Metro Vancouver land-matching project connects new farmers to farmland

News Release

January 5, 2018 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the BC Ministry of Agriculture

A pilot project that matches new farmers looking to get their start in B.C. agriculture with available fertile farmland in the Metro Vancouver area will kick off in 2018, thanks to a $25,000 investment from the governments of Canada and British Columbia.

The project is led by the Young Agrarians, in partnership with Farm Folk City Folk Society. This Metro Vancouver project builds on the success of a two-year pilot in partnership with the City of Surrey, and in collaboration with Quebec’s L’ARTERRE. It addresses a major challenge for new farmers – gaining access to expensive land in southern B.C.

The Land Matching Project screens owners of underutilized land and farmers ready to start a business and supports the parties in the development of legal contracts. The goal is to create 7 to 9 new farm operations in the region in 2018 with secure leasing agreements.

The previous pilot in Surrey matched new farmer Roger Woo with David Feldhaus, a local land owner. Woo, a former chef with a passion for local, organically grown and sustainably farmed produce, was just the person that Feldhaus was searching for when looking to expand agricultural activity on his farmland.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada is proud to partner with B.C. Agriculture to help new and young farmers gain access to the fertile farming land in southern B.C. This investment will help create opportunities for young and beginning farmers, leading to economic growth and helping to strengthen our middle class.”

- Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“My mandate includes getting more young people farming, and making sure that they have the land to farm on through projects like the Metro Vancouver Land Matching Project is an essential first step. Part of why we established Grow BC was to help young farmers access farmland. I believe strongly that agriculture has the potential to unlock prosperity throughout our entire province, and we need farmers and farmland to make that happen.”

- Lana Popham, B.C. Minister of Agriculture

“I knew I wanted to farm in B.C., but I saw significant challenges to acquiring the appropriate farmland in the Lower Mainland. Through the land matching program, I’ve been able to find a supportive land owner who has agreed to let me farm his land. I came to this process with my farm dream, and have received step-by-step support to make it a reality.”

- Roger Woo, new B.C. farmer

“For years we have wanted to make a positive change with our farm. In a short time, the Young Agrarians were able to understand our needs and the goals that we had for our farm, and helped guide us through the land matching process, matching us with a great young farmer. Seeing our fields blooming with row after row of organic vegetables is proof of the value provided by the land matching program.”

- David Feldhaus, local land owner

“We are excited to see investment at all three levels of government in this program and the future of new and young farmers in B.C. Fifty per cent of farmers in Canada under 35 lease land. The prohibitive cost of farmland in southern B.C. means that we have to facilitate solutions to land access if we want to see a future generation farming the land.

- Sara Dent, Young Agrarians B.C. Program Manager

Quick Facts

  • The Metro Vancouver Land Matching Project is supported through Growing Forward 2 (GF2), a five-year framework that co-ordinates federal, provincial and territorial agricultural policy and programs. The five-year GF2 policy framework came into effect on April 1, 2013, and provides a $3 billion federal, provincial and territorial government investment in innovation, competitiveness and market development.

  • The B.C. government established Grow BC in 2017 to support young farmers and food producers who are looking for a career in B.C. agriculture. Grow BC helps new farmers access land, and supports fruit and nut growers and processors to expand local food production.

  • In July 2017, federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) ministers of agriculture reached agreement in principle on the key elements of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3 billion investment that will set a solid foundation for the future of Canada’s farmers and food processors, and continue to help them grow, innovate and prosper. The Partnership is set to launch on April 1, 2018.

Associated Links

Contacts

Guy Gallant
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada
Like us on Facebook: CanadianAgriculture

Dave Townsend
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Agriculture
250-356-7098
250-889-5945 (cellular)

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