Part B: Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
Strategic Context
With renewed economic prosperity, British Columbians are now shifting their attention from jobs to social objectives and the environment, with a growing awareness of the potential impacts of climate change and a renewed focus on health, food safety, housing and community well-being. Addressing urban-rural interface issues, managing Crown land allocation based on balanced societal goals, environmental concerns and a heightened awareness of the need to protect society from disease, disaster and other risks are also taking precedence.
The province is linked to a global community that is seeing similar shifts. Global warming, global markets, economic fluctuations, disease outbreaks and other risks and disasters hit hard locally but quickly reverberate through our provincial community. Worldwide, there is an increased demand for resources, including land, water, food and energy, that is straining the carrying capacity of the environment locally and globally.
The world is also changing in ways that bring great opportunity for British Columbia. The global community has demonstrated an unprecedented appetite and demand for socially responsible and environmentally sustainable economies.
Agriculture, Aquaculture and Food
Opportunities:
Climate Change: It will be important to position B.C. agriculture to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in relation to longer and warmer growing seasons, which may provide higher yields and more diverse crops for producers. In addition, the growing demand for green energy creates new opportunities such as bio-fuel products. Increased local agricultural production will result in fewer “food miles” involved when B.C. consumers make purchases, which will also support environmental objectives by reducing greenhouse gases.
A Focus on Health and Buying Locally: Awareness is growing regarding the benefits of healthier lifestyles, and this is leading to changes in eating habits and consumer preferences. For example, there are significant niche market opportunities for fresh nutritious local food, agriculture and aquaculture products. Last year, farmers’ markets alone contributed $65.3 million in direct spending to the provincial economy. There are now some 100 markets across the province, representing an increase of over 65 per cent since 2000. These trends create a tremendous opportunity for the sector.
Environmentally Sound Farming Practices: Farmlands share landscapes and habitat with animal and fish wildlife. Environmentally sound farming practices, such as protection of stream sides, can preserve and create habitat for the plants, fish and animals that we value on our natural landscape.
Strategic Growth: While the agriculture and food sectors face significant economic and market challenges from globalization, the diversity and relatively small size of the B.C. sector are advantages in a world where increasingly sophisticated consumers will support a growing number of niche market opportunities.
Challenges:
Public Concern Related to Climate Change: Agricultural challenges — such as changes in production patterns and interactions between crops, weeds and insects as well as increases in crop damage and water shortages — must be addressed.
Urban/Agriculture Interactions: A large portion of B.C.’s most productive farmlands are in close proximity to urban development and other sectors of the economy. Some 80 per cent of farm revenue is generated on the same three per cent of the land base where 80 per cent of province’s citizens reside. With a growing economy, burgeoning communities and rising prices for land, there is increased pressure on agricultural land and resources. This also increases the potential for conflict between agriculture, the community and other sectors. Noise conflicts, competing demands for existing water resources, growing concern over air quality and emissions, and the growing demand from other sectors to take agricultural lands out of production can affect the overall viability of the agriculture sector.
Strong Global Competition and Market Prices: B.C.’s agriculture and seafood industries compete in international markets where competitors with similar or lower cost structures enjoy greater economies of scale and create downward pressures on food commodity prices. Domestic policy and high levels of subsidy in other jurisdictions may have a direct impact on the ability of B.C. producers to compete. The high value of the Canadian dollar continues to present challenges for those sectors exporting to the United States market or those that are dependent on the market (livestock, nursery, floriculture and greenhouse vegetables).
Operating costs (e.g., fuel and feed costs) have increased. Higher interest rates and shortages in labour for many sectors also contribute to challenges B.C. producers face in remaining profitable.
In addition, the exchange rate as well as input cost pressures are creating significant financial challenges for producers. As a result, industry continues to look to government, both federal and provincial, to offset impacts beyond the level of support provided through existing programs.
Environmental Values Must be Balanced with Economic Viability: There is a high level of public concern about the environment (and, increasingly, animal welfare issues in livestock farming operations); therefore, industry growth must be managed in an environmentally sustainable way. With the highest ratio of livestock-to-land base in Canada, manure volumes are putting environmental pressures on Fraser Valley farms, and British Columbia has included livestock methane emissions as part of the climate change initiative.
Crown Lands
Approximately 94 per cent of British Columbia’s land base is managed by the Province on behalf of the citizens of B.C. Over 20 different economic sectors and every community in the Province depend to some degree on continued access to Crown land and on wise management of the resource. The allocation and administration of Crown land plays a pivotal role in expanding and diversifying the economy, sustaining the environment and promoting the health and well-being of citizens and communities.
Opportunities:
Commitment to First Nations: The Province has made a commitment to strengthen its relationship with First Nations, with a focus on respect, recognition and reconciliation of Aboriginal title and rights in support of closing social and economic gaps between First Nations and other British Columbians. The Ministry continues to build relationships with First Nations and Aboriginal peoples, and ensures that legal obligations to consult and to accommodate their interests are met. The Ministry addresses the potential impact of Crown land tenures and sales on Aboriginal communities and their traditional use of land.
Diversity of Client Groups: The use of Crown land evolves over time in response to government priorities, societal shifts, new technologies and consumer demand. In the past, the allocation of Crown land has been slow to accommodate new land uses and business requirements. One of the Ministry’s key priorities is to improve decision-making by adopting a principles-based approach rather than prescriptive operating procedures. There are opportunities to improve service to clients, although the diversity of client groups can affect the speed of improvements.
Challenges:
Climate Change: Through composition and diversity of plant and animal species, populations and ranges may shift considerably due to climate change, which will create new challenges with how Crown land is managed.
Growing Demand for Crown Land: Strong commodity markets, particularly in energy and minerals, have resulted in high levels of demand for the Province’s resource planning and tenuring services. Industry clients are also demanding greater ease of access and the ability to work more closely with the Province.
A Legacy of Contamination: The Province has inherited a legacy of contaminated lands from a time when people were not as aware of the environmental implications of certain land uses. The sheer number of contaminated sites and the time required to effectively remediate known sites affects the rate at which site remediation can be accomplished.
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