food security Archives

Historic investment of $83 million in water storage for farmers and ranchers

VICTORIA, B.C. – February 22, 2024: Today, British Columbia’s Finance Minister, the Honourable Katrine Conroy, unveiled the government’s budget for the 2024 fiscal year which included a historic investment of $83 million in water storage for B.C. farmers and ranchers. Recent climate events have stressed supplies of safe, reliable water in multiple regions of the…

Indigenous food sovereignty is key to resilient farms, gardens and communitie

Communities are working toward food sovereignty one morsel at a time. Meet the experts bringing food to people’s plates and pushing for societal change… Gitxaała farmer Jacob Beaton says his Tea Creek project is more than just a farm: it’s a hub of programs and supports designed to propel the Indigenous food sovereignty movement. This…

HA NII TOKXW: OUR FOOD TABLE

The story of the indigenous Gitanyow people and their struggle to protect their traditional lands and “food table” in the face of climate change, industrialization and colonization in Northern British Columbia. SIGN THE PETITION TO PROTECT THIS SACRED PLACE: https://chng.it/h5rzcPgkXZ Featuring: Dr. David Suzuki Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs www.gitanyowchiefs.com A film by Farhan Umedaly VoVo Productions 2021 @vovoproductions Director’s Statement: Beyond its majestic beauty and nature hidden threats are pushing the delicate ecosystem of the Meziadin Lake watershed to the brink. Ha Nii Tokxw, takes audiences on a visually stunning adventure through Wilp Wii Litsxw territory to uncover its ecological significance both…

Building Local Food Systems: A Path to Food Sovereignty

In today’s fast-paced, globalized world, the importance of building resilient and sustainable local food systems cannot be overstated. This is particularly crucial in rural, remote, and First Nation communities, where geographical isolation and limited access to mainstream markets often pose significant challenges to food access. However, by embracing the concept of food sovereignty and taking…

Two Cooperative Associations in BC’s Peace Region Approved for $1 million

PEACE RIVER REGIONAL DISTRICT, B.C. – Two cooperative associations in B.C.’s Peace Region have been approved for $1 million through the BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund’s (PACF) Agricultural Impact and Opportunities Initiative. The Fort St. John Seed Cleaning Cooperative Association and South Peace Grain Cleaning Cooperative Association will receive $746,000 and $254,000, respectively. The…

Future Food: Getting Beyond the Energy Blindness of Techno-Utopianism

(The following is adapted from The Future is Rural: Food System Adaptations to the Great Simplification, by Jason Bradford. How’s this for a party-stopper: Contrary to the forecasts of most demographers, urbanization will reverse course as globalization unwinds during the 21st century. The eventual decline in fossil hydrocarbon flows, and the inability of renewables…

Canada, BC Support Agriculture in Indigenous Communities

The provincial and federal governments have announced a new program to assist Indigneous communities in BC interested in expanding their agricultural businesses and supporting local food security. Under this new initiative, professional and qualified business consultants with experience in building agriculture ventures are able to provide site-specific guidance on the types of crops or…

Small Stores a Big Idea?

This article by the New York Times‘ Kim Severson showcases some intriguing ways innovative entrepreneurs are ensuring folks in small towns and urban neighbourhoods have access to healthy food. The Freshest Ideas Are in Small Grocery Stores As big supermarkets struggle, a new crop of local groceries are innovating to serve niche audiences and advance…

BC’s FoodLands Cooperative Launches

FarmFolk CityFolk’s Foodlands Trust Project has been approved by the BC government. We are officially the Foodlands Cooperative of BC. Its founding members — FarmFolk CityFolk Society, Vancity Community Foundation, Fraser Common Farm Cooperative, and the BC Farmer’s Market Association — will be joined by other advisory members to form the first board of…

B.C. small farms are booming, despite fickle buyers and extreme weather

B.C.’s small farms are booming, despite market and climate challenges, according to this article from CBC News. High winds slammed a tree into Paul Dumais’ chicken coop Tuesday while he was collecting eggs inside, sending a shudder through the walls of the shack south of Quesnel B.C. — but the chickens survived. “I just…