As British Columbians continue to experience the impacts of record drought and wildfire, B.C. farmers and ranchers are receiving support so they can continue to produce food in a changing climate.
The Regional Extension Program is supporting regional projects focussing on research, knowledge transfer and new technologies. Funded by the governments of Canada and British Columbia, the goal of the program is to ensure healthy soils and ecosystems in agricultural communities while also helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for and mitigate the impacts of drought, wildfire, flooding and extreme temperatures.
The program funds activities like knowledge transfer events, data sharing, on-farm demonstrations, workshops and webinars that highlight best practices and the latest research and technologies to support sustainable agriculture. There are 16 projects underway, with more to be started in the coming months.
Several projects focus on helping regions prepare for and adapt to drought. In drought-affected regions of B.C., workshops are being offered to give farmers the information they need so they can be better prepared and implement new strategies and best management practices that help them adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Other projects include workshops and field days on silvopasture for farmers and ranchers so they can learn about and apply new and best management practices that improve water quality and land use planning.
A key feature of this program is the use of local knowledge whereby ministry staff work directly with farmers throughout the province to identify and develop projects that strengthen both climate resilience and food security in communities. Regional engagement sessions will be taking place in November. Interested farmers can call AgriServiceBC at 1-888-221-7141 to find out about activities in their region.
The $1.5 million in funding for the program is from the Province's CleanBC initiative and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). Sustainable CAP is a 5-year (2023-2028) $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. Sustainable CAP includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
