Penticton is the scene this week for the BC Agriculture Council’s new flagship event for the BC farm and ranch sector, the BC Agriculture Forum.
Scheduled for June 24-25, the event replaces the gala that preceded the Pacific Agriculture Show in Abbotsford each year until 2025. Rather than simply a social event celebrating the best in BC agriculture, the new forum intends “to heighten awareness of the urgent challenges facing farmers and ranchers” while facilitating “meaningful discussions” between industry leaders and stakeholders that will generate “high-impact solutions.”
Taking place at the height of the growing season, the event includes tours of Savanna Ridge Cherries, Brar-Star Farms and the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland, giving participants a first-hand glimpse of how growers are faring in a challenging weather, trade and regulatory environment.
The policy conference that follows will facilitate a deeper dive into key issues facing growers, including economic, political and succession issues.
Creating a future for agriculture in BC is a key theme, from Ken Coates’ opening keynote, “Why Agriculture Needs To Have a Future And a Past,” to a panel of young farmers discussing the challenges of rising costs, growing debt and the imminent need to continue farming.
A policy roundtable facilitated by BCAC executive director Danielle Synotte and her national counterpart, Scott Ross of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, will give all participants a chance to shape recommendations for future action on key issues.
BCAC reports 171 people registered to attend the event.
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Full circle for Okanagan Specialty Fruits