Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 - The future of food

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Good morning!

Today’s story is a neat discussion about agriculture and technology. It reminded me of how, when I was learning to drive a tractor, my dad would point out the bush at the edge of the field. He explained how he used to stick duct tape on the tractor window to ensure he kept the trees at the same position and, thus, the tractor driving in a straight line.

By the time I was learning to drive, though, we just had to make sure the GPS device that steered the tractor was set properly and stayed connected to the satellite that guided it. Read more about that kind of tech—among many others—and the promise they hold for the future of food in today’s story.

– Grace

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WORTH KNOWING

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NEWS

The future of food

Despite the challenges faced by humanity in 2023, there’s huge reason for optimism that the way we grow and get our food will improve, become more efficient, and environmentally sustainable.

But it won’t happen without guidance or good policy, local food experts said Friday at an invitation-only agriculture technology conference held in Abbotsford.

• Today, Tyler takes readers inside the conference’s keynote panel, where four experts talked about how our agriculture and food sectors will evolve, and the challenges they face.

Related

Need to know

🧰 What goes up may not come down it hundreds of elevator mechanics could walk off the job this week [CTV]

👮‍♀️ Abbotsford is one of 13 municipalities named in a proposed class action lawsuit by women police officers alleging sexual discrimination, assault and bullying [Mission Record]

⏳ Two years after the 2021 atmospheric rivers hit, rebuilding remains a ‘pipe dream’ for some Fraser Valley residents [Global]

👉 Eviction notices have been issued to those living in a homeless camp at the Clearbrook interchange [CTV]

🐕‍🦺 An event in Abbotsford this weekend is raising money to support retired police dogs [Vancouver Sun]

⛰ The public is asked to provide ideas for a planned new park near Mount Woodside [Agassiz-Harrison Observer]

👉 A Chilliwack man is looking for a liver donation, but is also facing the ethical questions it poses [Chilliwack Progress]

🏥 An inmate at an Agassiz Prison was hospitalized after an assault [Fraser Valley Today]

 Brewhalla Cloverdale is at the Cloverdale Agriplex on October 28th, featuring 30+ local BC craft beverage makers, live music, food trucks, and more!*

🏠 With affordability in the Fraser Valley under ongoing pressure, Abbotsford Tech District will mean affordable housing, high-quality education, and well-paying jobs close to home.*

*Sponsored Listing

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The Agenda

Electricity free ride is over

The free power ride might be over for electric vehicle owners who use Mission city facilities.

Mission operates six dual charging stations for electric vehicles at municipal buildings. (One each at city hall, the leisure centre, and the RCMP detachment, and three at the Welton Community Building.) Since their installation between 2017 and 2019, they have been free for all to use.

The city says the stations are, collectively used around 30 times a day. The stations cost the city around $20,000 each year, which works out to a per-user cost to the city of around $1.75) Now, the city is looking to set charging fees at those facilities. On Monday, council will discuss a staff plan that will charge users for the power they consume. But the cost won’t be much.

Mission staff have suggested charging $1 per hour for the first two hours, and three dollars for each additional hour beyond that. Such a structure would be identical to that charged by the Township of Langley. Chilliwack charges $2 per hour.

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Catch up

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