By Tom Mark

RDNO Urged To Adopt Farmland Programs

Sep 25, 2017 | 6:48 AM

Regional District politicians are being urged to get involved in a couple of projects aimed at encouraging food sustainability.

Representatives of the Young Agrarians, a network for new and young ecological and organic farmers, met with members of the Agricultural Advisory Committee of the Regional District of North Okanagan.

Their goal is to help young people who want to get into farming but can’t afford it.

Advisory Committee Vice-Chair Mike MacNabb says the idea is to get involved in land matching with farmers who may be wanting to ease out of that lifestyle.

“To identify people with property and say to the young farmers, well maybe there’s a lease opportunity to get into agriculture without having to buy the property outright.”

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MacNabb says it ties in with the district’s regional growth strategy that includes trying to keep farmland viable.

Since forming in 2012, the Agrarians have grown from coast to coast, with a very successful program in Quebec.

The committee also met with representatives of Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Institute for Sustainable Food Systems.

They are asking the regional district to become part of an Okanagan Bioregion Food System.

It’s a program of food sustainability and economic development that would increase local food production.

“Food self-reliance is a big issue. California is still struggling. The more we can do locally it reduces transportation costs. It makes our food more secure.”

It would cost the district about 25 thousand dollars over two Year to be part of an Okanagan wide program.

The Advisory Committee is asking the board to take a serious look at both programs.

by Tom Mark