Our agricultural sector is one of the chief economic drivers of our community, and as a City Council we are committed to advocating for and supporting our agriculture and agritech industries.
But we aren’t the only municipality that feels this way about our farmers. There are several other cities in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland that share our goals and concerns.
On Nov. 27, Mayor Siemens attended an agriculture roundtable at Pitt Meadows City Hall that included mayors, councillors and staff from Pitt Meadows, Chilliwack, Langley Township, Maple Ridge, Mission, Richmond and Surrey. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss challenges and opportunities facing the agricultural sector in BC, as well as potential next steps for collaboration.
The main topics that were discussed were food security and farm viability, water and water rights, the Agricultural Land Commission’s mandate, agritech innovation, and public awareness. Other issues that were raised included avian flu, US trade, aging farmers and challenges facing younger farmers, the need for a well-funded Ministry of Agriculture, and concerns around misused agricultural land.
Mayor Siemens spoke of the importance of Abbotsford’s long-term flood mitigation, and the steps that need to be taken to ensure that our farms are safe. He also raised the issue of transportation challenges farmers have in moving their products to facilities for processing, storage and eventually to market, and how this intersects with our community’s lack of industrial land. He also mentioned the costs associated with industry waiting on government bureaucratic processes and added that while municipalities can have a role in government advocacy, it is important for the agriculture industry and farmers themselves to lead the way.
Overall, this meeting was a valuable opportunity to strengthen our connections with other municipalities in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland and identify common challenges and opportunities for collaboration.
Abbotsford City Council