Agriculture is an essential component of a sustainable region and a resilient food system. The agricultural industry contributes to the regional economy, supplies healthy food, and maintains farmland that provides public amenity benefits such as green space and wildlife habitat. The Metro Vancouver region is one of the most productive agricultural areas in Canada due to the rich alluvial soils of the Fraser delta, excellent climate and proximity to the country's third largest urban market. Remarkably, the region generates 27% of B.C.'s total farm income on less than 1.5% of the province’s farmland.

Metro Vancouver develops policies and initiatives to address region-wide agricultural issues. The Agriculture Committee, created in 2006, provides advice and recommendations to the Metro Vancouver Board on agricultural issues, reviews and monitors the agriculture work program, considers staff reports on policies, projects and programs, oversees the work of the Agriculture Advisory Committee, and hears public delegations related to agriculture in the region.

The Agriculture Committee membership, agendas and minutes are available at http://www.metrovancouver.org/boards/Pages/BoardsCommittees.aspx

Since 1992, the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) has advised the Metro Vancouver Board on matters impacting local farming, facilitated communication between different levels of government and agricultural producers, and raised awareness about the importance of agriculture in the region. The AAC members represent a diversity of agriculture commodity groups, food related organizations and municipalities in the region.

METRO VANCOUVER AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVES
Regional Food System Strategy 
In 2008, the Metro Vancouver Sustainability Framework, approved by the Board, set a target to complete a Regional Food System Strategy in 2010. The strategy will be developed in collaboration with the food sectors, other government agencies, organizations and community groups. Several events have been held to seek input on priority strategies and actions that will help build a resilient and sustainable food system for this region.

Local Government Policy Options to Protect Agricultural Land and Improve the Viability of Farming in Metro Vancouver (April 6, 2010)
This report identifies fiscal and other local government policy and program approaches for the protection of agricultural land the viability of farming in Metro Vancouver.

 Local Government Policy Options to Protect Agricultural Land and Improve the Viability of Farming in Metro Vancouver

Building a Resilient Food System Workshop (June 18, 2008)
A workshop was held on June 18th, 2008 to facilitate dialogue on the key agricultural and food issues in the Metro Vancouver region and identify actions to consider in a regional food system strategy.

Agriculture and the Regional Growth Strategy
The most recent draft Regional Growth Strategy, Metro Vancouver 2040, was released in November 2009. It aims to safeguard agriculture as an integral part of the region’s livability and sustainability. The following backgrounder describes agriculture in the region, how strategies and plans can help protect farmland and agriculture viability and identified the opportunities to support agriculture in a growing metropolitan region.
Regional Growth Strategies

Agricultural Land Use Inventory (ALUI) and Agricultural Water Demand Model (AWDM)
Metro Vancouver is embarking on a new project in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands to update land use inventories for the region’s farmland and develop a water model to estimate the agricultural water demand for current and future scenarios.

Agriculture Water Supply Study (March 2008)

A report completed by Golder Associates Ltd in March 2008, provides information about the state of the water supply for agriculture in the Metro Vancouver region and identify opportunities to improve water management for agriculture into the future. The results of this study revealed potential water issues that may constrain agricultural production and further information is needed to consider options in future planning.

Economic Strategy for Agriculture (July 2002)
The Economic Strategy for Agriculture in the Lower Mainland is a partnership project of the Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley Regional District, the Land Reserve Commission, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. The strategy aimed to encourage the actions, plans, and policies necessary to maintain and enhance the viability of agriculture in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.