october 13, 2007

Congratulations Percy and Louise Schmeiser!

Percy and Lousie Schmeiser receive the 2007 Right Livelihood Award . The Saskatchewan farmers won the award “for their courage in defending biodiversity and farmers’ rights, and challenging the environmental and moral perversity of current interpretations of patent laws”.

September 25, 2007

City of Vancouver declares September "Eat Local Month"

Read the proclamation

September 2007

 

Formosa Farm Threatened Again!

Formosa Nursery under threat again from a second road! Visit their blog to find out how you can help.

 

 

June 10, 2007

Terminator Seed Ban Act Introduced

We are pleased to report that on May 31 Private Members Bill C-448 to ban Terminator Seeds in Canada was tabled by Member of Parliament Alex Atamanenko, New Democratic Party Agriculture Critic and MP for BC Southern Interior. The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) is working hard to make sure that Terminator seeds are never field-tested or commercialized in Canada. Check out their website for more information.

Send an instant email to your Federal representatives to ask them to support the Bill.

april 2, 2007

Oil, climate change threaten food supply: B.C. report

Climate change and rising oil prices are a threat to B.C.'s ability to feed itself in the future, scientists and planners say.
Download BC's Food Self-Reliance Report (pdf).
View Randy Shore's full story in the April 2 Vancouver Sun.

March 2007

Take Action on the CFIA's proposed Seed Variety Registration Program

Changes proposed by the CFIA would allow the overnight registration of GM and pharma-crop seeds in Canada. That's why it's urgent and important that your voice be heard. You can fill out the document online and add your voice. This guide (pdf) from the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network gives the background and walks you through it. Note: The Feb 28 date quoted as the deadline in this document has been extended for a "couple of weeks" into April.

march 2007

Vancouver's New Garden Sharing Project

Looking for a place to garden? Do you have a garden but no time to tend it? City of Vancouver Food Policy staff and City Farmer are pairing up to match landless gardeners with fallow gardens. The Neighbour Garden project aims to connect the two to increase access to fresh, healthy food as well as keep our urban soils productive. If you are looking to garden or looking to share your garden, visit the self managed project site and follow the prompts. The site is based on the Victoria sharing backyards project.

January 23, 2007

BC Seed Security Project

Website goes live.

January 2007

Urban Agriculture Land Inventory - City of Vancouver

The VancouverFood Policy Council is overseeing an inventory of lands in the City ofVancouver with potential for urban agriculture activities. This work builds on an inventory of City-owned lands conducted last. If you areaware of any under-utilized lands in your neighbourhood that have urban agriculture potential email Sarah, Marylyn or Kristi . View the first Land Inventory

January 18, 2007

Farmland Forever! Planning for Agriculture in the Okanagan

Kelowna, BC: A public forum was held on January 18th 2007. Smart Growth BC, FarmFolk/CityFolk and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands teamed up and hosted an interactive session on the characteristics of agriculture in the Okanagan, key issues around planning for farmland, and tools and solutions to resolve urban/rural land use conflicts.

Protecting food security means providing a safe and secure supply of BC agricultural products for present and future generations. However, development pressures on the Agricultural Land Reserve are increasing, especially in the areas of BC where population growth is concentrated (Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland and Okanagan). The projected population growth in the coming years requires our community leaders and food producers to work together to preserve our farmlands. Fortunately, long-term planning can work in favour of farmland protection.

This information session built on previous regional workshops hosted by Smart Growth BC in Comox, Surrey, and Pemberton and included discussion on: the role of the Agricultural Land Commission; provincial programs for resolving urban/rural land use conflicts; regional and local perspectives on planning for agriculture; made-in-BC tools, case studies, and solutions to key issues; and building capacity among citizens for farmland preservation.