We’re Awarding $151,000 for Blueberry Research in Abbotsford

The following media release was distributed today: The Abbotsford Community Foundation (ACF) is pleased to announce 2 projects to support sector wide initiatives within the blueberry industry from this year’s Agricultural Enhancement Grants Program.

ACF’s Agricultural Enhancement Grants Program, offered through a partnership with the City of Abbotsford, has been offering matching grants to Abbotsford’s agricultural industry since 2012. Over the years, the program has provided over $1.6 million in grants to ensure the long-term sustainability of the local agricultural sector, in all its forms. In 2026, ACF chose to provide 2 grant streams through the program. The first stream opened February for Sector Wide Initiatives. It was through this stream that the following projects have been approved:

$100,000 grant for Generating Breeding Tools to Improve Post-Harvest Blueberry Quality in BC led by the University of British Columbia (Castellarin Lab): BC’s blueberry sector is challenged by the lack of precise genetic tools to efficiently select novel varieties with improved aroma, texture, and storage traits. This project accelerates marker-assisted breeding, strengthens industry collaboration, supports grower engagement, knowledge mobilization, and training.

“This funding will help accelerate the development of the next generation of blueberry varieties for British Columbia, combining advanced genomic tools with breeding innovation to deliver berries with improved flavour, shelf-life, and resilience. The long-term impact will be a more competitive and sustainable blueberry industry that supports grower profitability and strengthens Abbotsford’s and BC’s position as global leaders in blueberry production.” – Simone Castellarin, Professor, Associate Dean, ResearchWine Research Centre | Faculty of Land and Food Systems.

$51,205 grant for Advancing the Blueberry Sector led by Organic BC: Canada currently imports nearly 5 times as many certified organic blueberries ($4.9M kg) as it exports ($1.1M kg). This market dependency limits profitability for both organic and conventional growers. This project will conduct farmer-led On-Farm Demonstration & Research (OFDR) trials and synthesize findings into actionable pillars.

“We’re grateful for this opportunity to work alongside Abbotsford’s blueberry community to explore how organic practices can build resilience, reduce risk, and open up new possibilities for BC-grown berries.  When blueberry growers have access to the right knowledge and tools, everyone benefits.” – Eva-Lena Lang, Executive Director, Organic BC.

“ACF is delighted to be able to make these grants available to support our local blueberry industry,” says Areni Kelleppan, ACF Executive Director. The ACF Agricultural Enhancement Grants Committee felt that it was, “a good time to support a specific sector wide initiative and fund innovation with real world application.” ACF is grateful to be able to partner with the City of Abbotsford to continue to invest in local research and development projects that can support the health and resilience of Abbotsford’s agricultural industry.

The second stream of ACF’s 2026 Agricultural Enhancement Grants Program will open to local farmers, producers, and processors for matching grants in October 2026. For more information on this or any of ACF’s other granting programs, please review our agriculture grants page.