain and anguish,鈥� which has become 鈥渧ery challenging,鈥� Siemens said.

鈥淧oultry farmers particularly appreciate the fact that this funding is available to a wide variety of applicants so we can take advantage of best practices from across the animal agriculture sector,鈥� he said.

Industry associations will receive support for business planning, research, biosecurity and equipment purchases needed to respond to an animal disease outbreak.

The ministry鈥檚 Animal Health Centre, located in Abbotsford, currently handles more than 6,000 case submissions annually while diagnosing, monitoring and assisting in controlling and preventing diseases, such as avian influenza. The province has also announced plans to invest in a new Animal Health Centre that will ensure a more robust response to disease and enhanced testing in the future.

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