DECEMBER 2016 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC BC agriculture on


sound foundation Sustainability conference filled with “optimism and opportunity”


by DAVID SCHMIDT


KELOWNA – BC Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick hopes the BC Agrifood and Seafood Conference will not only be repeated next year but be held in a larger venue. About 300 people crowded into the Capri Hotel in Kelowna on November 14-15, for an evening networking reception followed by a day of presentations covering such topics as new sector development, urban agriculture, succession planning, climate change, agri-tech, financing, zero waste, traceability and food safety, food science, branding and marketing, e-commerce, selling to retailers and institutions and exporting. Delegates who stayed to the end gave the conference a rousing ovation, instantly raising their hands when Letnick asked if another such conference should be held next year.


He called the conference “a conversation about how we can develop, strengthen and build relationships, and support BC's food supply security,” saying BC’s food security “needs to be the top goal of the BC Ministry of Agriculture going forward.” Letnick believes the two days were filled with “optimism and opportunity,” saying “our conference rooms were filled with people who care about food production in


BC and have the creative, innovative, business or entrepreneurial skills and drive to make a successful career of it.”


He noted BC agriculture has a sound foundation. Not only did the sector generate record revenues of $13 billion in 2015 but farmers and ranchers actually made a net profit for the first time in 10 years. “Agrifood is now the number two manufacturing sector in the province and my aim is for it to become number one.”


Buy BC key


He believes the key is to get BC residents buying BC products.


“If we can convince more people to buy BC agrifood products, it will drive our agrifood sector,” Letnick said, missing an obvious opportunity to commit additional funds to the Buy Local program.


However, he did promote the Grow Local program announced at the Union of BC Municipalities convention at the end of September. The program received over 60 applications which are now being vetted by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. IAF will recommend 10 applications as pilot projects to be announced in January. “We are looking for programs with the best options for scalability and


sustainability,” explains IAF executive director Peter Donkers, noting the objective of the program is to develop and implement education and awareness programs for food security and build capacity for people to grow their own food. He stresses the program will support backyard, frontyard and balcony gardens but not projects which could compete with commercial agriculture.


“We have received applications from regional districts, local security organizations, community gardens and co-op gardens,” Donkers said.


He expects the successful applicants to be announced in late January. Each will then receive up to $25,000 and have two years to complete their project and report back its accomplishments. Letnick downplayed


concerns over monster homes


on agricultural land and foreign ownership of agricultural land. He insisted “local governments have the ability to specify the size of home and where it can be located on agricultural land,” urging them to pass bylaws ensuring homes on land are “appropriate.”


He also reported that only four of the 205 agricultural properties transferred in BC since April 2016 were sold to foreign buyers.





 





   


 •


 Looking forward to serving you in the New Year! Contact us:


Bryan: 604 220 4879 Alexis 604 319 0376 www.pacificforagebag.com


Proud Dealers of:


•  •


 


• •


 


•  


Techinical Classroom Training Practical Application Fee:  Tuition: 


 •


•


 


 


For more information, contact Greenbelt Vet at: (604) 792-1501


Pumpkin patch pond


3


November rains flooded farms from Port Alberni to Pemberton. BOB COLLINS PHOTO








Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48