In light of the current revisions underway by the Islands Trust on the Trust Policy Statement (TPS) and the Salt Spring Island Official Community Plan (OCP), the Salt Spring Island Agricultural Alliance sent the following letter to assure that both documents continue to protect and support agriculture and secure farmland and food production on Salt Spring.
We agree with the Islands Trust that this is the time to review important community documents that will guide us into an uncertain future. This too for the agricultural community. In the spirit of transparency, and hoping for your support, we are publishing this letter so the community will understand our current process. It reads as follows:
The Agriculture Alliance is the caretaker of the Area Farm Plan (AFP), crafted with the community over 20 years ago. Cognizant of the fact that the most recent version of the AFP (March 2020) is being cited by the Salt Spring Local Trust Committee (LTC)’s engagement consultants as a source document for their OCP review, we wanted to inform the Islands Trust that we are currently underway with a review of the Area Farm Plan — and with this letter we would like to inform you of highlights that are emerging in this process.
• We are cognizant that the world has changed significantly and rapidly since 2020, and many of these changes endanger our food security on Salt Spring Island, which is heavily dependent (perhaps as much as 95 per cent) on food imported by truck and ferry.
• At the same time, the economics of producing healthy local food have become much more challenging, with rising land prices, competition from subsidized food produced elsewhere in the world, and an estimated 36 per cent rise in the cost of farm inputs since 2020.
• The housing shortage on Salt Spring has become a significant factor in maintaining Salt Spring’s economy, and in some cases has been a significant factor in the successful operation of local farms. As always, farm housing needs special consideration, because its requirements are very different from what guides housing density in village centres near services.
• In light of all this, the #1 goal of the AFP is urgent now more than ever: To ensure long term viability of farming and increasing food production on Salt Spring Island.
We will update you over the coming months on how we see our goals, strategies and tactics changing to address the present reality of farming and food production in general on Salt Spring Island.
We have decided to replace our separate goal of addressing the climate emergency with an overarching commitment stated with a resolution. We want to be clear that we did this not because we don’t care (we care deeply), or because the climate emergency has been addressed (it’s worse), but rather because we see farming, and particularly regenerative farming techniques, as inseparable from mitigating and adapting to climate change. We hope that the Islands Trust and the LTC will approach the revision of the TPS and OCP in the same spirit, with addressing climate change as an integral part of all processes, policies and decisions.
With this letter we hope to encourage the Islands Trust to place the importance for protecting and increasing farmland, including the facilitation of the special housing needs of farms and farmers, as a priority — specified within the OCP and TPS, currently under review.
We consider the patchwork of natural ecosystems and agricultural ecosystems to be one of the “unique amenities” in the Islands Trust Area. All farmland should be protected, not just land already protected by the ALR.
Join us in the understanding that agriculture on Salt Spring, within the current commitments from island farmers towards regenerative practices, are hand in glove with the protection of our environmental amenities — and crucial to our future well being.
Thank you for your important work for this community.
Supported by the following Salt Spring Island Agricultural Alliance organizations:
• Farmland Trust; S.Dobie, J. Cooksey, J. LeBlanc, A. Palframan
• Abattoir Society; F. Baldwin
• Farmers’ Institute; R. Stepaniuk
• Island Community Services
• Island Natural Growers; A. Macey
• Transition Salt Spring; A. McKague
• Farmers Market Society