Cowichan Valley Regional District Agriculture Policy Review

Upland Agricultural Consulting provided professional agrologist services to review draft agricultural policies and regulations for the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) within the context of the planning process associated with the Official Community Plan for the Electoral Areas (OCP) and Modernized Zoning Bylaw (MZB). The analysis required applying a lens of consistency with updated Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) regulations and other pertinent agricultural policies, guidelines and best practices.

The assessment addressed various community planning components including the OCP and MZB, local area plans, cannabis bylaws and relevant development permit area (DPA) guidelines. The zoning bylaws for each electoral area were cross-referenced with a GIS database to explore the number, size and location of Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) parcels across the region. The number of Agricultural zones was also considered.

District of Metchosin Agricultural Area Plan

Upland was contracted by the District of Metchosin to develop the Metchosin Agricultural Area Plan (AAP) in 2024. The objective of the AAP was to identify opportunities to support the agriculture sector in Metchosin in the face of various pressures including urban sprawl, rising land prices, and climate change.  The AAP was developed following the creation of a comprehensive background report and a series of sector engagement activities including surveys, open houses and interviews.

The AAP resulted in a vision statement, 3 goals with 17 specific recommendations and an implementation plan. The 3 goals identified for the Metchosin Agriculture Community are:

1. Protect Metchosin farmland for farming
2. Support the economic viability of Metchosin’s farming community in a collaborative manner
3. Create a sustainable and climate resilient farming sector in Metchosin

The complete report can be found here.

Comox Valley Agricultural Plan - Final Report

Upland was contracted in collaboration with Urban Food Strategies by the Comox Valley Regional District to update the Agricultural Plan.             The Comox Valley Agricultural Plan(CVAP) update considers agriculture within the current growth and policy context of the region and attempts to identify and anticipate future changes and challenges to the sector. The development and implementation of the Comox Valley Agricultural Plan is an important opportunity for elected officials, the agricultural sector, and community organizations to work to get her toward a more resilient and sustainable local economy. The objectives of the CVAP update are to:

• Provide an overview of the current challenges experienced by the regional agri-food system;
• Present policy and regulatory recommendations, and
• Develop a strategy to ensure the plan is implemented

The CVAP identifies a total of 21 recommended actions presented under 5 goals:

1. Steward water resources to meet agricultural water needs.
2. Maintain agricultural land protection policies and support for producers.
3. Support actions to grow the regional agri-food economy.
4. Collaborate towards climate change adaptation, mitigation, and emergency preparedness.
5. Strengthen awareness of the Comox Valley agri-food sector.

The full report can be accessed here

City of Burnaby Agricultural Policy Review and Analysis

Upland was contracted by the City of Burnaby to assist in the process of creating Burnaby 2050, the updated Official Community Plan. Upland supported in this update by reviewing section 9 of the 1998 OCP which provides context and policies relevant to the agriculture sector in Burnaby. The resulting Background Material Review and Gap Analysis report aimed to provide context for the update of Section 9 of Burnaby’s OCP, including an agriculture profile, biophysical and environmental context, a summary of the legislative framework, and a policy gap analysis. The report provided direction on how to align the updated OCP with existing strategies such as the Burnaby Food Security Strategy, strengthen policies around farmland protection and climate change adaptation, and include direction for Indigenous food sovereignty and reconciliation.

ACRD Food Security Emergency Plans: West Coast and Alberni Valley

(2024-2025)

The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD), contracted Upland to develop two (2) Food Security Emergency Plans (FSEP) for the ACRD. One to address the Alberni Valley, and one to Adress the communities of the West Coast of the ACRD.

The Alberni Valley FSEP addresses the needs of the City of Port Alberni, Tseshaht First Nation, and Hupačasath First Nation. The West Coast FSEP addresses the needs of Bamfield, Long Beach, Ucluelet, Tofino, and several Nuu-chah-nulth Nations. These communities face unique vulnerabilities due to geographic isolation, reliance on a single access road, tsunami threat and exposure to climate-driven hazards such as wildfires, droughts, and floods.

Each plan aims to:

• Identify opportunities for the ACRD to support community food security in emergency preparedness and response;
• Determine food security needs and priorities for the area; and
• Develop actionable recommendations to strengthen community food resiliency across the region.

The project took place between September 2024 and December 2025 and was informed by technical research and extensive engagement. Supporting reports, including a Background Report, a What We Heard Engagement Summary Report, and a Livestock Emergency Plan, provided the foundation for the FSEP’s recommendations. Engagement activities involved First Nation communities, the agricultural community, businesses, food security organizations, and local government representatives. Through interviews, presentations, workshops, and surveys, the project team gained critical insights into past and current food system challenges, community food assets, and the gaps and opportunities for both short-term emergency response and long-term resilience.

Livestock Emergency Plan for the Alberni Valley

(2024 – 2025)

Aldergrove Food System Project

(2023-2024)

The “Aldergrove Food System Project” was launched in 2023. This Project was initiated by the Township of Langley BC as a pilot project, partly to explore whether a Township-wide food security initiative is warranted. Community food insecurity is rooted in many societal factors and the Township wanted to explore several fronts to tackle these issues. The findings and recommendations offer on-the-ground solutions to streamline the services offered by food distribution organizations and ensure efficient and coordinated use of resources to those experiencing food insecurity on a daily basis.

Aimed at developing an understanding of Aldergrove’s food system and the status of food security within the community, the Project had three specific objectives:

1. Identify and inventory food assets and resources and develop an interactive map.
2. Engage the community to gain an understanding of the issues associated with local food security and food access.
3. Develop a set of recommendations in the form of an action plan which outlines short-, medium- and long-term action items.

The project was completed in 2024 and is now in the implementation phase.

Metro Vancouver Regional Food System Strategy

(2024 - 2025)

Metro Vancouver contract Upland to update the 2011 Regional Food System Strategy (RFSS). Various events in recent years have underscored the need to re-assess and update Metro Vancouver’s RFSS.

To complete an update to the 2011 RFSS, Upland undertook three phases of work. Phase 1, completed in 2023, focused on background organizational work. Phase 2, largely undertaken in 2024 comprised most of the engagement efforts; and Phase 3, completed in 2025 included hosting the All Sector Forum and preparing the updated RFSS.

The project website is hosted by Metro Vancouver.