The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako and MASH (Society for Making Agriculture Sustainable in the Hazeltons) are announcing a project to enhance livestock processing services in Northwest British Columbia. Committed to sustainable local food systems, this project addresses key service gaps for poultry and livestock producers through community collaboration and expert input. The initiative aims to strengthen local food systems, boost economic opportunities, and enhance community resilience by integrating tailored solutions that meet environmental, social, and economic sustainability goals.
The project kicked off in February 2025 when MASH and RDBN co-developed a project proposal and pitched it to the Public Health Association of BC. Funding was received in April 2025 and the workplan spans several critical stages:
- Planning & Research (April – May 2025): Team building and collaboration with frameworks for solution design, including an analysis of BC Small-Scale Meat Producers’ work.
- Consultation (June – September 2025): Engagement with key stakeholders to identify critical elements such as licenses, equipment, insurance, and staffing. A SWOT analysis of various slaughter and processing options will also be conducted.
- Toolkit Development (May – November 2025): Finalization of business plan templates addressing labour options, training, equipment and financing. Potential partnerships will also be explored.
- Community Engagement (November 2025): Toolkit availability will be expanded to non-profits and businesses through both in-person open houses in Terrace, Hazeltons, Smithers, and Vanderhoof, as well as digital access.
- Follow-Up to Recommendations (Ongoing): Ensuring the development of sustainable and actionable solutions tailored for the local food system.
Concurrent to this project, MASH is working on a grassroots initiative to fast track a poultry processing solution that includes acquiring cold storage with freezer capacity and qualified operators for slaughtering. Support letters and donations are needed to have a partial solution in place for holiday turkeys. MASH already has a poultry plucker and livestock trailer available for local producers through our Farm and Kitchen Equipment Library.
We’re very excited about both of these projects and look forward to sharing more information mid-June.