BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund Launches $1 Million Impact and Opportunities Initiative

PEACE RIVER REGIONAL DISTRICT, B.C. — The BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund (PACF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 Impact and Opportunities Initiative (IOI).

This $1 million proposal-based intake is designed to support large-scale projects that provide long-term, sustainable opportunities for agriculture and agrifoods economic activity in the Peace region.

The IOI will open for proposals on January 20, 2025, and completed proposal packages will be accepted until 4:30 pm PST on March 31, 2025. Funding decisions will be announced in August 2025.

The IOI focuses on transformative projects that benefit multiple producers or the broader Peace region by enhancing agricultural capacity and economic resilience. This year’s intake builds on the success of the previous IOI launched in 2022, which allocated $1 million to two key projects:

• Fort St. John Seed Cleaning Cooperative Association — Awarded $746,000, the cooperative is undertaking a $1.2 million improvement project for its seed cleaning plant. The funding will facilitate the installation of cutting-edge technology, including a Cimbria SEA Optical Sorter, a colour sorter, a gravity separator, and a super cleaner. These upgrades will improve the ability to clean grains, cereal crops, seeds, and pulses, enhancing product quality by removing unwanted seeds and foreign materials.
• South Peace Grain Cleaning Cooperative Association — Awarded $254,000, the cooperative will purchase and install an advanced optical sorting machine in the Dawson Creek area. This innovative equipment utilizes cameras, lighting, and specialized software to detect and remove foreign materials, as well as seeds with discolouration, size, or shape defects. By improving seed quality, the project will help producers achieve more consistent growth rates and higher yields.

Eligible applicants for the 2025 IOI include registered non-profit organizations, agricultural producer groups, cooperatives, and other entities dedicated to advancing agriculture in the Peace region. Proposals will be evaluated based on their potential to deliver long-term benefits, promote sustainable practices, and strengthen the region’s agricultural economy.

For detailed information about eligibility criteria and application guidelines, please visit https://bcpeaceagfund.ca/.

About the PACF: The $20 million Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund was established by BC Hydro through the Site C project to support sustainable agriculture and agrifoods economic activity in the Peace region. Through targeted initiatives like the IOI, the PACF is committed to fostering innovation, enhancing infrastructure, and creating lasting opportunities for the region’s producers.

QUOTES:

Rick Kantz, Chair, BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund
“The 2022 IOI projects have already demonstrated the transformative potential of this initiative. The Fort St. John and South Peace Grain Cleaning Cooperatives are enhancing the region’s agricultural infrastructure and creating new opportunities for producers. We’re excited to see the innovation and collaboration that will emerge from this new round of funding.”

Chris O’Riley, President and CEO, BC Hydro
“The 2025 Impact and Opportunities Initiative is made possible by BC Hydro’s $20 million Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund. To date, this fund has invested more than $3.6 million into the agricultural sector in the Peace region, directly benefiting over 115 separate projects.”