Cultivating Prosperity

About the Initiative

In March 2020, the BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) and its member organizations teamed up with IAF to harness the power of agriculture and agri-foods in BC, far beyond the grocery store aisle. Recognizing the potential for agriculture to not only serve as the backbone of BC’s regional food security but for the sector to become a tool to help combat many of the complex issues our society is experiencing today, the groups embarked on a project entitled Cultivating Prosperity in British Columbia (Cultivating Prosperity). With Cultivating Prosperity, we hope to lay the foundation for developing a new vision for the agriculture and agri-food sector.

2020 UPDATE

In October 2020, BCAC and IAF announced the completion of a BC agriculture economic impact study that illustrates how agriculture is a significant economic contributor and an important piece of BC’s identity. Not only is the sector a core component of the province’s economy, but it can also play a major role in helping the province weather and recover from the pandemic-induced economic downturn, particularly in rural communities.

Read the report: Study of the British Columbia Agriculture Sector (PDF)

2021 UPDATE

In 2021, IAF supported BCAC through their transition to a policy-focused organization. Following recommendations from BCAC to the program funders, IAF will deliver the CAP: Environmental Farm Plan & Beneficial Management Practices Programs and CAP: Climate Change Adaptation Program in 2022. These programs, previously delivered by BCAC’s program delivery subsidiary ARDCorp, provide significant benefits to the sector, and IAF is committed to continuing the high standard of delivery.

As the Canadian Agricultural Partnership initiative comes into its final years, IAF’s Board of Directors approved funding to support BCAC’s agriculture engagement sessions. This support, funded by the Agri-Food Futures Fund, ensured BCAC could work with industry to acquire high-quality engagement and feedback from the sector as planning begins for the next five-year federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

Phases

Initiate Project

Define the project scope and objectives.

Research & Analyze

Complete an economic impact study and other research.

Discussion

Industry engagement on results of research.

Planning

Create a short-term action plan and long term strategic plan based on industry feedback

Launch

Launch project. Monitor and evaluate to ensure it meets the original goals and responds to emerging opportunities

Project Steering Committee

The steering committee will engage with industry (farmers, agricultural organizations, government and other stakeholders), government officials and consultants as necessary throughout the project.

The project steering committee is currently comprised of:

BC Agriculture Council

Danielle Synotte, ED

BC Cattlemen's Association

Ken Boon, GM

BC Dairy Association

Jeremy Dunn, GM

BC Blueberry Council

Anju Gill, ED

IAF

Michelle Koski, CEO

Natalie Janssens, Director of Programs

Funding provided by:

This project was funded in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Government of British Columbia through programs delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C.