Victoria/Fraser Valley – The Province is increasing support for B.C. seed growers to enhance and expand their operations, bolster food security and create a thriving food economy.
“There’s so much potential contained in the thin coat of a seed. From an apple tree to winter squash, seeds can grow into nutritious food for B.C. families,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “By investing in B.C. seed growers, we’re helping produce seeds adapted to B.C.’s unique climate regions, making us more resilient. As our seed businesses grow and expand, so will our economy and food security.”
Read FarmFolk CityFolk’s report, BC Seed Hub Feasibility Findings Report and Environmental Scan of BC’s Vegetable Seed Sector: https://farmfolkcityfolk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2021_FarmFolkCityFolk_BCSeedHubFeasibilityFindingsReport_FINAL.pdf
To scale up seed production and processing in B.C., the Province is investing $90,000 to:
* support seed growers through seed-education workshops throughout B.C.;
* create a seed mentorship program and knowledge-transfer events;
* conduct seed trials to select breeds best suited to B.C.’s climate;
* continue seed-cleaning and processing services throughout B.C. using mobile seed-cleaning units;
* work with existing seed libraries to identify seed-storage capacity; and
* develop a database of seed-exchange systems.
