Whereas farmers across British Columbia face escalating challenges due to climate change, including increasingly frequent and severe droughts, highlighting the urgent need for regionally relevant agricultural research to address these issues effectively; And whereas the government of British Columbia has demonstrated commendable leadership by allocating substantial funding, including an additional 80 million, to expand the Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program, aimed at enhancing water management practices and resilience in the agricultural sector; And whereas while investments in infrastructure are crucial, there is also a critical need for targeted funding for regionally relevant agricultural research to develop innovative solutions tailored to the specific challenges faced by farmers in different regions of British Columbia; And whereas regionally relevant research is essential for identifying sustainable agricultural practices, crop varieties, and water management strategies that are best suited to the unique climatic conditions and agricultural landscapes of each region: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the federal and provincial governments to prioritize funding for regionally tailored agricultural research to develop sustainable solutions for diverse farming challenges across British Columbia.
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions The Ministry of Agriculture and Food AF is delivering a new five-year producer-focused research and extension program that started in April 2023. This extension program builds on past work completed under the Climate Change Adaptation Program CCAP. Funding for the extension program is provided by the governments of Canada and British Columbia. Funded in part under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. Initial planning work in the extension program involved direct engagement with regional producers, to identify their priorities and knowledge gaps. The Extension Program divides the province into seven geographical regions with the North Central Local Government Association NCLGAs area of interest represented by in three extension regions: the Highway 16 and North Cariboo, Peace, and Central South Interior. Through workshops in the fall of 2023, regional producers identified high priority themes to drive applied research in climate mitigation and adaptation practices. Water sustainability and storage, soil health management, nutrient management, management for biodiversity and habitat, grazing management systems, extreme weather management, and crop selection for resilience were common themes identified by regional producers. The extension themes identified above resulted in seven current contracts for on-ground extension projects within the NCLGA area; 334,210 was spent in fiscal year FY 202425, with 362,560 and 202,600 projected for 202526 and 202627 respectively. In addition, funding delivered through Beneficial Management Practice adoption, the Extreme Weather Program, Knowledge and Tech Transfer events, irrigation field days, drought management workshops, and livestock and farm management workshops, provided additional opportunities to support producers in mitigating and adapting to a changing climate; 508,467 was spent in fiscal year FY 202324, 6,290,126 in 202425, and 385,560 projected for 202526. The success of any extension programs and delivery will depend strongly on collaboration across producers, processors, local and Indigenous governments, industry stakeholders, academia, AF, and other provincial staff. The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership SCAP multi-year funding commitment provides a crucial foundation for extension programs and specific project planning created in partnership with agriculture producers to ensure strategic deployment of resources.