Latest news with #ALR
CBC
2 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Business leaders want B.C. to end rule they say hurts farmers — and makes us more reliant on imported food
Business leaders in B.C. are calling on the province to end a rule that they say is hurting farmers and making British Columbians more reliant on imported food. In an opinion piece penned in the Vancouver Sun last week, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade CEO Bridgitte Anderson and B.C. Food & Beverage CEO James Donaldson said the so-called "50-50" food processing regulation on agricultural land is "outdated" and "hinders food security, innovation and growth." In B.C., any food processing done on land designated for farm use — Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) — is only allowed if half of what is processed is grown on the farm or on a farm co-op. The other half can be sourced from anywhere in the world. But if that's not possible, Anderson said farmers and businesses end up taking products to the U.S. for processing, which are then brought back to B.C. for sale. "It is not only bad for our economy, it is bad for our food security, it is bad for the climate," Anderson told CBC's The Early Edition. In the Sun article, the pair said the restriction means it would be "economically illogical" for farmers to invest in processing if they're confined to processing only their own crops, rather than being able to process both their own and those of their neighbours. Anderson wants to see it eliminated so that more food products can be processed in B.C., which she said is crucial right now, as climate change affects food security around the world and political tensions make trade unreliable. "This is our opportunity for us to become our own food superpower, if you will, by just eliminating this one simple rule." In an email to CBC News, the Ministry of Agriculture said the rule exists to "promote farming in the ALR by enabling farms to process their own production, capturing the value-added income from the finished product." Anderson said when the ALR was established in 1973 it made sense to protect farmers and farmland, but she believes things are different now, and rules should evolve. "Times have changed and the kind of manufacturing that happens now on farmland has also changed," she said. "It is time to take a look at this and remove this rule that simply does not make any sense anymore." The province didn't respond to questions from CBC News about whether it would reconsider the rule. It did, however, say there are more than 800 food processing facilities in the ALR. Of the 51 applications for food processing and non-farm use to the Agricultural Land Commission in 2025, 88 per cent have been approved so far, the ministry said.
Tom's Guide
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Forget OLED TVs — this ultra short throw projector can hit 4,000 lumens at 120 inches
(Image credit: Optoma) Optoma's bringing a new UST (Ultra Short Throw) projector to the market, one that's built for serious entertainment and gaming. Coined the GT4000UHD projector, Optoma's newest design can beam an image at 4,000 lumens at a screen size of up to 120 inches. To get a comparable TV in that range, you'd have to shell out a hefty penny, and few offer such an easy setup like this small projector. Even so, you'll still have to pay a premium for this new entry among the best projectors, setting you back a measly $4,000. You may like One of the brightest projectors at a price (Image credit: Optoma) Optoma is taking on the likes of Xgimi and Epson with a new UST projector designed to be every bit the best entertainment experience as much as a gaming powerhouse. Optoma claims the new GT4000UHD measures at a 500,000:1 contrast ratio and can hit 4,000 ANSI lumens of brightness. That's incredible control, equal to the Epson LS800, which remains one of the brightest projectors we've ever tested. You'll still want to scoop up an accompanying ALR screen to get the best possible performance out of the GT4000UHD, but it should be able to handle ambient lighting quite well. It can also hit a screen size of 120 inches at a distance of 12 inches from the wall. While that's not quite as good as something like the new Hisense L9Q, it's a promising addition that could give bigger TV screens a run for their money. It's also kitted out with some serious gaming chops, like a 4.3ms response time at a 240Hz refresh rate and 8ms at 120Hz in 1080p, ideal primarily for those running some of the best gaming PCs. Optoma also claims it has a 16ms input latency at 60Hz for 4K gaming, which should be good coverage for gamers on the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but would be even better if it had VRR compatibility. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Despite its gaming prowess, the uphill battle facing the GT4000UHD is that TVs are getting bigger and, at the same time, much cheaper. Take a quick gander down the list of best 85-inch TVs and you'll see plenty of affordable options, like the Hisense U7N Mini-LED TV that's just over $1,200. Meanwhile, the GT4000UHD comes in at a whopping $4,499. That's more than some of the best OLED TVs cost, and it's not even counting the ALR screen you'd most likely need for ample performance. It's a tough sell, even with it offering an over 100-inch screen size. More from Tom's Guide
