5. Food Systems in British Columbia
Key Terms
Key Terms
100-mile diet: A diet that challenges adopters to eat locally (within 100 miles of their home).
Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR): A provincial land use zone that recognizes agriculture as the priority use for approximately 4.6% of the land base of British Columbia (ALC 2013). Established via the provincial Land Commission Act of 1973, the ALR is one of the earliest examples in North America of the use of regional zoning laws to permanently preserve farmland and promote local food production.
Agritourism: Any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch.
BC Food Systems Network (BCFSN): Formed in 1999 and incorporated in 2004, a 300-plus member network that includes farmers, health practitioners, educators and consumers across the province to link and facilitate food security activities between over 20 community-based food security organizations and food policy councils.
Biophysical: In relation to the environment, the biotic and abiotic surrounding of an organism or population, including the factors that have an influence in their survival, development and evolution.
Food system: Cultural foodways; the production, processing, packaging, distribution, marketing, exchange, consumption and disposal or post-consumption treatment of food and food-related items.
Land capability classification system for agriculture in British Columbia: Guidelines used by pedologists and others for assessing agricultural capability of land at a detailed or on-site level of investigation.
Sinuous river valleys: The winding patterns of rivers.
Six Mile Ranch: A ranch west of Kamloops; the site of a development controversy. In 1997, a developer sought permission for a residential and resort development involving 136 hectares of agricultural land at the Six Mile Ranch. The Commission rejected the complex proposal, which included compensatory benefits for agriculture, because of the high quality of the land slated for removal. However, it stated it would consider a smaller proposal that provided improved benefits to agriculture. For more information on the controversy see page 15 of http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/2006/DSF-ALR-final3.pdf.
Sole Food: An organization that transforms vacant urban land into street farms that grow artisan quality fruits and vegetables, available at farmers’ markets, local restaurants and retail outlets. (http://solefoodfarms.com/)
SPIN-farming (S-mall P-lot IN-tensive): The concept of taking a small lot (e.g., backyard, front lawn) to new levels of productivity and profitability that go far beyond traditional home gardening practices. SPIN-farming’s key characteristics include being production based, smaller than one acre, low capital intensive, entrepreneurially driven, environmentally friendly and close to markets.
Suzuki Foundation: A science-based environmental organization that collaborates with Canadians from all walks of life, including government and business, to conserve the environment and work toward sustainability. (http://www.davidsuzuki.org)
Tubers: Various types of modified plant structures that are enlarged to store nutrients. They are used by plants to survive the winter or dry months, to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing season and as a means of asexual reproduction.
Young agrarian: A new entrant into agriculture. Someone from the country to the city who values food, farming, nature and community.