New Funding To Increase Indigenous Food Security

Indigenous communities and businesses in British Columbia wanting to increase food security will soon have opportunities to grow their farming and food-processing operations through a new Indigenous Food Systems and Agriculture Partnership Program.

Indigenous communities and businesses in British Columbia wanting to increase food security will soon have opportunities to grow their farming and food-processing operations through a new Indigenous Food Systems and Agriculture Partnership Program.

Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, says "This program is helping build more resilient food systems in Indigenous communities and support growing Indigenous entrepreneurs, businesses and economies around B.C."

As much as $80,000 per project will be provided through the new program for Indigenous-led projects that create benefits to the community, environment, or toward increasing food security within local food systems.

The funding can be used for activities involved in agriculture, food processing and food systems planning, training and skills development, tech upgrades, and climate-change adaptations, among other things.

First Nations and Indigenous communities, businesses and organizations are eligible to apply, and projects for both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations will be considered.

The program was developed with the support of the B.C. Indigenous Advisory Council on Agriculture and Food (IACAF) to align with the council's mandate and support the Declaration Act Action Plan to enhance the equitable participation of Indigenous people in the sector and support the realization of their food security, food sovereignty and economic development objectives.