Planting the seeds for a sustainable future - City of Kamloops

WHY DO WE NEED AN AGRICULTURE AREA PLAN?An AAP is needed to establish updated and more defined policies that willprotect and promote agriculture and encourage sustainable agriculturalpractices. The Sustainable Kamloops Plan, adopted by Kamloops CityCouncil in 2010, recommended the development of an AAP. The goals andpolicies in the proposed AAP will ultimately:Strengthen the agricultural land;Promote agriculture as a sustainable industry;Identify appropriate uses of the various classifications of agriculturalland;Provide direction to the City of Kamloops on farm/non-farm relatedissues and uses; andIncrease local food production in order to rely less on imported foodsthat can be grown in Kamloops and the surrounding region.The City of Kamloops recognizes that the local agricultural sector may nothave received the support and attention it deserves over the past decades.The AAP is a starting point to regenerate positive energy and municipalsupport for this important sector.BACKGROUND REPORT GOALSProvide a review of existing data and research relative to localagriculture;Guide development of the AAP by focusing on issues and challenges;Complement the AAP for those looking for substance behind the plan;Provide background information that will help the communityunderstand the agriculture industry and provide food for thought tosupport development of the AAP; andGenerate discussion on agriculture in Kamloops.THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL LANDPROTECTION Without local farms, there is no local foodand little food self sufficiency in times ofcrisis; A growing population is dependent ongrowing, not shrinking, cropland area; Local agriculture-related operations equateto dollars back into the local economy; Farmers are stewards of the land. Theyengage in many different conservationpractices that help to preserve theenvironment; Agricultural land provides important habitatfor native and rare species; Local agricultural land has scenic,educational, and agri-tourism values; and Local agricultural operations tend toreconnect urban dwellers with their localfarmers and helps create heightenedunderstanding between the urban and ruralpopulations.CITY OF KAMLOOPS 5