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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • NOVEMBER 2017


Land commission to allow breweries on farmland


Changes due by the end of the year


by PETER MITHAM VICTORIA – Breweries that


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use BC-grown ingredients are set to become a valid use of parcels within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), according to BC’s agriculture minister. “Currently, wineries and cideries have the ability to source off their farm, to bring in product like grapes and apples as long as it’s within BC,” Popham told Country Life in BC. “It didn’t seem fair that only wineries and cideries could do that, so we’re just working through trying to level the playing field.” Popham expects to announce the change by the end of December. “You could probably look


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forward to that before the end of this year,” she said. Popham initially hinted at a change in the rules governing the land reserve at an event October 12 to launch Lumberjacked, a beer from Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. in Victoria made entirely with ingredients grown within BC. It not only features local grains but Lumberjack, a new hop variety developed by BC Hop Co. of Abbotsford. However, the change has been a long time coming. A government report in


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2014 recommended allowing breweries, meaderies and distilleries to locate within the ALR, in keeping with feedback from stakeholders. The change never occurred, however, because the report questioned whether or not breweries could source half their ingredients from BC growers, given that hops and barley “are not major farm products in BC.” “Advice from stakeholders was that further consultation


with experts should be undertaken prior to making any final recommendations or drafting any regulations in this area,” the report stated. Crannóg Ales in Sorrento


and Persephone Brewing Co. Inc. in Gibsons have both found themselves caught in the restrictions.


Brian Smith, CEO of


Persephone, has been keen to see change, noting that his operation also produces cider in compliance with ALR rules. He doesn't see why the same facility can't make beer, too. Smith is pleased with the move to change the regulations to bring the brewery into compliance. “I don't believe that


leveling the playing field for breweries and wineries will fix all the problems, but it is an important first step,” he said. “I'm also excited to see how barley and hop farmers respond and to see our communities benefit economically, agriculturally and socially. Updating the


ALR is moving our province in the right direction.” Popham says that if


breweries, meaderies and distilleries are sourcing their ingredients from within BC, just like cideries and wineries, then they’re supporting BC agriculture and should be allowed within the ALR. Whether this would apply


to larger manufacturing plants handling product from within BC is another question; changes to the regulation have yet to be unveiled. Popham has promised to undertake public consultations on what kinds of activities should be allowed within the ALR, but no dates had been announced at press time. Popham, however, is firm that uses within the ALR should focus on keeping land in production. “A huge part of it has to be to encourage farming,” she told Country Life in BC shortly after being sworn in as agriculture minister.


Greens seek limits on foreign ownership


by PETER MITHAM


VICTORIA – BC Green Party leader Andrew Weaver has reintroduced a bill that would limit sales of protected farmland to foreign nationals. The proposed legislation


would allow foreign entities to purchase parcels no larger than five acres. Weaver originally proposed


restrictions in February 2017, noting that BC is the only


We help agricultural businesses to stay safe, healthy and productive.


province in Western Canada that doesn’t restrict foreign ownership of farmland. The result has been acquisitions by major overseas companies for everything from alfalfa production to tree planting as part of carbon offset schemes. “In Cariboo North, 42,000


acres have been bought by two foreign entities, with a total of 22,239 acres being removed from local agricultural production,” Weaver told the legislature in introducing the bill. “This is affecting the local price of hay and pricing farmers out of the market.”


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A public statement Weaver issued to coincide with his introduction of the draft legislation added that the restrictions would enhance BC’s food security and contribute to the success of the province’s wine industry. “BC currently imports 70%


of its vegetables from the United States, with half of that coming from California,” he said. “It is more important than ever that BC take the future of our food security seriously.” Weaver had pledged a public consultation before establishing a limit on foreign ownership of farmland, but that has not taken place.


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