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Funding available to B.C. farmers for climate change mitigation practices

B.C. farmers and ranchers can better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate change, while continuing to support the province’s food security and a sustainable environment, through funding from the governments of Canada and British Columbia.

Funding is available via the Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) program.

“The Government of Canada is committed to helping our agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of climate change,” said Lawrence MacAulay, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food. “This investment will offer B.C. farmers the support they need to adapt their operations to be more resilient to the impacts of climate change, while protecting food security and the environment for future generations.”

The BMP program is open for its first round of applications. There is $4 million available to help producers throughout the province become more resilient and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment with projects that improve:

• waste management;
• air-quality control;
• emissions control;
• soil and riparian integrity;
• water quality; and
• environmental impacts.

“B.C. farmers are on the front line of climate change and we are continuing to support them as they work hard to continue feeding the province, even as they face climate-related challenges, such as drought and wildfires,” said Pam Alexis, B.C.’s minister of agriculture and food. “That is why we are investing in programs like this, which take a proactive forward-looking approach so producers can prepare for future climate impacts and take actions to mitigate them.

“Both the BMP program and our recently launched Agricultural Water Infrastructure program support projects to improve water management and water supply for crops and livestock, resulting in more agricultural production and strengthened food security.”

A change to the program, which has run for more than 15 years, is the elimination of a previous lifetime cap on funding. This means that all producers, including previous program participants, are eligible for funding for the upcoming year. Eligible applicants must have a complete environmental farm plan, which helps producers identify environmental strengths and potential risks on their farms and ranches.

With large parts of the province being hit by drought conditions early in the season, farmers and ranchers can apply for BMP projects that pertain to water storage, such as building dugouts and roof rainwater-harvesting systems, as well as water conservation, such as improved irrigation-system management and irrigation scheduling.

The $4 million in funding comes from the province’s CleanBC initiative and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). The BMP program is being delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. To apply, visit: https://iafbc.ca/beneficial-management-practices/