Farmland Advantage is a research and development project that works with farmers to conserve and enhance critical, natural values in British Columbia, Canada.
Farmland Advantage works with farmers to enhance the natural values on their land. These natural values are often referred to as ‘ecosystem services’; services of a natural environment that benefits humans. They are values that are not traded in the markets but have great value to us all. They can include areas like wetlands that filter and purify water, and forests that clean the air and provide habitat for healthy wildlife populations.
The project helps farmers identify the natural values which can be protected and enhanced, and develops recommendations and plans to preserve them. These plans can include actions such as water or stream setbacks, strategic fencing, reforestation, or rangeland enhancement. Farmers then carry out the recommendations, and Farmland Advantage helps to provide compensation based on successful implementation.
Protect & Conserve
Farmland Advantage is a research and development program that works with farmers to protect and conserve critical, natural lands, streams, and habitats in British Columbia. Farmland Advantage is an IAF Program.
Expand & Enhance
Farmland Advantage assesses the health of targeted ecosystems on BC farmland, identifying areas of high risk or high potential for improved ecosystem health. FLA partners with farmers and other groups in the targeted areas to implement enhancement measures and provide compensation and recognition to farmers.
Monitor & Measure
Farmland Advantage will ensure BC farmers actively contribute to, and are compensated for, stewardship actions and regenerative agricultural practices that support ecosystem services. This is accomplished by taking actions that promote cleaner watersheds, healthier wildlife populations and species at risk habitat, and that mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Program Funding
Farmland Advantage is an IAF Program. As such, the vision and objective of the program are directed by IAF. Funders contribute towards Farmland Advantage, and depending on the giving level, can choose to target their funds towards a specific ecosystem or initiative within the program. There are also opportunities for funders to create new initiatives within the program’s scope that reflect their organizational goals.
Following the success of a one-year pilot, IAF began officially administering and delivering the Farmland Advantage program in the Spring of 2021 with support from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Agri-Food Futures Fund, which was funded by the Governments of BC and Canada. The program is now funded by a variety of partners, including:
