Email dated January 16, 2018 from D. Pollock
Public feedback objecting to the casino signage application as an overcrowding of property lines.
6. Food Systems
6.1 Foster a Resilient Food and Agriculture System
Food and agriculture are part of a food system which includes planting, irrigation, harvesting, processing, distribution, preparation and marketing and consumption, in addition to food waste management and soil betterments.
A viable and resilient local food and agriculture system is important to the Capital Regional District’s health, sustainability, security and visual/cultural identity.
Changes in climate, energy costs and water availability will impact agricultural production and will draw greater attention to regional food system resiliency.
The widespread impact of food and agriculture and the nature of the challenges likely to be faced in coming years make food and agriculture a matter of regional interest. Challenges include loss of farmland, lack of farm profitability and financial sustainability, increasing average age of farmers, increasing food prices, limited (72 hour) supply of fresh food in an emergency, food wastage, need to revitalize indigenous food systems, lack of knowledge of how to grow and prepare healthy food, increasing rates of food insecure people and increasing rates of diet-related chronic disease. Regional alignment will strengthen the food and agricultural sector.
The Regional Food and Agriculture Strategy recommends actions to create a viable, healthy and resilient food system. Regional Growth Strategy policies are intended to work in tandem with the Regional Food and Agriculture Strategy to guide future decisions.
Achieving a healthy, viable and resilient local food and agriculture system will require adherence to the following related principles:
Principles
I. Support First Nations food interests and rights; II. Protect and enhance the region’s food and farmlands; III. Avoid urban/agricultural land use conflict; mitigate where avoidance is not possible; IV. Enhance local food security access to nutritious, safe and culturally appropriate food; V. Expand food system economic opportunities; VI. Encourage food system education and agri-tourism; and VII. Foster resiliency in the face of an unpredictable climate, increased pest resistance, and declining, increasingly expensive water and energy supplies.