About

My name is Frank Niu, and this website grew out of my graduate research at Royal Roads University, where I completed a Master of Arts in Environment and Management. My thesis focused on how British Columbia’s Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) regulations affect farmers’ business opportunities—a topic that quickly became more than just an academic inquiry for me.

Through over a year of study, I interviewed farmers, policy experts, and government staff. I reviewed ALC decisions, historical legislation, and key legal documents. What I found was both fascinating and troubling: the ALR, while vital for protecting farmland, sometimes places complex restrictions on the very people it was designed to support—farmers. Many feel constrained, unheard, or even pushed out of the system.

This project began with a simple goal: to understand the ALR better. But as I listened and learned, I became more motivated to share what I found, to keep exploring the connections between land regulation, farmers’ rights, and agricultural sustainability in BC.

ALRstudy.org is my way of continuing that work—beyond the classroom, beyond the thesis. It is a space to:

• Archive key legislation and decisions,

• Analyze their impacts and implications,

• Share stories and insights,

• And foster thoughtful dialogue about how land policy shapes our shared future.

While the site currently focuses on the ALR, I hope to expand it gradually to include broader agricultural policy issues and ongoing research. I see this as a lifelong learning process—one rooted in curiosity, responsibility, and care for both people and land.

Thank you for visiting. I welcome your feedback, ideas, or collaboration. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.