New funding for agriculture and food was announced as part of British Columbia’s provincial budget released Feb. 20.
“It’s $29 million for investment in the ministry,” said Lana Popham, the B.C. Minister of Agriculture.
The funding is over three years for the Grow BC, Feed BC, Buy BC programs.
According to the ministry of agriculture, Grow BC helps young farmers access land and supports growers and processors of fruit and nuts to expand local food production.
Feed BC is focused on increasing the use of BC grown and processed food in government facilities including schools and hospitals.
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Buy BC helps producers and processors to market their products.
The 2018 service plan for the ministry outlined objectives and strategies for the ministry including an objective regarding the Agriculture Land Reserve.
“That’s a huge project that’s underway,” said Popham.
The ministry has been mandated with revitalizing the agriculture land reserve and the agriculture land commission.
This past January, an independent advisory committee was established to provide the government with advice and guidance to support possible regulatory and administrative improvements.
According to the service plan, agriculture is a $14 billion industry in the province and provides about 62,900 jobs.
