Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Agricultural Land Reserve

It’s a happy birthday for the ALR in BC, which reached its 50th anniversary on April 18 this year.

The Agricultural Land Reserve was created by the NDP government of Dave Barrett in 1973 in response to the ongoing loss of critical farmland.

At the time, BC was losing an average of 15,000 acres of farmland annually, or 15 times the size of Stanley Park.

While the program has at times been controversial, in general it has received broad support from the public and successive governments.

“Fifty years ago, British Columbians had the vision to protect our province’s food security by establishing the Agricultural Land Reserve and it has never been more important than it is today,” said BC Minister of Agriculture and Food Pam Alexis. “We depend on the ALR for the food on our tables and we depend on it to support farming families and businesses in communities all over our province.”

The ALR protects only about five per cent of the land in BC, but in a province dominated by mountains, that five per cent is critical to food security and the provincial economy, Alexis notes.

“The ALR was formed in 1973 by people who saw the need and the value of preserving farmland for food production,” Alexis says. “That need hasn’t changed. The importance of preserving farmland so fu- ture generations can enjoy fresh and local ingredients remains as true today as it was 50 years ago.

“That’s why our government will continue to work with farmers to support food production and protect the valuable agricultural land in the ALR,” she adds. “The fact is if you’ve enjoyed B.C. fruits and vegetables, meat or dairy this year, chances are high it was produced in the ALR.”

The BC Agricultural Council says BC farmers generate around $4 billion in direct sales, creating more than 35,000 jobs.