Victoria – BC farmers and food processors will receive increased food security support over the next 5 years through a new agreement between the governments of Canada and British Columbia. The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) will provide increased support for an innovative, adaptive and resilient agricultural sector in British Columbia.
Through Sustainable CAP, more than $140 million will be invested in strategic initiatives, which is a 25% increase over the previous funding agreement. Demand-driven, business risk management programs are estimated to provide $330 million in support to farmers over the lifespan of Sustainable CAP. The Sustainable CAP is expected to assist the B.C. agriculture sector through new and enhanced programs and funding in the following areas:
- Indigenous reconciliation
- climate change adaptation, preparedness, and mitigation
- domestic and international marketing
- research, innovation and technology
- emergency management
- business risk management
- building sector capacity, growth and competitiveness
- sector resiliency
- value-added food processing
- food safety and traceability
The Sustainable CAP replaces the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the 5-year federal-provincial agreement that ends March 31, 2023. The Sustainable CAP will enable the governments of Canada and B.C. to provide business continuity to farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses that rely on the current funding agreement.
“The Sustainable CAP is an ambitious collaboration by the governments of Canada and British Columbia to advance the province’s agricultural sector, and ensure producers, ranchers and processors have the tools they need to continue to grow. By working together, we can advance the sector and ensure it is resilient, and able to prosper economically, socially and environmentally.” – Marie-Claude Bibeau, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food