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SURREY BOARD OF TRADE AND KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY 1 | P a g e

THE SURREY BOARD OF TRADE AND KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

PRESENT A POSITION PAPER ON:

LOCAL-SCALE AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS FOR SUSTAINABLE

CITIES THROUGH MUNICIPALLY ENABLED AND SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE1

Authored by:

Kent Mullinix and Arthur Fallick2 Corresponding author: [email protected] 1 Based on a White Paper submitted for the Surrey Regional Economic Summit, 8/30/2008 2 Institute for Sustainable Horticulture, Kwantlen Polytechnic University. 12666-72nd Ave, Surrey, British Columbia. V3W 2M8.


BritishColumbiansareincreasinglyinterestedinwhatweeat,andourdemandandsupportforlocallyproducedfoodcontinuestogrow…Wemust…seekandembracenew

opportunities,andtrynewthings,developnewproductsandmarkets,andparticipateinopportunitiespresentedbytheemerginglow‐carboneconomy.Wemustallrealizehowimportantinnovationcanbe.Howitcanchangeafarm,acommunityandaprovince.

BenStewart

MinisterofAgricultureGovernmentofBritishColumbia

Oct.29,2010


Summary

LocalgovernmentsinBritishColumbiacanandshouldfunctionasastrongandeffective

catalystfortheactualizationoflocal/regionalagri‐foodsystemsthatgenuinelyaffordfood

security(supply)andsovereignty(control)forpeopleandcommunities.Sincetheymost

immediatelyfeeltheinclinationanddesireofpeopleandcommunityorganization,municipal

governmentsholdthekeytocreatinglocalagri‐foodsystemsbecausetheyareclosesttothose

forwhomsuchafoodsystemisintended.Inthediscussionthatfollowswecontendthata

sustainable21stcenturyagri‐foodsystemshouldbesubstantiallydifferentfromwhatwasin

placeinthelatterstagesofthetwentiethcentury.Innovativerestructuringthatfacilitatesand

reflectsaculturalshiftinourrelationshiptonature,place,agriculture,andtofoodisa

sustainabilityimperative.Suchatransformationwillguideustowardnurturingnewand

sustainablerelationshipswiththeland,toourfood,andtothosewithwhomwebuildand

sharecommunity–torediscoverwhatitistobeessentiallyhuman.

ResearchersatKwantlenPolytechnicUniversity’sInstituteforSustainableHorticultureare

developingamulti‐dimensionalframeworktoillustratehowlocalgovernmentscanenhance

andsupportlocal‐scale,human‐intensive,environmentallysoundagri‐foodsystemsthatcan

havedirectandpositiveimpactsonlocalandregionaleconomies,protectandpreserve

farmlandagainsturbansprawlandpromoteincreasedfoodproduction,distributionand

consumptionself‐reliance.

Politicians,planners,communitygroupsandindividualstakeholdersneedappropriate

knowledge,toolsandtargetedstrategiesthatcanbereadilyimplemented.Ourresearchon

MunicipallyEnabledandSupportedAgriculture(MESA)isproducingacompendiumof

concepts,toolsandtargetedstrategiestoillustratehowlocal‐scale,human‐intensiveagri‐food

systemscanbedesignedandbroughtforthtoincreasediversityandbuildresilienceinour

communities.


Introduction

Ourchallengeasplanners,developersandpolicy‐makersofthebuiltenvironmentin

aneraofclimatechangeistofigureouthowtostrengthenagriculturesystemsandbiodiversityofourfarmlands,andconnectthemtolivablecitiesandtheirconsumers.

(K.Benefield,2009)

Isitconceivablethatsustainability,inallofitsdimensions,cancometodefineandfocushuman

enterpriseinthe21stcentury?

Forthefirsttimeinhistorythemajorityofthehumanpopulationisurbanized.ForCanada,aswithother

developedcountries,fullyseventy‐fivepercentofourpopulationliveandworkinurbanenvironments,a

phenomenonlargelyassociatedwith20thcenturyindustrializationandeconomicglobalization.

Increasinglyhowever,thereisagrowingrecognitionoftheeconomic,socialandecologicallimitations

andchallengesthispathhasmanifest.Wearecomingtomorefullyrecognizethatas“ecological

creatures”wearesubjecttoecologicalprincipleanddependentuponecosystemhealthandfunction,as

areallotherorganismsthatweshareearthwith.Wearepartof,andsubjectto,theweboflife.

Yetmostremainfairlyunwittingoftheecologicalprocessesthataffecteveryaspectofdailylifeorhow

thewayweliveimpactsthem.Weareincreasinglysequesteredinourcitiesandinsulatedfrom

ecologicalengagementandawareness.3Moreimportantlyperhaps,wearegenerallyunawareofthe

ecologicalburdenweimposeupontheearth’sresourcesandsystemsdespitethefactthatwehave

cometoappreciatethathumanactivityprofoundlyinfluencesthelocal,regionalandglobalecological

functionswhichhumanwelfaredependsupon.Thisincreasinglyemergentanddelimitingrevelationis

manifestinourrecognitionofthecoreoftheconceptofsustainability‐providingfortheneedsoftoday

withoutcompromisingfuturegenerations’abilitytodothesame.Inthislight,advancingsecure,

productiveandresilientcitiesbecomescentralandcriticaltotheactualizationofsustainable,livable

humansettlementsthatmorefullyinvitethefullexpressionofhumanity,includingtheproductionand

3 The ideas in this paper build on several related articles published by ISH, including: Condon, P.M., Mullinix, K. & Fallick, A., 2009. Agriculture on the Edge: Strategies to abate urbanencroachment onto agricultural lands by promoting viable human-scale agriculture as an integralelement of urbanization. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability.


purveyanceoffood.However,itisalsointhislightthatthenon‐sustainabilityofourcities,aswe

currentlyconceiveofanddesignthem,ismanifestlyevident.

Onefundamentalaspectofurbansustainabilitythatisincreasinglysubjecttoexaminationistheagri‐

foodsystemthatsupportsourswellingurbanpopulations.Theimpactofurbanizationontheresilience

anddiversityofouragri‐foodsystems,aswellasitsconnectiontosuburban,rural,andnatural

environments,needstohavemorecentralconsiderationinplanningandpolicy‐making.Foodhas

becomelittlemorethananurbansectorthroughput‐itcomesin(inuntoldquantitiesandforms)andits

wasteproducts(whicharemany)goout.Wehavelittleornothingtodowithitsproduction,processing

ormarketing.Wehavenosubstantiverelationshipwiththisomnipresentanduniversalaspectofour

existence.Yetweknowthatthenegativeecologicalandsocialimplicationsofthissituationaremany

andprofound.

InstituteforSustainableHorticulture(ISH)researchisattemptingtodelineateanddemonstrate

elementsofacomprehensivesocial,environmentalandeconomicintegrationofagri‐foodsystems

withinthedesign,planning,governanceandfunctionofcities.Itisalocal‐scale,human‐intensive,

ecologicallysound,direct‐market,agri‐foodsystemthatcontributessubstantiallytofeedingthecity

whilealsocontributingtoitseconomicandsocialvitality.Thisimpliesavaluedandsymbiotic

relationshipwherebytheagri‐foodsystemsupportssustainableurbanityandurbanitysupports

sustainableagricultureinaninextricablylinkedandseamlesspositivefeedbackloop.

Howweconfigureourfoodsystemstocontributetomorelivableandsustainableurbansystemsraises

severalimportantresearchquestions:

• Howmighturbanandperi‐urbanagriculturebetieddirectlyintotheecologicalandsocial

functionandeconomicvitalityofcities?

• Howcantheurbanandperi‐urbanagri‐foodsystemrealizemultiplefunctionandsustainability

objectives,contributingtolesseningtheurbanecologicalfootprint?

• Howcananurban‐linkedagri‐foodsystemcontributetothesocialfabricofourcitiesproviding

opportunityforproductive,healthyhumanengagementandenterprise?


Todate,therearefewdefinitiveanswersandfarfewermodelsthatdemonstratethepotentialityof

substantive,sustainableCanadianurbanandperi‐urbanagricultureandfoodsystems.However,recent

decisiveleadershipwithintheCityofSurreyholdssignificantpromise.

Ouragrifoodsystemchallenge Theworld’spopulationisgrowingexponentially.Itiscurrentlyapproximately6.4billionandis

conservativelyexpectedtobe9.5billionby2050‐only40yearsoronegenerationaway.Thevast

majorityofthatpopulationgrowthwilloccurintheworld’scities.InCanadaonlythreepercentofthe

populationresidesonfarmsandonly1.4%ofthepopulationisengagedinfarming4.Inotherwords97%

ofCanadianshavelimitedornomeaningfulconnectiontotheiragri‐foodsystem.Atthesametime,

Canada’sfarmersareaging.Themeanageisnearly60years(asitisacrossNorthAmerica).Critical

knowledgeisbeinglostandyoungpersonsarenotencouragedtopursuethisvitalandhonorable

profession.Toacertainextent,local‐scale,human‐intensive,ecologicallysoundagricultureholdsthe

promiseofattractinganewgenerationtoavibrantagriculture;peoplewhoarededicatedto

contributingtosustainablesocietyandwhowillregardanewkindofagricultureasapreferred

professionandcareerpathtodoso.

Theincreasinglyglobalizedandconsolidatedagri‐businesssectorexpectsa20%returnoninvestment

withthevalueofagricultureincreasinglycapturedbythoseintheagri‐foodsystemotherthanfarmers

(e.g.largescalesuppliers,processors,distributors,marketers,wholesalersandretailers).Thevast

majorityofthesedollarsleavetheagriculturalsectorandcommunities,gostraighttocorporate

headquarters,andcontributelittleornothingtoregionaleconomiesandsocialvitality.Arecent

snapshotofthecurrentstateofagricultureinMetroVancouverreveals:2,618farmoperators,

generating28%ofB.C.’sgrossfarmreceipts,producing130differentcommoditieson1.5%ofthe

provincialagriculturallandbase(61,364hectares),whichisequivalenttothatrequiredtohouse2.2

millionpeople(3.5millby2040).Thecurrentagri‐foodsystemischaracterizedbylowprofitmargins

(highlandvalues,highlabourcosts,seasonalproduction,lowprofitmargins,lowfarmreceipts,andlow

4Globe and Mail series on Global Food: Canada is falling behind and farmers blame lack of vision, rather than lack of subsidies, for the decline. November 24, 2010 The growing problem: Canada slips from agricultural superpower status


foodself‐reliance.Allofthisoccurswithinacomplexpublicpolicyenvironmentwithmulti‐layered

governmentregulation5.

Theconsolidatedagri‐foodsystemincreasinglyrelegatesconsumers,intermsofwhatandhowtheyeat

andintermsofwhatagriculturemethodologiescanbeused,tothedesignsandinterestsoffewerand

fewermulti‐nationalcompanies.Asaresultfoodsystemsecurityisemergingasagenuineconcern,

whileincreasedlocal‐regionalfoodproductionfostersthepotentialforahigherlevelofself‐

determinationandresilienceinouragri‐foodsystems.

Expectationsforinexpensivefoodarebecomingournorm.InNorthAmericaapproximately10%of

disposableincomeisspentonfoodcomparedto+20%inEurope.Increasinglyhoweverthishas

exactedotherlessobviouscostssuchasenvironmentaldegradation,lossofbio‐diversity,lossoffarms,

farmlandandfarmers,andexploitationoflaborandresources,aswellascompromisedhealthand

nutrition,foodsafetyandsecurity.Thedestructiveecological,socialandeconomicconsequencesand

limitationsofthemodernglobalagri‐foodsystemarebecomingincreasinglyevidentandproblematic.

Researchindicatesthatacriticalandgrowingnumberofconsumersarenowpreparedtoeconomically

supportanagri‐foodsystemthatisenvironmentallysound,promotesasustainableandsecurefood

supplyandcontributestobuildingeconomicallyvitalandsociallycoherentcommunities.

Mostoftheworld’sarablelandisinproductionandGreenRevolutionindustrializationand

technologicalgainshavebeenmaximized.Notechnologieswithsimilarpotentialtoincreaseyieldare

forthcoming,noteventransgeniccultivars.Howeverappropriatetechnologiesandalternativemethods

toachieveproductive,local‐scale,human‐intensivefoodproductiondoexistandcontributeto

enhancingdiversityinouragri‐foodsystems.

Risingglobalaffluenceisdistortingtherelationshipbetweenfoodsupplyanddemandandbetweenthe

useoflandscapableoffoodcropproductionandfeedingbourgeoningpopulations.Croplandsare

increasinglydevotedtoproductionofhighvalueexportandbiofuelcropsinsteadofregionalfood

productionthusexacerbatingfoodinsecurityinurbanareas,NorthandSouth.Theanswer,atleastin

5 Local Government Policy Options to Protect Agricultural Land and Improve the Viability of Farming in Metro Vancouver. Deborah Curran and Tracy Stobie. Prepared for Metro Vancouver. 2010. http://www.metrovancouver.org/planning/development/agriculture/AgricultureDocs/Local_Government_Policy_Options_to_Protect_Agricultural_Land.pdf


part,laysindevelopingintensive,productive,localized,human‐scale,agri‐foodsystemsthatreliably

provideresidentswithsafe,wholesomefoods.Thistypeofagriculture,thoughinitsinfancy,is

increasinglyhappeninginandaroundurbanareasonlandsofvaryingqualities,sizesandtenure

arrangements.

Urbangrowthisgoingtooccurandwemustaccommodategrowingurbanpopulations.Thequestionis

howshoulditoccur?Perthedictateof“economicefficiency”,agriculturehastocompetewithother

urbanlanduses(parkinglots,shoppingcenters,housingetc.).Since1971,inCanada,12,000square

kilometersofcropland,halfofitdependableagricultureland(class1,2or3),hasbeenlosttourban

sprawl.Globally,croplandhasbeenreducedby86millionhectaressincethemid‐1980’s(2times

Canada’stotalcropland).WiththepopulationofthegreaterVancouvermetropolitanareaexpectedto

doubleby2050,isitprudenttocontinuetorelyheavilyonaglobalizedagri‐foodmodeltosupportand

nurturelocalcommunities?

Perhapsthemostsignificantfactorandonesubstantiallyexacerbatingtheurgencyofexaminingagri‐

foodsystemsustainabilityanditsrelationshiptotheurbanizedmajority,istheprospectofpeakoiland

industrialagriculture’sdependenceonandexcessiveuseoffossilfuels.Themostoptimisticestimates

(U.S.GeologicSurvey)callforworldpeakoilproductionin2037whileotherexpertscalculatethatitwill

occuraround2010.Withnolowcostenergyalternativetooilavailableintheforeseeablefuture,many

likeusarepredictingafairlynear‐termcollapseoftheglobalagri‐fooddistributionsystemandare

callingforreinventionofregionalizedagri‐foodsystemsinclusiveofproduction,processing,distribution,

marketing,andsales.Ourreasoningisthatawelldeveloped,regionalized,urban/peri‐urbanagri‐food

systemcanmitigate,toasignificantextent,theneedforanduseofexcessiveenergyintheproduction,

processing,distributionandsalesoffoodsandotheragriculturalproducts.

Inresponsetotheaforementionedfactorsandconditions,PearsonandNasbyoftheUniversityof

Guelph(2007)speakofaparadigmshiftasthewayforwardforouragri‐foodsystemsaying,“The

challengeforthefuture…istofindwaystoaddresstheseissues…scalebackouruseofnon‐renewable

resources,throughconnectivityandanewregenerativeagriculture.”


MunicipallyEnabledandSupportedAgriculture:anewfoodsystempathfortheurbansectorinNorthAmerica Researchindicatesthatthenatureofacommunity’sagriculturesectorprofoundlyinfluencesitssocial

andeconomiccharacter.Communitiesdominatedbysmaller,familyownedfarmsandagriculturally

relatedbusiness,comparedtoonesdominatedbyconsolidated,transnationalagribusiness,havebeen

foundtohavehigheroverallstandardsofliving,lowercrimeandpovertyrates,moreretailtradeand

independentbusinessesandmoreparks,schools,churches,newspapersandcitizeninvolvementin

democraticprocesses.6Adultslivethevaluestheyareexposedtowhengrowingup.Iftheachievement

ofeconomic,socialandenvironmentalsustainabilityisofparamountimportance,asmanysuggest,then

wemustacceptthechallengeofteachingthistoourchildren,throughwordanddeed.Theconcepts

andrealworldapplicationoflocalscaleagri‐foodsystemscanbedemonstratedtoouryoung,becoming

anintegralandenrichingaspectoftheirdailylives.

Therearefewexamplesofextensive,urbancenteredagri‐foodsystemsinNorthAmerica,andnone

whichfullyembraceandintegratefoodproductionwiththegoalofdirectlyfacilitatingurbanfood

securityandsustainabilitythroughcalculatedplanning,developmentandsupportoftheagri‐food

systemasanintegralelementoftheurbanenvironment.

Itisourcontentionthatthereissignificanteconomicopportunityinbuildingalargeandrobust

localized/regionalizedagri‐foodeconomicsector.Bringingasignificantportionofouragric‐foodsystem

backtomainstreetwilldirectlybenefitourcommunitiesasprofitsaccruedcirculate,multiplying

economicimpactwithinthelocaleconomythreetofivetimes.Manyrewardingjobswillbecreated.

Farmingandrelatedoccupationswillberestoredtotheirproperplaceinsocietyandbeappropriately

rewarded.RichardHeinbergofNewCollege,inCalifornia,estimatesthatNorthAmericawillneedin

excessof50millionfarmers,orapproximately15%ofourpopulation,inthepost‐oileconomy.7The

potentialoftheagriculturalsectortocontributetoeconomicvitalityandthesustainabilityofour

municipalitiescannotbeoverstated.

6 Goldschmidt, W. 1978. As you sow: Three studies in the social consequences of agribusiness. Montclair, N.J.: Allanheld, Osmun & Co. 7 Peak Everything: Waking Up to the Century of Declines. Richard Heinberg. New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada. 2007


Foodandagricultureareuniversalcommondenominators‐weallmusteat.Ourinherentrelationshipto

agricultureandfoodaswellasourcommonagricultureancestriesprovidesadirectcontextandconduit

toinformandeducatepeopleaboutecosystems,ecologyandsustainability.Newagri‐foodsystemscan

reshapethinkingaboutourrelationshipstothenaturalworldandtoeachother.Theyalsoholdthe

promiseofevokinga21stcenturyneo‐agrariansensibilityinoururbandwellingcitizenry‐appropriatefor

ourtimeandplacebutverymuchreflectiveoftimetestedagrariansociety,valuesandperception‐

includingawayoflifethatisrespectfulandappreciativeofcreation,islifeplacecentered,committedto

stewardshipofnaturalresources,andbuildsandnurturesrelationshipsandcommunityatalllevels.

Communityisthefoundationofsustainableurbanity.Neo‐agrarianismisasocialsystemmanifestation

oftheconceptofsustainability.

UrbanAgricultureinNorthAmericagenerallyrepresentsapragmaticandpopularapproachto

addressingfoodsecurityissuesaswellasbeingsomewhatofasocial‐politicalmovement.Ithas

primarilyfocusedonutilizingsmallcityspacesforfoodgardening.Theplanningprofessionshave

respondedbyincludingcommunitygardensinpolicyanddesignbuthaveotherwiseignoredissuesof

agri‐foodsystemsustainabilityandtherelationshipofagriculturetotherestofurbanity.Thislapseis

recognizedintherecentlypublishedAmericanPlanningAssociationPolicyGuideonCommunityand

RegionalFoodPlanning(2007)whichstates“Foodisasustainingandenduringnecessity.Yetamongthe

basicessentialsforlife‐air,water,shelter,andfood‐onlyfoodhasbeenabsentovertheyearsasafocus

ofseriousprofessionalplanninginterest.Thisisapuzzlingomission…”Similarly,thepreponderanceof

theagriculturesectorhaslargelydismisseditspotential,toitsowndetriment.

Local/regionalagri‐foodsystems,onasignificantfoodproductionscale,offeraplanning,policy,and

designfocusandcontextinwhichwecancombinenewcommunityideals,urbandesignstrategiesand

thesophisticatedpracticeofurbanandperi‐urbanagriculture.Thiscontextsuggestsasystemsapproach

totheintegrationofurbanculturewithagricultureasthemeanstopromotediversity,enhancelocal

resilienceandincreasetheadaptivecapacityoftheagri‐foodsystem.Ourgoalshouldbetocreatean

urbanenvironmentthatvalues,encourages,activatesandsustainsagri‐foodsystementerprisethrough

integrationofpeople,theplaceswheretheyliveandwork,andtheirfood.Weneedtoinvite

agriculturebackintooursettlementstakingintoconsiderationtheplethoraofagri‐foodsystem


activitiesandcontributionsthatmightbedesirableandviableforthebreadthofspacesand

environments.

TheBCMinistryofAgricultureandLandsmuchvauntedreport:BritishColumbiaAgriculturePlan:

GrowingaHealthyFutureforB.C.Familiesrecognizesthatthecreationofcommunitybased/localfood‐

systems,addressingfoodsecuritythroughdiverselocalproduction,andenvironmentalstewardship/

climatechangemitigationandbridgingtheurban/agriculturedivide,shouldallbesignificantfociof

municipallyenabledormunicipallysupportedagri‐foodsystems.ThechallengeinBritishColumbia

however,istoovercometheseriousdisconnectbetweenstrategicplanningrhetoricandontheground

practicalsolutions.ThecurrentsituationinSouthwestBritishColumbiahighlightsthischallenge:

Weproduceandexportcropssuchascranberriesandblueberriesforinternationalmarkets,

whileimportingmuchofthefoodweeat.Othersproductsaresupplymanaged,preventingentryandoperationbymodest‐scaleoperators.

ThepriceofagriculturallandinvariouspartsofsouthwestBritishColumbiaisballooninge.g.

$435,000peracre(RichmondGardenCitylands)and$600,000peracre(CapitalRegionDistrict).

FewerfarmsandfeweryoungpeoplearededicatingthemselvestothecultureofagricultureinBritishColumbia.Criticalknowledgeandmentoringopportunitiesarebeinglost.

Conventionalagriculturalisprohibitivelycapitalintensiveforyoungpeoplethataspiretoengage

inagricultureforaliving.

Thereareveryfewmechanismsinplacetoencourageandfacilitatethecurrentgenerationtopursuethisvitalprofession.

Economiesofscalehaveresultedinfarmlandsbeingincreasinglydevotedtolargescale

productionofspecializedexportcropsthatrelyonincreasinglyexpensiveanddecreasinglyviablelongdistancetransportationmodes.Thisresultsnotonlyinsubstantialuseoffossilfuels;italsounderminesfoodsecurityintheLowerMainland.

WhiletheAgriculturalLandReservehascontributedtofoodsecuritybypreservingagricultural

land,theReserveisessentiallyalimitationonlanduse,andhencehasnotbeenableto,andcannot,resolvethesefundamentalagricultureeconomicviabilityproblems8.

8The Audit of the Agricultural Land Commission (www.bcauditor.com) argues that the ALC is challenged to effectively preserve agricultural land and encourage farming, particularly with respect to the accuracy of boundaries as it relates to the capability and suitability of ALR lands for agricultural use. The report also questions the ALC’s ability to preserve agricultural land and encourage farming effectively through the current application process, and challenges the effectiveness of ALC involvement in proactive long term land use planning with local governments to encourage farming on a broad basis.


WhatdoesthisallmeanforthesustainabilityofagricultureinBritishColumbiaandtheMinisterof

Agriculture’scallforamorediversifiedlocalfoodsystemthatenhanceslocalandregionaleconomies,

attractsnewfarmersandhelpsfarmersprosper,enhanceslocalfoodsecurity,andsupportseffortsto

designandbuildsustainablecommunities?

Giventheabovearguments,itseemsreasonableandprudenttosurmisethatfoodsecurity,the

availabilityofsufficient,nutritious,wholesomefoods,willbecomeapreeminentconcernofgrowing

populationsandurbancenterssuchasthoseinsouthwesternBritishColumbia.Atsomelevelthe

businessofprovidingmeanstoproduce,process,distributeandpurveyfoodandagricultureproducts

willbecomeamunicipal‐levelconcernmuchlikeroads,policingandimportantcommunityservicessuch

aslibrariesandrecreationfacilities.Agricultureinurbansettingswillbecomemuchmorethanaquaint

amenity,andfartranscend“communityallotmentgardenplots”inimportancetothecityandits

residents.Similarly,therevitalizationofthesmallfarmandfamily‐basedagriculture(linkedtourban

andperi‐urbanagriculture)willnolongerbearomanticnotionbutrepresentavitalandrecognized

elementofurbanexistenceandsustainability.Citizenswillprioritizetaxdollarstocreate,protectand

expandtheirmunicipally‐basedagri‐foodsysteminfrastructure,forthehealthandwellbeingof

themselvesandtheircommunity.Theywillrecognizethatasecureandsustainableagri‐foodsystem

withinandfortheirmunicipalitywillbetterensureitseconomicandsocialstabilityandsupportthe

promiseofsustainability.

Considerthemunicipalitythatdoesnotplanforitscitizensinthefaceofrisingfoodprices–when20%

oftheirincomewillberequiredforfood–doublewhatisrequirednow.Envisionalargepopulationwith

limitedaccesstoaffordablewholesomefood.Willthesecitizensbeabletopaytaxesorsupportother

aspectsofurbanity?Willtheybeabletoparticipateinandcontributetocivilsociety?

Consideralsoacitywhichhasengagedinplanningforaviableurbanagri‐foodsystemforitscitizen’s

foodsecurity,onethatisdevelopingamunicipallyfocusedandsupportedagri‐foodsystem,calculatedly

andwellbeforetheavailabilityandcostofwholesome,safefoodsachievescrisisproportion,that

municipalitywillhavetherespectandgratitudeofitscitizenryanditwillbeabletocontinueonitspath

tosustainability.Thewisdomofplanningforlocalfoodsecurityshouldbeclear.


Whatwillittake?Certainlymorethanapassiveattempttoconservefarmland,thoughmaintainingthe

arablelandbaseisaprerequisite.Itisparamountthatappropriatelandsintherightplacesare

preserved,servicedanddedicatedtofoodproductionofthetypesnecessaryforthewellbeingofits

citizens.Itwillrequireactivegovernmentinvolvementtoensurethatcitizensaretechnicallyprepared

forandhaveopportunitytoengageinallaspectsoftheurbanagri‐foodsysteminpracticalandeffective

wayswithoutdegradingtheresourcebase(soil,water,air)orotherwisecompromisingaspectsoflivable

cities.Suchanagri‐foodsystemwillnothappenspontaneouslyandshouldnothappenpiecemeal.It

mustbeplannedandconcertedlydeveloped.Municipalitiescanbethecentralplayers.

MunicipallyEnabledandSupportedAgriculture

Therearemanywhodesiretoengageinurbanandperi‐urbanagriculturebuthavenoaccesstolandor

senseofhowtogoaboutfindingit.Likewisemanyparcels,largeandsmall,situnderutilized.Amunicipal

partnershipwithcommunitygroupscouldfunctiontomatchsmalleracreageswithinandinproximityto

thecity,withaspiringurbanagriculturists.

Onemechanismtomakelandavailabletoaspiringfoodproducersthatwehaveconceptualizedandare

promotingforexplorationisMunicipallySponsoredAgriculture(MSA).Municipalitiescouldmake

available,atcosteffectiverates,municipallyownedlands(ofvarioussizes,shapesandlocales)for

agricultureenterprise.Itmightevenbethatmunicipalitiesprocurelandstofacilitatethedevelopment

ofanagri‐foodsectorservingitscitizenryandindoingsofosterincreasedfoodsafetyandsecurity.The

citycouldbetheentitythatconnectswould‐beagriculturistswithlands.

MunicipalitiescouldalsopromoteCommunityTrustFarming(CTF),ontheirlands.Thegoalof

CommunityTrustFarmingistosupportavarietyofcrops,value‐addedproductsandeducational

opportunitiestoproducelocalfoodforlocalneedsandtoprovideabroadrangeoffarmersandcitizens

withresourcesanddirectiontocreatesustainableagriculturethatisintegratedwiththecommunity.

CTFrequiressecuringanadequatesupplyoflandforfarming,specificationsforproductionand

distribution,environmentalstewardshiprequirements,start‐upfinancing,educational/technical

supportopportunities,andlong‐termleasearrangementsforfoodproduction.

AcriticalaspectofCTFisaFarmManagementPlanbasedonprinciplesofsustainability,multi‐

functionalityanddiversityandappropriategovernancemechanisms.Weproposeagovernancemodel

thatwouldseemunicipallandownerslegallyprotectingthefarmlandandopenspaceundercovenantor

similarlegalmechanismtoensurethelandbeusedforlocal‐scale,human‐intensive,ecologicallysound,


directmarketagricultureinperpetuity.Covenantsmustbethestrongestpossible.Themunicipality

wouldthenconferoversightofthelandtoaCommunityDevelopmentCorporation(CDC)that,as

designeeofthelandowner,holdsthecovenant,overseesadoptionofandadherencetoaFarm

ManagementPlanandfacilitatesfarmleaseagreements,allofwhichserveasguidelinesforindividual

FarmOperators.TheCDCessentiallymanagestheagri‐foodsystemresources(land,infrastructureand

capital)atitsdisposaltoestablishanappropriatemixofcommunityfocusedagri‐foodsystem

enterprises.Thesemightincludeincubatorandenterprisefarms,communityfarmsandgardens,

distributors,farmersmarkets,communitysupportedagriculturalenterprises,andstorage,processing

anddistributionfacilities.9

Inessencethefarmlandisownedbythemunicipalitywithmanagementoversightcededtothe

community.Revenueisderivedfrommembership,farmleases,directsalesofagriculturalproduceand

relatedentrepreneurialventures.TheCommunityDevelopmentCorporationholdsleases(multi‐

generationalperhaps)withindividualand/orcommunityfarmenterprises.Longtermleasesprovide

farmerswithsecuretenureandareassumedtocontributetogoodlandmanagement(e.g.investingin

improvements,developinglong‐termbusinessplans,plantingperennialcrops,andutilizingecologically

sustainablepractices).

Otherpotentialmunicipallysupportedagri‐foodsystemdevelopmenteffortsincludetheprovisionof

“Incubator”FarmPlots.Smalltracts,againmunicipallyowned,couldbefavorablyleasedtotrainee

producerssothattheycangaincriticalcrop‐specificknowledgeandexperiencebeforecommitting

significantcapitalandotherresourcesinthedevelopmentofspeculativeagricultureenterprises.

Technicalsupportandpossiblysharedequipmentwillbeavailabletoincubatorfarmers.Similarly,an

“incubatorkitchen”forexplorationinto,orstart‐upproductionofvalue‐addedagricultureproducts

couldbeapartoftheoverallmunicipal‐university‐privatepartnership.Thosewantingtoexperiment

aboutordevelopaprocessedvalue‐addedagriculturalproductcouldrentcommercial

processing/kitchenfacilitiesforproductdevelopmentandbusinessstart‐upandhaveaccessto

universityexpertise/support.

Tobuildlocal‐regionalagri‐foodsystemsin,aroundandformunicipalitieswemustprepareanew

generationofurbanandperi‐urbanagriculturists.MunicipalitiesmightconsidersupportingaFarm

9 Kent Mullinix and Arthur fallick. 2010.“Sustainable Agriculture on the Southlands: Connecting People and Community with Agriculture”. Institute for Sustainable Horticulture, Kwantlen Polytechnic University.


Schooltopreparepeople,fromallwalksoflifeandvariousbackgrounds,toengageinhumanscale,

urbanfocusedagricultureenterprisesincludingproduction,processing,addingvalue,distribution,

marketingandsales.FarmSchooleducationalprogrammingfocusesonskillandknowledge

development.Featuresoftraditionaleducation(entrancerequirements,exams,etc.)areeschewed.

Practicalteachingandactualfarming,processing,marketingandsaleslearningexperienceareadefining

featureofatargetededucationalprogram.AseconddefiningfeatureofFarmSchoolprogrammingisits

focusonsustainability;teachingaboutfarmingandanagri‐foodsystemthatiseconomicallyviable,

environmentallysoundandsociallyresponsiveandanintegralelementofsustainablecities.Farm

Schoolcompleterscouldthenbeaffordedpreferentialaccessto“incubator”farmland(uptooneacre

forthreeyearsatveryreasonablerates).Tosimilarend,itwouldbeextremelyvaluabletoestablisha

MunicipalMicro‐loanProgramtosupportFarmSchoolcompletersandotherstart‐upurbanandperi‐

urbanagri‐foodsystementrepreneurs.Suchaloanprogramcouldbeeffectivelybolsteredbyuniversity

facilitatedfarmandagri‐businessplanningandmanagementextensionprogramming.10

Economicandenvironmentalbenefitswillaccruetothemunicipalitythatembracesthisapproach.Jobs

willbecreatedwithinthecommunitynotonlyinprimaryfoodproduction,butalsoinsuchareasas

value‐addedprocessingandproducts,restaurantsfeaturinglocalfood,andculinaryartstrainingusing

localfood.Longdistancecommutingofresidentsandtransportationoffoodwillbeminimizedand

environmentalaccountabilitywillbeaneighborhoodconcern.Thesocialfabricofthecommunitywillbe

strengthenedandfortifiedjustascommunitiesinthepastwereenrichedbytheircommonenterpriseof

productionandprovisionoffood.

Throughbylaws,localgovernmentsalreadyexactaDevelopmentCostChargefromdevelopment

projectsasameanstofinanceassociatedpublicinfrastructureandservicesrequirementsassociated

withmunicipalgrowth.Whenthesupportingelementsoftheagri‐foodsystembecomeanintegral

functionofmunicipalgovernmentitseemsreasonablethatDevelopmentCostChargestructurescould

bemodifiedandusedtosupportthecreationandstewardshipofmunicipalagri‐foodsystems.

Municipallyenabledandsupportedagriculturestrategiessuchasthoseoutlinedaboverepresent

realisticcomplementstoBritishColumbia’suniqueandextraordinarilysuccessfulAgriculturalLand

Reservelegislation.Inordertofullyrealizeourcapacityforregionalagri‐foodsystemsandfoodsecurity,

10 Richmond Farm School is modeling this approach with financial support from VanCity Savings Credit Union.


morelandisneededbutthisisnotlikelytobeforthcomingfromtheAgriculturalLandReserve.

MunicipallySupportedAgriculturehasgreatpotentialtocontributesubstantivelytoourfood

sustainabilitygoalsandcanbecome,inpartnershipwiththeAgriculturalLandReserve,partofa

comprehensivesustainableagri‐foodsystemsupportinghumansettlementforfuturegenerations.In

thiscontextmunicipalitieswillplayanincreasinglykeyroleinstewardshipofthepublicgoodand

throughthemunicipalapprovalsprocessescanensurethatdevelopmentofallkinds,inaccordancewith

localpolicy,addresstheobjectivesofanagri‐foodsystemthatsupportsurbanismandurbanismthat

supportstheagri‐foodsystem.

ExercisingMunicipalLeadership Withacurrentpopulationof430,000Surreyhasarichblendofdiverseculturesandlandscapes

includingasignificantagriculturesector,butitisalsoknownforsubstantialurban/suburbansprawl.As

the12thlargestcityinCanadaandthesecondlargestintheprovince,Surreyhasalandareaof317km2.

ItisalsothesecondfastestgrowingmunicipalityinMetroVancouver,expectedtodoubleitspopulation

withinseveraldecades.

InSeptember2008,theMayorandCounciloftheCityofSurreyunanimouslyapprovedaSustainability

CharterastheCity’soverarchingpolicydocumenttoguideitsapproachtosocial,cultural,

environmental,andeconomicsustainability.ThefoodsystemfiguresprominentlyintheSustainability

Charter11,reflectingtheprioritiesrecommendedinthe2008strategicplanforagricultureissuedbythe

BCMinistryofAgricultureandLands.Inadditiontoreflectingprovincialprioritiesandrespondingto

localconcernsoverfoodsecurityandresilience,SurreyhasalsocontributedsubstantivelytoMetro

Vancouver’sRegionalGrowthManagementStrategyandtheRegionalFoodStrategytoensurethatthe

City’seffortstoenhancethelocalfoodagri‐foodsystemissetwithinanappropriateregionalcontext,

andissupportedwithcorrespondingactionwithinthesurroundingmunicipalities.

ItisreportedthatagricultureisgenerallyexpandinginSurrey12:thenetincreaseinagricultural

11The Sustainable Charter includes a number of actions related to agriculture, including: preserving Surrey’s agricultural land base in the ALR; increasing the total amount of land in food production, both within and outside the ALR; and supporting local food security. 12According to the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, one third of the land in Surrey is designated agricultural (8692 ha) and constitutes 23% of Metro Vancouver’s farmland. In 2004, the City of Surrey, the Surrey Agricultural Advisory Committee, and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands conducted an agricultural land use inventory. Among those properties in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) that have agriculture as a primary land use, there


productionisgreaterthanthenetloss,bothintermsofareaoflandandintermsofthenumberof

parcelsinusebuttheCityofSurreyrecognizesthevolatilityofcommodityagriculture(e.g.beefcattle,

blueberry,forage),thesubstantial,relentlesseconomicanddevelopmentpressuresplacedupon

agriculturelandsandthat,asaresult,allremainunderthreatoflosstoagriculture13.Surreyleadership

feelsitincumbentuponthemtofosterasustainableagri‐foodsectorthatcontributessubstantiallyand

directlytotheeconomic,social,andenvironmentalvitalityofthemunicipalityandinsodoing,lead

SouthwestBritishColumbiabyexample.

SurreyhascommittedtotacklingthecriticalsustainabilityissuesintheRegionaggressivelyandwith

innovation. TheCityhasmadeitaprioritytoconductresearchintowaysthemunicipalitycanadvance

local/regionalfoodproductionandsmalllotagricultureasameanstocurtailthelossofagricultural

lands,enhancetheregionaleconomy,diversifyopportunitiesforagriculturalists,reducerelianceon

importedfood,andachievemandatedgreenhousegasreductiontargets.

Surrey’sagriculturesectorandlandsfallswithinthepurviewofthePlanningandDevelopment

Department,whoseroleitistoadviseandsupportCityCouncilintheorderlydevelopmentoftheCity

bypreparinglanduseplans,by‐lawsandpoliciesandbymanagingzoningapplicationapproval

processesconsistentwiththeapprovedplans,by‐lawsandpolicies.EconomicDevelopmentstaff

regardstheagri‐foodsystem,andinparticularsmalllotagriculture,asanemergingeconomicsector

potentiallyhavinganincreasinglysignificantroletoplayinavital,robustlocaleconomy.Following

extensiveconsultationwithseniorelectedofficialsandstaff,theCityofSurreyhaspartneredwith

KwantlenPolytechnicUniversity’sInstituteforSustainableHorticulture(ISH)tohelpSurreyleadership

addresswhatinformation,actionsandpoliciescanbeemployedbySurreyto:

mitigateagriculturallandloss,

encourageagriculturallandutilization,

are a wide range of farm operations, forage and pasture (32%), berry farms (20%), field vegetable farms (16%), and beef cattle (6%). Other agricultural lands are used for non-food crop production purposes (e.g. horse stables, golf courses, life style). Approximately 20% (1,717 ha) was not available for farming (e.g. golf courses, parks, commercial service uses, conservation areas), and approximately 10% (947 ha.) was not being actively farmed in 2004. In the summer of 2010 a second study of agricultural land use was conducted by MAL and the City of Surrey. Data from this study has not yet been analyzed and mapped. 13 Between 2001 and 2004, 178 parcels in the ALR (13% of all parcels) underwent change related to agriculture. Some parcels had an increase in agricultural use (e.g. expanded livestock structure, new fields in crop production) while others underwent a net decrease (e.g. abandoned crop, removed livestock). Other parcels had a change in the type of agricultural land use (e.g. forage converted to blueberry production).


enhancesustainablelocal,smalllotfoodproductionasaneconomicdevelopmentandemploymentdriver,

reduceBritishColumbia’srelianceonimportedfoods, contributetoSurrey’sachievementofGHGemissionsreductionsof80%by2050,andcreate

agreener,moreliveablecity.14

WhyaMunicipalUniversityPrivateSectorPartnership? Municipalgovernmentsmustleadthewayandengageabreadthofpublicandprivatesector

stakeholderstobuildinterdisciplinaryplanning,design,development,andimplementationcapacities.

Suchapublic/municipal/privatepartnership,focusedonthecreationofsustainable,urbanagri‐food

systems,ifnotunprecedented,israre.However,itwouldbeapowerful,galvanizingforceforbuilding

anurbanfocusedagri‐foodsystemthatdirectlyandsubstantivelycontributestothevitalityandlivability

ofoururbancommunities.Inordertobesuccessful,however,municipalitieswillrequirecritical

partnerships,suchastheonebeingproposedhere,tobringbroadrangingexpertiseandgarnersupport

fromadiversityofstakeholders.Modelswillneedtobedeveloped,tested,implementedandshared.

Atremendousopportunityexiststopursueunprecedentedresearch,planning,design,developmentand

outreachprogrammingfocusedontwoofsouthwestBritishColumbia’smostpressing(andlinked)

challenges‐urbanandagriculturesustainability.Weenvisionmunicipalitiesplayingthepivotalroleand

partneringwithpublicandprivatesectorentitiestoadvancesuchanurbanfocusedagri‐foodsystem

initiativeandindoingsomunicipalitiescanleadtheactualizationofvital,sustainable21stcenturyurban

societyinatrulysignificantway.

TheresearchbeingpursuedatISHconsidersthefullspectrumofecosystemsandspaceslinkedtofood

andagriculture‐urban,suburban,rural,andnaturalareas‐theirinter‐connectedness,andthe

opportunitiestosupportasustainable,ecologicallysoundagri‐foodsystemthattheyandtheir

relationshipstooneanotherrepresent.Inthisperspective,itisnotonlyaboutthegrowingoffood,but

14The research conducted by ISH and collaborative partners at the UBC Design Centre for Sustainability will produce a combination of tools and model applications that Surrey, and ultimately other municipalities can use to enhance local scale, human intensive agri-food production. The work will produce findings and recommendations that can be incorporated into existing planning frameworks, or where appropriate, presented to Council for adoption. These recommendations and models are intended to be used to inform the expansion, enhancement or modification of current and future plans (e.g. Official Community Plan or Area Plans) and key strategic documents (e.g. Sustainability Charter, Economic Development Plans, etc.)


alsothefullrangeofagri‐foodsystemselementsincludingprocessing,transport,distribution,

consumptionandwastehandlingandutilization.Itisacomprehensive,ecologicallybased,systems

approachtoagri‐foodsystemplanningandimplementationdesignedtomeaningfullyadvancehuman

enterprisesustainability.

Highereducationmustplayacriticalroleinagriculture’spost‐industrialtransformationtoan

ecologicallybased,sustainableandcommunityfocusedsystem.Theywillbemosteffectivedoingsoin

fullpartnershipwithgovernmentatalllevelsbutmostnotablyandimportantlywithmunicipalities.For

betterorworse,universityresearch,educationandoutreachcanbelargelycreditedwiththe

transformationofagriculturetoitsmodernconsolidated,industrialized,fossilfuelintensiveand

unsustainableform.Theyhavearoletoplayinitsre‐genesis.

ConclusionandRecommendations. Thefullintegrationofagricultureandthefoodsystemwithintheplanning,design,developmentand

functionofourcommunitiesisanalternativefoodsystempathfortheurbansectorinNorthAmerica.It

isanagri‐foodsystemintendedtoconnecturbanites,inrealandmeaningfulways,totheirenvironment

andahumanenterpriseundeniablycrucialtotheirwell‐being.Itisalsoawayofreducingvulnerability

anddependenceonanecologicallyunsoundandincreasinglyvulnerableglobalagri‐foodsystem.

Regionalagri‐foodsystemsrepresentasignificantmeanstocontributetotheadvancementof

sustainableurbancommunities(socially,economicallyandenvironmentally).MESArepresentsa

conceptualframeworkandspecifictoolstoadvancelocal/regionalagri‐foodsystems.

Thepotentialbenefitsofmunicipalitiesadvancingandsupportinglocal‐scale,human‐intensive

agricultureinBritishColumbiainclude:

1. Contributiontosustainableurbanismthrough,stable,safefoodsuppliesincludingreadyaccesstohighquality,freshfruitsandvegetables.

2. Reductionoftheecologicalfootprintoftheagri‐foodsystemofamunicipalitythroughthe

minimizationofprocessing,packaging,transportation,waste,andenergyuse.3. Closednutrientandresourcecycles‐urbanorganicwastescanbecompostedandusedin

agricultureresultinginreducedpressureonlandfills.Energy(e.g.methanefromlandfills)andwaterwastes(e.g.gray)canbereclaimedandusedforagriculture.

4. Enhancementofbiodiversitythroughcreationofhabitatandrefugiaforvariousorganisms.


5. Promotion,useandretentionofregionallyadaptedcultivarstoprotectgeneticdiversity.6. Reconnectionofcitizenrytoavitalhumanendeavorandagriculturiststourbanites.7. Spawninganew,substantialeconomicsectorwitharangeofelementswhichcancontributeto

strongerregionalizedeconomies.8. Provisionofavehicletopromotegreatercommunityawarenessofandknowledgeaboutthe

largerissueofsustainability;foodisthegreatcommondenominator.9. Advancementofourunderstandingofsustainablemixedusecommunities.Theagri‐foodsystem

maybetheverythingthatnew,sustainablecommunitiescanbebuiltaround.

WethereforerecommendthattheSurreycapitalizeonitsrichanddiverseagriculturalheritage,the

agriculturalknowledgeinherentinitsdiversecitizenryanditsaccesstolandsto:

1. EmbracetheconceptsofMunicipallyEnabledandSupportedAgricultureasanimportantaspectofurbansustainability.

2. CollaboratewithISHtoexplorethepotentialandplanforSurrey’surbanfocusedagri‐food

sector.3. Developmodelpoliciesandtargetedstrategiesthroughwhichindividuals,organizationsand

enterprisescanfosteranextensiveandcomprehensiveurbanandperi‐urbanagriculturesector.4. JoinotherlowermainlandmunicipalitiesworkingwiththeInstituteforSustainableHorticulture

anditscollaborativepartnerstoadvanceurban/peri‐urbanagri‐foodsystemscomprisedofmultiplemunicipallyenabledandsupportedagri‐foodsystems,eachreflectingthecharacter,needsandcapacityoftheparticularmunicipalitybutcontributingtoacollectivelysustainableregionalagri‐foodsystem.

Wewelcomeyourfeedback.

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