Fifteen leaders in the agri-food sector have been appointed to the Premier’s Task Force on Agriculture, an initiative announced in January which will begin meeting this spring.
“We are going to tackle topics that are most important to you,” BC agriculture minister Lana Popham told guests at the BC Agriculture Council’s Agri-Industry Gala, January 22. “They’re going to have a thoughtful and thorough approach, and we’re going to be able to deliver results.”
Co-chaired by BCAC executive director Danielle Synotte, BC Food and Beverage CEO James Donaldson, and BCMAF deputy minister Michelle Koski, the make-up of the task force was announced February 20. The task force members represent agriculture, processing and seafood.
BC Agriculture Council president Jennifer Woike, Annelise Grube-Cavers of Fresh Valley Farms in Spallumcheen, Nav Bains of Westberry Farms and Chris Bodnar of Close to Home Organics, both in Abbotsford, will represent primary producers.
Popham says the task force will focus on several key areas, including water management and infrastructure development. The task force will also consider opportunities for new farmers to access land and expanding processing capabilities within the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Additional priorities include developing strategies to attract and retain agricultural workers, advancing technological innovation to boost sector competitiveness, and improving farmers’ access to financial resources and investment opportunities.
The initiative reflects a whole-of-government approach, with recommendations to be integrated across multiple ministries beyond agriculture. This coordinated strategy aims to build a more resilient food system while improving food security for British Columbians and building stable markets.
On the agri-tech front, the task force was cited during the February 17 announcement of $15 million in funding from the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation for various projects by Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Harwinder Sandhu as advancing opportunities for technology development and adoption.
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