A UNBC student researching agriculture in the Cariboo region heard repeatedly the need for improved communication to the public from all levels of government.
“That was one of the key takeaways,” said Matt Henderson who between April and August 2023 met with the public at places such as farmers markets in Quesnel, Alexandria and Williams Lake.
Henderson made a presentation to the Cariboo Regional District board Friday, March 22. to summarize his project to date.
His intent, he said, is to find ways to support local solutions to combat many “wicked problems” of agriculture policy and regulation in B.C.
He also launched a website and offered a virtual session to engage with people who could not get to as he was doing the project by himself.
Just over 200 people participated and generated 83 unique ways so support the agriculture sector.
“I also heard about the need for producers to access local processing facilities and markets as well as less restrictions for local institutions to procure food produced in our region,” he said. “There’s concern that we keep shipping our raw agriculture production to places such as Alberta, Saskatchewan or down south.”
Another suggestion that emerged was the need for the Ministry of Agriculture to support representation from all parties around the table to enhance trust and meaningful consultation.
There was also feedback suggesting the way BC Assessment evaluates agricultural land needs to improve so the value is not only based on what can be built, but also on what can be grown or raised there.
Describing the first year’s research as preliminary, Henderson is furthering his efforts with a second phase in 2024.
He plans to expand to connect with more communities along Highway 97, Highway 20 to Anahim Lake, Highway 24 into the Interlakes and along the Barkerville Highway.
Showing a map of his study region, he said there are 17 electoral areas, eight municipalities and villages, three regional districts and 19 Indigenous communities.
Other objectives are to evaluate Farmgate and Farmgate Plus licenses which deal with the provincial government’s meat inspection program to increase on-farm processing for small-scale operations.
He will engage with Indigenous communities as well to identify local solutions and opportunities for economic reconciliation in the form of on-nation processing facilities that accommodate sustainable Indigenous butchering practices.
On Friday, April 5 he will be doing an open house in Quesnel at the Legion from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at the Seedy Saturday, April 6 at the Seniors Centre in Quesnel from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
CRD chair Margo Wagner thanked Henderson for the presentation.
“We have a constant need of an abattoir in this area,” she said. “Unfortunately, the red tape is something we hear about.”
Area J, west of the Chilcotin River to Anahim Lake, director Tolin Pare, said many people living in his area are interested in joining the Farmgate Plus program, but finding it difficult with the online application process.
Henderson said there are limits to who can apply to the program in terms of how many head of cattle and land they have.
“There is also the accessibility factor. I had a discussion with someone yesterday who did not have access to broadband internet,” he said.
Although he does not have a background in agriculture, Henderson has a passion for governance and policy.
He is enrolled in the School of Planning and Sustainability at UNBC with a major in northern and rural community planning.
“The project will be doing research work for the ministry of agriculture so there is no further ‘kicking the can further down the road,’ which is a quote I heard countless times last summer from producers,” Henderson said. “This project delves into a very small piece of the overall agriculture [industry], but a very important one.”
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