Canada’s agriculture industry is a foundation of the country and a key contributor to our quality of life. In British Columbia, agriculture is a vital part of the economy. Over a quarter million people are employed on farms, ranches and orchards, in greenhouses and nurseries, as well as in veterinary offices, hatcheries, grooming and other related services.
British Columbia spans a wide range of climate and growing conditions, and each part of the province has an agriculture specialty that defines regional identity and supports economic stability. The Southern Interior is as renowned for its tree fruits and grape production as the Fraser Valley and Southern Vancouver Island are for their berries and vegetables. Grain and oilseed crops grow in the Peace River Region, beef cattle are concentrated throughout the province, and dairy herds are a common sight in the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan-Shuswap regions. Hog, poultry and egg production is concentrated in the Lower Mainland.
Agriculture is an increasingly complex industry, and maintaining healthy and vibrant food production is a priority in British Columbia and across the country. In 2002, the federal, provincial and territorial governments signed the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Framework Agreement on Agricultural and Agri-Food Policy, a five-year, $4.6 million strategy to protect the health of the agriculture industry, and make Canada the world leader in food safety, innovation and environmentally responsible food production.
The framework is funded 60 per cent by the federal government and 40 per cent by provincial and territorial governments. Over the five-year span of the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF), the federal and provincial governments will have invested more than $60 million in environment, food safety and food quality, renewal and science and innovation programs and initiatives in B.C.’s food-production industry.
The Agricultural Policy Framework focuses on five key areas:
-
Business Risk Management helps farmers move beyond crisis management to long-term profitability and competitiveness through assistance in managing business risks, such as those posed by weather and disease. (Note: If the demand for Business Risk Management exceeds the Agricultural Policy Framework budget, additional resources may be allocated.)
-
Environment is designed to accelerate the efforts to reduce agricultural risks and provide benefits related to water resources, soil, air and biodiversity.
-
Food Safety and Food Quality is designed to improve the sector’s ability to identify and respond to food safety and food quality issues and concerns, while improving market access, consumer confidence and opportunities.
-
Renewal is designed to provide farmers with the skills, knowledge and tools to succeed in farming; access to advice on increasing profitability through new business opportunities and value-added activities; and opportunities to help them improve farm family incomes and/or make informed choices about sources of income.
-
Science and Innovation is designed to provide scientific and technical support for innovative approaches to the diversification of the agri-food industry. Overall goals include realigning public science resources, enhancing coordination along the whole value chain and nurturing an innovative climate.
This guide describes the APF programs and services available to producers and processors in British Columbia until March, 2008. It does not include APF programs that have been completed and which are not currently accepting applications or providing active service. Along with a description of each program, the guide identifies who delivers the program and provides relevant contact information.
Federal, provincial and territorial governments are working with stakeholders to develop a new agricultural policy. Growing Forward will build on the best of the current APF and form the basis of an action plan for the future policy and programs for Canada's agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products industry. For more information, please visit the Growing Forward website.
|
