SHUSWAP AGRICULTURE STRATEGY: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In March 2011, the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society (SAEDS) and CSRD Shuswap Economic Development (CSRD-SED) held an Agriculture Discussion Group to engage local agriculture producers in a discussion on agriculture in the Shuswap region. [For the purposes of this project the Shuswap region will be defined as the City of Salmon Arm, the District of Sicamous, and CSRD Electoral Areas C, D, E, and F.] In attendance were agriculture producers from the various sectors of the industry (dairy farmers, produce growers, cattle ranchers, wineries, poultry producers, local government, and other agriculture organizations). The SAEDS and the CSRD-SED were attempting to obtain a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges for the agriculture industry in the Shuswap region and as business service organizations, how we could provide services that would assist agriculture industry businesses. The organizations also realized that any future agriculture initiatives pursued would have to be reflective of local needs and provide the most benefit to the end user our local farmers. Opportunities and challenges identified through the discussion group were: Education Infrastructure Marketing Policy, Process, Regulation Labour shortages The conclusions from this discussion group provided enough information to enable the SAEDS and CSRD to move forward with the development of a regional Shuswap Agriculture Strategy to address the opportunities and challenges identified. In 2012, the Board of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) approved the creation of a Shuswap Agricultural Strategy (SAS). The intent of the Shuswap Agriculture Strategy project is to support the growth of the agriculture sector of the Shuswap region in order to create a sustainable agriculture economy, protection of agriculturally capable land, and to integrate existing economic and land use policies into future strategic plans that are approved by the CSRD Board. Due to the multi-faceted nature of this project the strategy is a collaborative effort between the Shuswap Agricultural Strategy Steering Committee (SASSC) and the CSRD Economic Development Department, CSRD Development Services Department, and the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society (SAEDS). The general objectives of the Shuswap Agriculture Strategy are: To develop an agriculture steering committee to ensure that local producers will guide the development of the Shuswap Agriculture Strategy. To promote the local image of agriculture to increase public awareness and support for local food production.

To strengthen the agriculture sector consultation processes including policy, planning and regulations. To support agriculture organizations in providing services to producers. To support the processing or adding of value and marketing of agricultural products. To maintain and enhance agricultural production research. To facilitate educational opportunities for producers and aspiring producers on opportunities in agriculture which may include new market opportunities, on-site training, and community education of the agriculture industry. To increase production, revenues, and employment for the agriculture industry not only in the local market, but larger domestic and international markets. To create an implementation strategy within the Shuswap Agriculture Strategy that defines the role and responsibilities of each partner to ensure that challenges and opportunities for the agriculture industry are addressed. To address the issue of food security which focuses on a sustainable agriculture industry that balances environmental health, economic profitability, and socio-economic equity in the Shuswap. To create a Shuswap Agriculture Strategy that will differentiate the agriculture industry in the Shuswap from other regions in BC.

The Shuswap Agricultural Strategy Steering Committee (SASSC) consists of the following members: Name John McLeod John Born Doug Fenton Graydon Ratzlaff Lorne Hunter Jacob Mitchell Rebecca Kneen Hermann Bruns Scott de Boer Richard Bell Association Dairy Farmer Dairy Farmer Celista Springs Ranch Recline Ridge Winery Dairy Farmer Farm Manager Farmer/Brewer/Administrator Organic Market Vegetable Grower Dairy Farmer Poultry

Members sitting in an advisory capacity on the committee include directors from the CSRD Board and staff of the CSRD Shuswap Economic Development and Development Services department, and staff from the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society The target completion of the final report is March 31, 2014.