Printer-FriendlySustainability Highlights
A secure, safe, reliable food supply is integral to sustainability. Food production takes place on less than 5% of BC's total land mass, and about 50% of BC farms are located within the Fraser Basin. In addition to food, agricultural lands provide income and employment, support local and regional economies, contribute to wildlife habitat and add to a region's green space. There are many pressures on, and risks to, agriculture, the family farm and a sustainable food supply, such as pressure on agricultural lands from urban development, low and shrinking farm incomes, competition from corporate agriculture around the world, invasive plants, a lack of local and regional food processing facilities to optimize food value, and diseases such as BSE (Mad Cow Disease), avian influenza, and most recently, E.coli. For example, avian influenza was initially identified in the Fraser Valley poultry industry in February, 2004. As a result, over 17 million birds were destroyed, and total economic losses are estimated at $380 million.1
| Agricultural Land Reserve | FAIR/MIXED RESULTS - As of 2005, there has been a net increase of land in the ALR in the Fraser Basin; however, there has been a net loss in prime agricultural land overall and a net loss of ALR land in 4 of 5 regions. | |
| Agriculture and the Environment | GETTING BETTER - Significant participation rates in the Environmental Farm Plan Program; growth among certifiedorganic producers. |
Issues and Trends
Agricultural Land Reserve (1973-2005) 2,
i
The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), established in 1973, has prevented
the conversion of farmland in the province into non-agricultural uses. Urban
development is the most common basis for application for the exclusion of
ALR lands. Since 1974, there has been a net increase in total ALR area in
the Fraser Basin (3.3%), mostly due to the inclusion of mixed and secondary
land classes in the Upper Fraser and Cariboo-Chilcotin regions since 1989.
For example, 99% (97,808 ha) of ALR inclusions in the Upper Fraser were
from mixed or secondary land classes. Other than the Upper Fraser, all Fraser
Basin regions have experienced a net loss of prime, secondary and mixed
quality agricultural land since 1974 (30,103 ha combined total decrease).
There has been a net loss of 6,935 ha of prime land since 1974. Prior to
establishment of the ALR, nearly 6,000 ha of prime agricultural land was
lost each year to urban and other uses. 2
Environmental Farm Plans (2003-2006) 3
Launched in 2003, the Canada-BC Environmental Farm Plan
(EFP) Program aims to complement and enhance the current environmental stewardship
practices of BC producers. The stated vision is "a sustainable agriculture
industry in BC," with objectives including encouraging stewardship
of the land, implementing beneficial management practices and improving
farm profitability. A total of 365 Fraser Basin farms have completed and
are implementing EFPs (45% of EFPs in BC) and many others have initiated
EFP processes.
Organic and Other Producers (1992-2006) 4, 5, 6
The number of certified organic producers in BC has increased
considerably (187%), from 154 producers in 1992 to 442 producers in 2004. 4
This trend is also evident in the Fraser Basin, where the number of organic
producers has more than doubled since 2000. There were 196 farms producing
certified organic products by 2006. 5 In addition to certified organic producers,
there are a significant number of farmers that contribute to sustainability
with environmentally responsible practices. For example, an inventory of
agriculture in the District of Kent in the Fraser Valley region, found 26
nearly organic producers in addition to the three certified organic producers.
6
Buying Local-Farmers' Markets (2006) 7, ii
Producing and buying locally grown food supports local economies and communities, while reducing transportation costs and environmental impacts. The number of local farmers' markets in BC has grown considerably in the past few years, increasing from about 60 in 2000 to 100 known markets in 2006, 28 of which are within the Fraser Basin. Preliminary results from a recent UNBC study of 10 Fraser Basin farmers' markets found that, on average, 1,670 people attended each market, spending between $11 and $21 per person, and that each farmers' market contributed between $210,000 and $1.5 million annually to the local economy.ii "Grown or produced locally" was regularly cited as one of the top reasons for buying at farmers' markets.
Inspired Action
What is being done?
The BC Agriculture Plan
Committee held public consultation meetings across BC in 2006 to develop
a "Made-in-BC" agriculture plan that will increase public awareness
on agriculture and food, support engagement of First Nations, encourage
the growth and diversification of the industry and enhance the contribution
of agriculture to the economy, environment and quality of life: www.harvesttohome.bc.ca.
Some local approaches
to address agricultural interests, urban development pressures and conflicts
with non-farm uses of rural lands include Agricultural Area Plans (11 in
the Basin), Agricultural Advisory Committees (11 in the Basin), and agricultural
land use inventories (14 in the Basin). 8
In the Thompson region,
the Fraser Basin Council, in partnership with the Government of Canada,
Province of BC, Pacific Salmon Commission, and the BC Agriculture Council,
has installed 11 climate stations and 7 soil moisture stations to assist
the agricultural community with their land and water management decisions.
What else can be done?
Individuals and businesses
(such as restaurants and retailers) can purchase local, organic and environmentally
responsible products to help support local farmers and reduce environmental
impacts.
Local governments and
the Agricultural Land Commission can continue to protect prime agricultural
lands.
Farm owners and operators
can implement EFPs, and participate in programs such as the Strengthening
Farming Program8 or the BC Agriculture Plan Committee.
Governments and businesses
can expand and enhance the capacity of local food processing facilities
to strengthen the viability of the agri-food sector.
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BC 4H Club
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REFERENCES
1. British Columbia Animal Health Care Centre Diagnostic
Diary, Vol 15, Issue 1; January 2005.
2. Agricultural Land Commission. Agricultural Land Reserve
database. Custom tabulation and ALC website: www.alc.gov.bc.ca.
2006.
3. BC Agriculture Council. Environmental Farm Plan Database
and website 2006. www.bcac.bc.ca/efp_programs.htm.
4. Macey, Anne. 2005. Canadian Organic Growers-Certified
Organic production in Canada 2004.
5. BC Certified Organic website at www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca.
6. Marion Robinson Personal Communication, October 2006.
7. Connell, David J. 2006. Economic and Community Impacts
of Farmers' Markets in BC. School of Environmental Planning, University
of Northern British Columbia. Available online at www.unbc.ca/planning/localfood.
8. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Strengthening Farming
website: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/sf/about.htm.
FOOTNOTES:
i. For a description of Agriculture Capability Classes,
see: www.alc.gov.bc.ca/alr/Ag_Capability.htm.
ii. The UNBC study calculated the annual local economic
impact of each farmers' market by multiplying the direct annual sales by
2.0. UNBC acknowledges that, although this is the most commonly used multiplier,
it does vary widely (from 1.2 to 8.0) and further research is required to
establish a reliable multiplier for farmers' markets.