Canada's Affinor Approved to Advance Abbotsford Vertical Farm Expansion

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 29, Canada's Affinor Growers obtained a soil removal and backfill permit from the City of Abbotsford, allowing land grading and planting facility preparation to proceed at the vertical farming project site at 34240 Page Road in British Columbia. The permit allows the retention of 70 cubic meters of soil previously filled on the site, plus an additional 2,780 cubic meters of backfill, bringing the total approved backfill volume to 2,850 cubic meters, with a work area of approximately 4,400 square meters.

The project site covers a total area of approximately 4.3 hectares. On September 24, the Canadian Agricultural Land Commission approved soil and gravel backfill on approximately 0.44 hectares of the site. The site will feature approximately 2,188 square meters of outdoor growing area and approximately 2,211 square meters of greenhouse, both of which will be used to deploy Affinor's proprietary vertical growing towers, primarily for strawberry production.

This round of construction focuses on land grading in the outdoor growing area, drainage and erosion control, material quality management, and preparation of foundations for subsequent vertical growing tower installation. The municipal permit also sets requirements for on-site inspections, road maintenance, and soil quality, with the relevant earthworks required to be completed by March 10, 2027.

Affinor's existing Abbotsford facility has already conducted research and development and production validation around vertical strawberry cultivation. According to the company's website, an existing greenhouse of approximately 15,000 square feet is already being used for the development of next-generation six-tier rotating growing towers and strawberry production. The new greenhouse and outdoor growing area will continue to use its vertical growing system to expand the existing strawberry production area.

The Agricultural Land Commission has confirmed that strawberry cultivation and vertical farming comply with relevant agricultural land regulations, and has recognized the outdoor growing area and greenhouse as agricultural facilities required for the project. After completing earthworks and site preparation, Affinor will still need to obtain subsequent municipal and other approvals required for construction before proceeding with greenhouse and vertical growing tower installation.