| FDLeague
- 2008
Year
in Review - Donna Passmore
|
| It
has been less than five
months since the Farmland Defence League was
revived with the ALR’s 35th birthday dinner. http://picasaweb.google.com/dpassmore1/RootsCelebratingTheBeginningsOfBCSAgriculturalProtectionMovementPhotosByMMarapese# We’ve had some crushing defeats, like the loss to the ALR of 28 acres to Ron Toigo’s upscale housing development in the Tsawwassen Golf Course & Housing Development and the beginning of the dismantling of our regional Green Zone http://picasaweb.google.com/dpassmore1/GreenZoneRemovalMeeting# , but our Maple Ridge Director Carly O’Rourke led us in supporting the Friends of Jackson Farm and Pitt Polder Preservation Society in saving Jackson Farm. In an act of staggering irony, the City of Surrey allowed Loblaws Companies (the Real Canadian Superstore) to put an huge warehouse and trucking terminal on 28 acres of farmland (a good part of which was class 3 soil) in the middle of other farmland. A leading member of the food retail industry destroying farmland… but as you will see below the news release from the Green Party, we have a couple of pre-holiday farmland victories to keep us joyous until the new year. Thanks for your great campaigning, your support and your undeterred dedication to the protection of BC’s foodlands. Founding Directors: Herb Barbolet, Derril Gudlaugson, Inger Kam and Harold Steves. Communications Directors: Nik Cuff (publications), Damien Gillis (media), Matthew Lorenzi & Lance Read (Web Stewards) Area Campaign Directors: Lynn Perrin (Abbotsford), Norm Smith (Chilliwack), Susan Jones & Wilma Haig (Delta), Barbara Johnstone Grimmer (Gulf Islands), Jeanette Lee (Kootenays-West), Cathleen Vecchiato & Glen Tomblin (Langley), Carly O’Rourke (Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows), Dr. Tracy Lyster (Mission), Dave Parkinson (Powell River), Michael Wolfe & Jerry Heed (Richmond), Laurie (SPADE, Vernon), Tobias Lawrence (Prince George), Dave Staniforth (Southlands – Delta), Frank Martens (Summerland), Donna Passmore (Surrey), Matt Filipiak/Tim Blair (Friends of UBC Farm), Rick Green (Vancouver), Nelson Harrington (Vernon), Eve Weimer (White Rock). |
VANCOUVER – However ‘deeply’ the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) “regrets that suitable highway alignment alternatives to the use of prime agricultural land were found not to be acceptable”, the Green Party of BC criticizes the decision to remove land from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) to make way for the South Perimeter Road along the Fraser River and calls for the suspension of all removals from the ALR pending Commission reform. “The province needs to return to its role as protector of agricultural land and champion of secure food production,” said Green Party Leader Jane Sterk. “At a time when our ability to grow our own food is an increasingly vital concern for British Columbians, decisions like this are incomprehensible. To pave agricultural land demonstrates a lack of understanding of the contribution agriculture makes to our economy, our communities and our health.” “The Green Party calls for ALC reforms. Selection of members needs to take place in a transparent and open competition of qualified individuals selected by an arm’s length agency free from political influence rather than private appointments of Liberal cronies.” “The ALC should not consider an application for removal of land from the ALR until that land is subjected to a thorough Environmental Assessment (EA), a process that would also be reformed by BC Greens. Removals for uses that encourage urban sprawl or the industrial use of land are not acceptable.” “The citizens of BC need to ask themselves in whose interests the Gateway project is proceeding. This clearly tells Fraser Valley farmers that agriculture is less important than industrial development. During a recent tour of the Gateway project, I talked with a multi-generational farm family who will move their operation to Manitoba because this roadway will reduce the size and productivity of their land to the point of unprofitability,” concluded Sterk. The Green Party of BC is the third largest political party in British Columbia, and is part of a worldwide movement for economic, social and ecological responsibility. The Green Party has long opposed the Gateway Project. Public polling consistently finds BC Greens being the choice of one in six decided voters. Jane Sterk was elected leader of BCs Green Party in October 2007. Further information at http://www.greenparty.bc.ca/. Media Contacts Jane Sterk, Leader leader@greenparty.bc.ca (250) 507-1715 Heather Drugge, Media Liaison mediachair@greenparty.bc.ca (604) 868-1309 |
With the Joint Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Richmond, the Canada Lands Company and the Musqueam First Nation due to expire on December 31st, one of the City’s first order of business after the municipal election was to consider an extension to allow the Agricultural Land Commission (which doesn’t meet again until January) to consider the application to exclude the Garden City Lands from the Agricultural Land Reserve. The Garden City Lands Coalition had succeeded at electing 4 (out of 9) councillors who campaigned on a platform of preserving this large piece of urban farmland. The municipal elections followed close upon the heels of the federal election, in which the Garden City Lands Coalition led the community in replacing Liberal Raymond Chan, one of the architects of the scheme to develop the site, with Conservative Alice Wong. The federal election resulted in Richmond having 2 Tory MP’s (John Cummins and Alice Wong) dedicated to the protection of Garden City Lands. No one will know whether it was the will of the voters or skillful political stickhandling by the Coalition and veteran Councillor and farmland advocate Harold Steves, but Richmond Council voted 6 to 4 to let the Memorandum of Agreement expire so the parties can come together and discuss other options. We expect that top choice of those options will be the City’s purchase of the respective shares of the lands from the Canada Lands Company and Musqueam First Nation, followed by implementation of the urban teaching farm and community gardens as envisioned by Kwantlen University College Horticulture Program (Dr. Kent Mullinix) and the Garden City Lands Coalition. While there are still some serious negotiations ahead, thanks and congratulations are owed to Jim Wright, Arzeena Hamir, De Whalen, Jason O’Brien, Olga Tkatcheva, Michael Wolfe, David Reay, Mary Gazetas, Anthony Ho, Alan Turner, Katy Latham, Gordon Kibble, Robin Winskell, Jessica Lai, Shane McMillan, Nicole Kay, William Dunn, Alan Turner, Amber Chong Smith, Kent Mullinix and his students, and Farmland Defence League Directors Jerry Heed, Susan Jones, Wilma Haig and Nik Cuff. Congratulation, as well to the members of Richmond City Council, including the master defender of farmland, Harold Steves. |
UBC Board of Governors requests new academic plan for sustainable South Campus The University of British Columbia Board of Governors has directed UBC administration to develop academic plans for a 24 ha parcel of South Campus land for teaching and research purposes that are "academically rigourous and globally significant" around issues of sustainability. The Board directed that the new plans enhance UBC's position as Canada's most sustainable university and a recognized world leader in campus sustainability. At the same time, the Board stipulated that no market housing will be pursued on the 24 ha parcel, which contains the UBC Farm, as long as the university's housing, community development and endowment goals can be met through transferring density to other parts of campus. The 24 ha parcel is designated as "Future Housing Reserve" in the current UBC Official Community Plan, a bylaw of the Greater Vancouver Regional District created in 1997. The Board also committed to the continuation of current land uses until academic plans are completed and a decision has been reached on density transfer. |
VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED
for ALC INVESTIGATION PROJECT The
Farmland Defence League is looking for a couple of experienced
researchers to take on a significant job of going through five years of
Agricultural
Land Commission records to determine the full impact of transportation expansion on farmland. The role is ideally suited to students looking for work-study credit. |
| KEEPING
CANADIAN CHEESE CANADIAN December 14th 2008, new cheese regulations come into effect to ensure Canadian cheese is made with Canadian milk. But these regulations are being challenged in court by multinational cheese-makers Saputo, Parmalat and Kraft, who want to continue manufacturing cheese using cheaper, imported milk derivatives called "milk protein concentrates." The below Op-Ed appeared in today's Vancouver Sun. It is also posted at: http://www.theholmteam.ca/Columns.html and available on-line at: http://www.vancouversun.com/Canadian+cheese+should+made+from+Canadian+milk/1071763/story.html |
 |
Canadian
cheese should be made from Canadian milk - Our cows are in danger of losing their jobs as foreign products move in By Wendy Holm The Vancouver Sun December 13, 2008 |
 |
| Canadians
love their cheese. And whether it's cheddar, camembert,
mozzarella or any one of the over 450 types made in Canada, we assume
it's made with Canadian milk from Canadian cows, right? Think again. If Canada's three multinational cheese makers -- Saputo, Parmalat and Kraft Canada -- have their way, imported milk protein concentrates from distant, low-cost, subsidized markets will soon replace Canadian milk in the manufacture of all but artisan brands, and cheese from our few remaining farmer-owned cooperatives such as Quebec's Agropur. Why do Canada's cheese-makers want to put Canadian cows out of work? Globalization and profits. Make no mistake: Just as Wall Street's addiction to financial derivatives fuelled the economic meltdown, the use of imported milk derivatives -- the protein concentrates and butter oil-sugar blends that are rapidly replacing Canadian milk in the manufacture of domestic cheese and ice cream -- undermines the quality and integrity of Canadian dairy products and threatens the future of Canada's supply management system. Getting out means understanding how we got in. A little background: Canada's dairy farmers operate under supply management. This means farmers manage production to meet the needs of Canadians. They do not produce for export markets and in return receive an administered price for their milk that reflects fairly the cost structure of efficient and sustainable family farms. A complex system of WTO-sanctioned trade measures (import quotas on fluid and processed dairy products and a two-tiered tariff system for in-quota and over quota imports) protects the domestic market. Since 1997, 19 different surveys have found Canadian milk is 15 per cent cheaper than U.S. product. When they first showed up in the late 1990s, milk derivatives were imported under several different tariff classifications. Some entered correctly as dairy products and tariffs were paid, some entered as food product proteins and no duty was paid. In 2006, the Federal Court of Appeal upheld a Canadian International Trade Tribunal ruling lowering the duty for properly classified over-quota imports of milk protein concentrates from 270 percent to 6.5 per cent, widening the tear in the tariff wall and encouraging a flood of imports. Canada's big three dairy processors quickly substituted lower quality imported milk protein concentrates for high-quality Canadian milk in the manufacture of cheese and other dairy products. Milk destined for cheese production -- 37 per cent of milk sales -- became unwanted skim milk powder overnight, throwing the Canadian market into supply imbalance and costing Canadian producers $250 million a year. On Sept. 5, after several years of negotiations with European countries a new category for milk protein concentrates was added to the Import Control List and a tariff rate quota put in place to reduce economic incentives for import. On Sunday, changes to the Canadian Food and Drug Act will establish minimum domestic milk content for four categories of Canadian cheese: Traditional Cheddar (100 per cent), Fine Cheeses (95 per cent), Cheddar Cheese, Mozzarella and all cheese other than pizza mozzarella (83 per cent) and Pizza Mozzarella (63 per cent). Dairy farmers point out the new cheese regulations are consistent with GATT, the WTO and other major cheese-producing countries -- all of which stipulate domestic milk content in cheese recipes -- and should have no effect on Canadian retail cheese prices. Canadians point out that with so many international food safety incidents in recent months -- in particular in China where plastic melamine resin (a pesticide) was added to watered-down milk concentrates to boost protein -- consumers have a right to know that, when they pick up Canadian cheese, it is made with high-quality Canadian milk from Canadian cows. All resolved? Everyone happy? Not quite. On Oct. 20, Saputo, Parmalat and Kraft Canada petitioned the Supreme Court for a judicial review of Ottawa's new cheese regulations, arguing they are unenforceable, lack uniformity and objectivity, improperly delegate discretionary authority to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and have as a purpose providing an economic benefit to dairy producers at the expense of dairy processors and others. Also challenged is the authority of the Canadian government to regulate cheese standards, arguing the regulation of milk is controlled by the provinces. The court accepted the application and gave the Crown until Dec. 22 to file evidence. Ex parte hearings are Jan. 12. Full hearings are scheduled for March 30 and 31. A quick decision is expected. If the judicial review supports the Crown, Canadian consumers, farmers and cows can breath easier, knowing domestic dairy products will continue to be manufactured with high-quality Canadian milk produced on sustainable family farms that returns a fair price to the farmer and respects the environment. If it goes the other way, the integrity of the Canadian cheese market and the foundations of supply management are at risk. For most of us, cheese is a staple of the holiday season, a natural accompaniment to conversations with friends and family at the parties, receptions and dinners that usher in the New Year. Uppermost in the minds of Canadians will be our economy. But foremost on their lips will be Canadian cheese. Want to be witty and wise this holiday season? Want to keep pace with Mr.-Credit-Union-Guy when he starts talking about "the macro-economic forces behind the melt-down"? At your fingertips -- the perfect metaphor: Cheese. "See this cheese? Court action by multinational cheese-makers could put Canada's cows out of business. It's about globalization and greed. Derivatives are involved . . . ." Until agriculture becomes part of our culture, things won't change. In the meantime, this holiday season, seek out and support our many artisan cheese-makers and regional dairies who have been making good Canadian dairy products with good Canadian milk all along. Wendy Holm is a Vancouver-based Agrologist and writer. © Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun |
| BC Products
Only
Market opens in Comox Thanks to Tom Lancaster for this story. The Farmland Defence League should do something public to support this business. If there are any ag advocates in the Comox Valley who would be interested in helping out, please email me at donna8@telus.net or donnap@farmlanddefenceleague.org Mark Howarth, Shari Anderson, James Street and Angeline Street have opened Brambles, which features nothing but B.C. food. Photo by Lindsay Chung
The first grocer in B.C. to offer strictly British Columbia products opened in Courtenay last week with shelves filled with produce, meat, frozen foods, baked goods, spreads and preserves, dairy products and more. Brambles Market is now open at 244 Fourth St. at the corner of Fourth Street and Cliffe Avenue. Owners James and Angeline Street have been working on the concept of their “all B.C. all the time” grocery store for five years. James has been a chef for 17 years, while Angeline has spent a lifetime in retail. “It seemed like a good combination of our skills,” and Angeline. “We’ve always shopped at farmers’ markets, and on Sundays, we take our kids berry-picking.” As far as the Streets can tell, they are the first in B.C. to offer everything from bakery and dry goods to butcher products and frozen foods produced in B.C. “Basically, we want it to be an adventure, and we want people to be excited about food again and know they can eat safely because we have pretty high standards in B.C. ... and feel good about eating again,” said Angeline. The Streets are passionate about food, and with their store, they are sharing that passion with the community. “We’re foodies at heart,” said Angeline. “We wanted to create something that wasn’t here. We have big ambitions with this. We want people to be excited about what you can get in B.C.” People who have come through the doors of Brambles Market have been impressed, noted Angeline. “They say, ‘I didn’t know this was made here,’ and that’s what we wanted to portray,” she said. “People are checking every single product; they’re enjoying that discovery.” The Streets began by offering conventional foods like flour and cereal to get people comfortable with the store, and they are also offering specialty items. “We’d rather have the perspective of a six-day farmers’ market rather than a specialty store,” said James. The store is bringing in new products all the time. “It’s going to change with the seasons,” said James. “We want the culinary adventure brought back to shopping.” The Streets want people to feel comfortable in the store and to be happy to browse the shelves. “We want to create a farmers’ market atmosphere,” said Angeline, adding they were thrilled last Saturday when people came in and stood around talking to their friends, and children played in the middle of the store. The Streets use as many local producers as they can, and many of the names in their store are familiar ones from the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market, such as Heavenly Goodies Bakery, Estevan Tuna, Island Bison and Big D’s Bees honey. Brambles Market is unique because it sources from dozens and dozens of suppliers, noted James. By the summer, the Streets expect to be dealing with 150 to 200 vendors. Fresh meat is a focus at Brambles Market, which makes its own sausages on-site, features Tannadice Farms pork, uses local beef and offers a combination of organic and conventional meats. Butcher Mark Howarth, who is from England, brings 25 years of butchering experience and passion to Brambles. He dry-ages local beef by giving the meat more time to age and go through natural processes to give it tenderness and fullness of flavour. “The nice thing about it is it’s not being vacuum-packed,” he said. “It’s beef at its very best, really, like the good old days.” Howarth is also focusing on sausages. “I think sausages are very important for any business,” he said. “I don’t use any binders; it’s all meat and all fresh ingredients. They’re all hand-made, fantastic products. I can’t say that enough.” Howarth, who is also working on his own line of curries, is excited to work with high-quality local meat. “It’s actually exciting,” he said. “It’s nice to actually be working with a nice product.” Along with James, Angeline and Howarth, Shari Anderson, who has worked at the Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa, is part of the team, and butcher Daniel Day will join Brambles next week. “We’re really happy with the team we’ve built,” said James. “We tried to create a very well-rounded team so we understand agriculture, food and sustainability.” Brambles Market, which also offers soup and sandwich lunches, is open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 250-334-8163. writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com |
"World food prices have dropped since early 2008, but lower prices have not ended the food crisis in many poor countries," said FAO Assistant Director-General Hafez Ghanem, presenting the new edition of FAO's hunger report, The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2008. "For millions of people in developing countries, eating the minimum amount of food every day to live an active and healthy life is a distant dream. The structural problems of hunger, like the lack of access to land, credit and employment, combined with high food prices remain a dire reality," he stressed. Prices of major cereals have fallen by over 50 percent from their peaks earlier in 2008 but they remain high compared to previous years. Despite its sharp decline in recent months, the FAO Food Price Index was still 28 percent higher in October 2008 compared to October 2006. With prices for seeds and fertilizers (and other inputs) more than doubling since 2006, poor farmers could not increase production. But richer farmers, particularly those in developed countries, could afford the higher input costs and expand plantings. As a result, cereal production in developed countries is likely to rise by at least 10 percent in 2008. The increase in developing countries may not exceed even one percent. "If lower prices and the credit crunch associated with the economic crisis force farmers to plant less food, another round of dramatic food prices could be unleashed next year," Ghanem added. "The 1996 World Food Summit target, to reduce the number of hungry by half by 2015, requires a strong political commitment and investment in poor countries of at least $30 billion per year for agriculture and social protection of the poor," Ghanem said. Where the hungry live The vast majority of the world's undernourished people - 907 million - live in developing countries, according to the 2007 data reported by the State of Food Insecurity in the World. Of these, 65 percent live in only seven countries: India, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Ethiopia. Progress in these countries with large populations would have an important impact on global hunger reduction. With a very large population and relatively slow progress in hunger reduction, nearly two-thirds of the world's hungry live in Asia (583 million in 2007). On the positive side, some countries in Southeast Asia like Thailand and Viet Nam have made good progress towards achieving the WFS target, while South Asia and Central Asia have suffered setbacks in hunger reduction. In sub-Saharan Africa, one in three people - or 236 million (2007) - are chronically hungry, the highest proportion of undernourished people in the total population, according to the report. Most of the increase in the number of hungry occurred in a single country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, as a result of widespread and persistent conflict, from 11 million to 43 million (in 2003-05) and the proportion of undernourished rose from 29 to 76 percent. Overall, sub-Saharan Africa has made some progress in reducing the proportion of people suffering from chronic hunger, down from 34 (1995-97) to 30 percent (2003-2005). Ghana, Congo, Nigeria, Mozambique and Malawi have achieved the steepest reductions in the proportion of undernourished. Ghana is the only country that has reached both the hunger reduction target of the World Food Summit and the Millennium Development Goals. Growth in agricultural production was key in this success. Latin America and the Caribbean were most successful in reducing hunger before the surge in food prices. High food prices have increased the number of hungry people in the sub-region to 51 million in 2007. Countries in the Near East and North Africa generally experience the lowest levels of undernourishment in the world. But conflicts (in Afghanistan and Iraq) and high food prices have pushed the numbers up from 15 million in 1990-92 to 37 million in 2007. Almost out of reach Some countries were well on track towards reaching the summit's target, before food prices skyrocketed but "Even these countries may have suffered setbacks - some of the progress has been cancelled due to high food prices. The crisis has mainly affected the poorest, landless and households run by women," Ghanem said. "It will require an enormous and resolute global effort and concrete actions to reduce the number of hungry by 500 million by 2015." Exporters under threat The world hunger situation may further deteriorate as the financial crisis hits the real economies of more and more countries. Reduced demand in developed countries threatens incomes in developing countries via exports. Remittances, investments and other capital flows including development aid are also at risk. Emerging economies in particular are subject to lasting impacts from the credit crunch even if the crisis itself is short-lived. Thanks
to Lance
Read
for
submitting this article from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations.
|
