Historic investment in food security supports British Columbians
(flickr.com)

Media Contacts

James Smith

Deputy Communications Director
Office of the Premier
jimmy.smith@gov.bc.ca

Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Media Relations
250 356-7098
250 889-5945 (mobile)

Media Relations

Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction
778 677-0870

Backgrounders

Food security investment in critical areas

Some of the major initiatives to be funded out of this announcement will focus on the following areas:

Indigenous Food Affordability and Food Security –
Will increase Indigenous food security, sovereignty and economic development while decreasing food costs for rural and remote Indigenous Peoples. 

Food Security Emergency Planning and Preparedness –
Will allow agricultural producers, industry associations and Indigenous communities to develop disaster plans, mitigation strategies and projects with a unique focus on food security and agricultural resiliency.

Flood Mitigation for Fraser Valley Farmers –
Will provide funding for flood mitigation projects for agricultural producers most affected by the 2021 floods with an emphasis on solutions that provide both flood mitigation and habitat restoration.

Food Processing Growth –
Will address critical gaps in B.C.’s food processing sector to increase food production, food security, and economic growth.

Food Affordability and Innovation –
Will help lower British Columbian’s grocery bills by fostering innovation and improving productivity.

Critical Food Security Infrastructure –
Will improve food security infrastructure throughout the province. Examples include larger commercial-grade coolers, new or improved warehouse facilities, and new or upgraded vehicles for collection, warehouse management and distribution of food.

Food Banks BC –
Will support food access programming, crisis response and work toward long term food security outcomes. 

United Way BC –
Will support expansion of regional community food hub programming, including new hubs in northern B.C. and southern Vancouver Island, and support co-ordination of effective community food access responses through an advisory committee.