Year-at-a-Glance Highlights

In 2003/04, the ministry achieved several milestones that will continue to improve the competitive position of B.C.'s agriculture, food and fisheries sectors.

It was also a year that tested our sectors. Yet in spite of the significant economic setbacks from wildfires, drought, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), the outbreak of avian influenza and a downturn in farmed salmon production, B.C.'s diverse agriculture, food and fisheries sectors out-performed Canada as a whole. Farm cash receipts increased 4.4 per cent (compared to a decline of 5.8 per cent at the Canada level), and net cash income increased 22 per cent (compared to a decline of 43 per cent for Canada). Additionally, the value of food and beverage shipments increased three per cent, whereas for Canada as a whole, food and beverage shipments increased 1.8 per cent from 2002.

Significant Achievements

An Integrated Policy Framework

British Columbia signed the Bilateral Implementation Agreement with the federal government in June 2003, securing full provincial access to federal programming under the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF). The APF brings together business risk management, environmental, food safety and quality, renewal and business management, and science and innovation programs.

A total of $280 million in program support has been secured through this federal-provincial cost-shared agreement. The APF supports the ministry's broader efforts to create an integrated policy framework that is a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to strategic sector needs.

Renewing Fisheries and Aquaculture

The ministry achieved several major successes that will establish a strong foundation for the future of fisheries and aquaculture in B.C., including:

• a Joint Task Group on Post-Treaty Fisheries was initiated in partnership with the Treaty Negotiation Office (TNO) and the federal government, to define a new vision for integrated fisheries management;
• a stronger compliance and enforcement regime for aquaculture and improved fish health management approaches; and
• re-siting of aquaculture farms to better locations and generation of new economic activity through licensing of new shellfish and finfish farms.

Food Safety and Quality

In 2003/04, B.C. continued to respond to and meet consumer and market demands for the safest and highest-quality food products. The ministry initiated the development of a food strategy for B.C. that will co-ordinate and define the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved with B.C. food safety to achieve the best results possible. It encouraged industry to adopt quality programs on farms and in processing operations, and it supported the rollout of the Canadian Food Safety and Quality Program.

Environmental Sustainability

The ministry, in partnership with the B.C. Agriculture Council, made B.C. the leader in implementing Canada's environmental farm planning programming and secured $20.28 million in federal funding over five years for this initiative.

A Comprehensive Response to BSE

B.C. responded rapidly and effectively to Canada's BSE crisis by bringing together experts from all business areas in a task team model that was invaluable during the avian influenza outbreak a few months later. The ministry worked closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and industry to implement regulatory changes flowing from the BSE crisis, and helped design and deliver support programs, which provided approximately $70 million for B.C. ranchers and dairy farmers.

In the wake of the BSE crisis, the ministry developed science-based responses to U.S. border closures in tandem with federal and provincial counterparts, and continued to improve the food safety and quality system that was tested by the crisis. These efforts contributed to a partial reopening of the US market in August 2003.

Growth and Prosperity

The year 2003/04 has underscored the fact that the agriculture, food and fisheries sectors must succeed within an ever-changing world. Our sectors have a bright future as long as they are flexible, act on opportunities and are able to effectively manage key risks. The ministry will continue to work in partnership with provincial ministries and agencies, with federal and local governments, and with industries and consumers to put in place a sound framework for success.