In February 2019, the Squamish Food Policy Council in partnership with the District of Squamish and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District began the development of an Agricultural Plan for the Squamish Valley. The Squamish Valley Agricultural Plan is a strategic planning document, the result of a community planning initiative led by District of Squamish (DoS) and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) in collaboration with the Squamish Food Policy Council, Upland Agricultural Consulting, and in close consultation with BC Ministry of Agriculture. This project was financially supported by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of Canada. The Squamish Valley Agricultural Plan (SVAP) provides a coordinated approach to support agriculture and food systems in the Squamish Valley over the next 10 years. The SVAP provides a clear vision and roadmap of actions to maximize the agricultural and food sector potential of the Squamish Valley. The plan considers how rural, urban, and residential agriculture can play a role in the production of food, enhancing awareness of local food, and fostering community connections for a sustainable food system.
38 recommended actions were identified in the SVAP, 23 of which the SFPC are responsible for implementing in varying degrees of urgency over the next 2, 5, and 10 years:
Goal 1: Expand and Encourage Agriculture and Food Production
Objective: Increase agricultural land productivity and improve access to foodlands in the Squamish Valley, by removing barriers to support existing farm businesses, encourage new entrants, and attract new producers to the area.
1.1 Continue to support and facilitate land-linking programs locally
1.2 Identify opportunities and locations for enhancing land access for agriculture initiatives and determine feasibility of a community farmland trust
Goal 2: Improve Sector Growth and Market Viability
Objective: Enhance agricultural market viability of the Squamish Valley through strengthened value chains, labour market, and relationships.
2.1 Develop an agri-food sector strategy for the Squamish Valley
2.2 Identify and secure a location and develop a funding strategy to establish a permanent year-round Squamish Farmers Market
2.3 Identify and pursue viable solutions for local meat processing
2.4 Support local procurement initiatives
Goal 3: Promote Stewardship of Natural Resources and Regenerative Agricultural Practices
Objective: Steward natural resources and the environment through sustainable and regenerative agricultural management practices.
3.1 Continue to encourage policies and practices for maintaining and increasing pollinator health
3.2 Control invasive and noxious plants and pests through the enforcement of existing bylaws and protocols
3.3 Work with urban and rural producers on reducing conflicts between food production, agriculture, and wildlife
3.4 Encourage farmers to participate in the Environmental Farm Plan program
3.5 Encourage regenerative agricultural practices
Goal 4: Plan and Prepare for Climate Change and Emergencies
Objective: Include the agricultural community in climate change adaptation and mitigation planning and emergency preparedness to create a more resilient food system.
4.1 Continue to support wildfire risk reduction initiatives with agricultural stakeholders
4.2 Explore and partner on opportunities to encourage emissions reductions, sequestration and avoidance in agricultural practices
4.3 Incorporate agriculture in ongoing DoS and SLRD Community Climate Action planning initiatives and strategies
4.4 Communicate with and involve agricultural stakeholders in emergency preparedness planning
4.5 Host educational events and workshops about flood risk management for agricultural stakeholders
Goal 5: Align Policies and Strengthen Regulations for Agriculture and Food (DOS and SLRD)
Objective: Build on existing local and regional food policies and amend bylaws to strengthen regulations that will in turn stimulate agricultural production.
5.1 Create and maintain Development Permit Area Guidelines for Farmland Protection
5.2 Ensure zoning supports appropriately scaled processing and value-added activities
5.3 Continue to include agriculture as a permitted use in non-ALR urban and residential areas
5.4 Update OCP and zoning bylaws to better align with the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) Act and Regulations
5.5 Enhance compliance and enforcement for farmland protection
5.6 Ensure that existing and/or future bylaws related to cannabis production and processing protect farmland
Goal 6: Increase Engagement, Communication, Awareness, and Education
Objective: Improve awareness of local agriculture and access to local food and support farmers who wish to increase agricultural skill set.
6.1 Continue maintenance of the Regional Food Asset Map
6.2 Work with the Squamish Nation to integrate Indigenous food system and resource management perspectives and knowledge within food plans and initiatives
6.3 Support provincial-level stakeholder engagement to improve communications and education about agricultural rules and regulations
6.4 Facilitate educational workshops for farms and agri-food businesses
38 recommended actions were identified in the SVAP, 23 of which the SFPC are responsible for implementing in varying degrees of urgency over the next 2, 5, and 10 years:
Goal 1: Expand and Encourage Agriculture and Food Production
Objective: Increase agricultural land productivity and improve access to foodlands in the Squamish Valley, by removing barriers to support existing farm businesses, encourage new entrants, and attract new producers to the area.
1.1 Continue to support and facilitate land-linking programs locally
1.2 Identify opportunities and locations for enhancing land access for agriculture initiatives and determine feasibility of a community farmland trust
Goal 2: Improve Sector Growth and Market Viability
Objective: Enhance agricultural market viability of the Squamish Valley through strengthened value chains, labour market, and relationships.
2.1 Develop an agri-food sector strategy for the Squamish Valley
2.2 Identify and secure a location and develop a funding strategy to establish a permanent year-round Squamish Farmers Market
2.3 Identify and pursue viable solutions for local meat processing
2.4 Support local procurement initiatives
Goal 3: Promote Stewardship of Natural Resources and Regenerative Agricultural Practices
Objective: Steward natural resources and the environment through sustainable and regenerative agricultural management practices.
3.1 Continue to encourage policies and practices for maintaining and increasing pollinator health
3.2 Control invasive and noxious plants and pests through the enforcement of existing bylaws and protocols
3.3 Work with urban and rural producers on reducing conflicts between food production, agriculture, and wildlife
3.4 Encourage farmers to participate in the Environmental Farm Plan program
3.5 Encourage regenerative agricultural practices
Goal 4: Plan and Prepare for Climate Change and Emergencies
Objective: Include the agricultural community in climate change adaptation and mitigation planning and emergency preparedness to create a more resilient food system.
4.1 Continue to support wildfire risk reduction initiatives with agricultural stakeholders
4.2 Explore and partner on opportunities to encourage emissions reductions, sequestration and avoidance in agricultural practices
4.3 Incorporate agriculture in ongoing DoS and SLRD Community Climate Action planning initiatives and strategies
4.4 Communicate with and involve agricultural stakeholders in emergency preparedness planning
4.5 Host educational events and workshops about flood risk management for agricultural stakeholders
Goal 5: Align Policies and Strengthen Regulations for Agriculture and Food (DOS and SLRD)
Objective: Build on existing local and regional food policies and amend bylaws to strengthen regulations that will in turn stimulate agricultural production.
5.1 Create and maintain Development Permit Area Guidelines for Farmland Protection
5.2 Ensure zoning supports appropriately scaled processing and value-added activities
5.3 Continue to include agriculture as a permitted use in non-ALR urban and residential areas
5.4 Update OCP and zoning bylaws to better align with the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) Act and Regulations
5.5 Enhance compliance and enforcement for farmland protection
5.6 Ensure that existing and/or future bylaws related to cannabis production and processing protect farmland
Goal 6: Increase Engagement, Communication, Awareness, and Education
Objective: Improve awareness of local agriculture and access to local food and support farmers who wish to increase agricultural skill set.
6.1 Continue maintenance of the Regional Food Asset Map
6.2 Work with the Squamish Nation to integrate Indigenous food system and resource management perspectives and knowledge within food plans and initiatives
6.3 Support provincial-level stakeholder engagement to improve communications and education about agricultural rules and regulations
6.4 Facilitate educational workshops for farms and agri-food businesses
