Grown in BC

BACKGROUNDER 

GROWN IN BC

BC’s agriculture and agri-food industry is more than just a cornerstone of our economy - it’s part of our identity. With over 26,000 farms spanning 2.6 million hectares of farmland, BC has long taken pride in the food we grow and enjoy.

The Conservative Party of BC stands with farmers. Grown In BC is a plan to double our food production, strengthen our economic base, and establish food security for BC.

Farmers already have to contend with nature to grow produce - they shouldn’t also have to fight their own government.

The NDP have failed to offer real solutions for farmers struggling with inflated costs, lower margins, and red tape . BC’s agricultural sector has lost 2,500 jobs (10%) since 2014, and the number of young farmers has fallen faster than in any other province outside of Atlantic Canada.  When farmers find it harder to grow and get their products to market, British Columbians feel the consequences at the grocery store

We will help farmers bring products to market by cutting input costs, building the infrastructure of water security, and strengthening made-in-BC food processing. The Conservative Party of BC will do everything in its power to ensure that farmers thrive, and that local food remains a staple of tables across BC.

Supporting BC Farmers

BC’s farmers have proudly worked the land for generations to shape the food system that sustains us. Farms in BC now produce 150 different commodities, while employing tens of thousands of British Columbians across the supply chain.

Eby’s NDP have failed to ensure the economic sustainability and growth of BC food production. Without a commitment to addressing challenges related to water security, labour availability, and market barriers, we risk stagnation in this key part of our economy and identity. 

Farmers know best how to expand food production. To support them, the Conservative Party of BC will:

• Invest in agricultural R&D, focusing on disease-resistant crops, climate-resilient farming practices, and innovative technologies to improve crop varieties and livestock productivity.
• Improve crop productivity by providing financial incentives for farmers to employ yield-increasing measures, including both conventional and alternative practices such as crop rotation, organic farming, and regenerative agriculture. 
• Expand access to advanced agricultural technologies by ensuring grant programs are easy for all farmers to apply for – not just the big players.

• Help farmers access the capital needed to replant and nurture crops after the devastation of recent extreme weather events such as the heat dome and back-to-back cold snaps in our changing climate. Existing replant supports are insufficient.
• Support tree fruit farmers by ensuring small farms can still get their products to market, and providing appropriate financial relief to farmers who incurred losses from the closure of the co-op.
• Renew the ALR commitment to landowners whose land is situated in the reserve. We will uphold the government’s promise to compensate Agricultural Land Reserve landowners for the restriction on property rights, so their food production costs can be driven-down.
• Enhance pollinator populations by supporting farmers to employ beneficial practices for the bee population, improving crown land stewardship practices, and introducing policy changes to augment BC’s supply of pollinators.

Expanding infrastructure and market access

Food needs to be able to get to tables. Playing a critical part in the supply chain, BC’s food and beverage processing industry is the second largest manufacturing sector in the province.

To help farmers get their products to market and expand the agri-foods processing industry, the Conservative Party of BC will:

• Expand the Buy BC program to prioritize locally-produced dairy, fruits, wines, grains, meats, and other products on store shelves, giving British Columbians more access to home-grown products.
• Increase local food processing by creating tax incentives that encourage dairy and fruit processors as well as other food manufacturing facilities to operate in BC. This boosts local manufacturing, reduces reliance on imports, and supports BC farmers by creating local markets for their products.
• Review the Agricultural Land Commission to make sure that farmers have cost-effective and timely access to the supply chain for processing, distribution, and retail.
• Open up new international markets where opportunities exist to help farmers get ahead, while food security for British Columbians remains our #1 priority.
• Improve rural transportation infrastructure by identifying areas in greatest need, then getting shovels in the ground. The government should invest in road improvements to assist producers in getting their goods to market quickly and safely.

Reducing the costs of growing food

The recent rise in the cost of food under the NDP government has been devastating to British Columbians. We will scrap the carbon tax to reduce operational costs for farmers, and systematically identify and act on all measures possible for the provincial government to lower input costs for farmers.

The Conservative Party of BC will:

• Reduce the cost of goods by scrapping BC’s carbon tax. This ineffective policy has added costs to almost every step in the agriculture supply chain. Removing it will immediately make our food producers more competitive and improve access to local agriculture products. 
• Launch land access incentives by providing tax relief or subsidies for small farmers renting land, making it more affordable for new entrants and small-scale operators to access land for agricultural use. This could include programs to convert unused or underused public land into small farm plots.
• Support BC’s aquaculture sector which provides an important source of food and economic development in rural BC.
• Establish a microloan program that provides small farmers with low-interest loans to purchase necessary equipment, seeds, or livestock, helping them overcome financial barriers to growth.
• Cut red tape on farm housing for agricultural workers and support increased access to temporary labour.
• Increase BC’s food production by reviewing all input costs for the agricultural sector to drive down the cost of farming.

Securing BC’s water supply for agriculture

BC’s abundant and clean freshwater resources are essential for food security. But instead of investing in the infrastructure needed to use water sustainably and reliably, the NDP have engaged in feckless bureaucratic tinkering that has left farmers confused and unsupported. 

To protect BC’s water security for farmers and communities, the Conservative Party of BC will:

• Renew BC’s flood mitigation infrastructure so the 2021 floods cannot happen again. We will establish permanent flood protection in high-risk agricultural areas like the Sumas Prairie, safeguarding our farmland, infrastructure, and supply chains.
• Invest in large-scale water storage and infrastructure by expanding reservoir capacity on farms and in rural communities. We will provide funding for on-farm water storage and irrigation systems, reducing dependence on fluctuating water sources.
• Protect the agricultural water supply in legislation, to ensure farmers have secure and long-term access to water for food production.
• Plan for water sustainability in partnership with farmers and ranchers to balance the water needs of food producers and local communities. These plans should include climate resilience measures and protections to sustain food production during droughts or floods.
• Comprehensively research and monitor the state of BC’s water supply by measures including a research chair to conduct ongoing study into the state of water reserves and availability in BC for people, agriculture, and wildlife.