Letter re: Endorsement for an Organic Agriculture and Food System Extension Service in BC

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200 – 1627 Fort Street, Victoria BC  V8R 1H8 
Telephone  (250) 405-5151    Fax  (250) 405-5155 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 660-2421.  Elsewhere in BC 
1.800.663.7867 
Email  information@islandstrust.bc.ca 
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
 
Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola  Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
April 12, 2021 
 
Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS) 
Kwantlen Polytechnic University  
12666–72 Ave, Surrey, BC 
Canada V3W 2M8 
 
Re: Endorsement for an organic agriculture and food system extension service in British Columbia  
 
I am writing on behalf of the Islands Trust Council to express their endorsement of the Kwantlen 
Polytechnic University’s Institute for Sustainable Food Systems’ development and implementation of an 
organic agriculture and food system extension service in British Columbia. 
 
This extension service has the potential to contribute to the Islands Trust Council’s strategic priorities for 
ecosystem preservation and protection and, climate change mitigation and adaptation including food 
security. 
 
An organic extension service active in the Islands Trust Area would support the Islands Trust Council’s 
strategic priorities through programs, resources, and connections that would be available to support the 
sustainability and viability of farms and food businesses located within the Islands Trust Area. This, in turn, 
will have significant influence on areas of strategic priority including ecosystem preservation and 
protection, climate change mitigation, and food security within the Trust Area. 
 
We support an extension service accessible to and inclusive of all farmers and processors, regardless of 
organic certification status or inclination. This approach would mean that more of the farming residents 
within the Trust Area will have an opportunity to embrace organic agriculture principles. We have heard 
from First Nations about concerns they have with organic and non-organic run-off from farms 
contaminating shellfish harvesting areas and other marine food resources. We encourage any extension 
program to take a broad view of food security and ensure that on-farm practices do not jeopardize or 
contaminate natural food systems.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS) 
April 12, 2021 
Page 2  
Thank you for considering this request. The Islands Trust Council is committed to the fulfilment of the 
Islands Trust Object to preserve and protect the Trust Area and its unique amenities and environment 
for the benefit of residents of the Trust Area and of British Columbia more broadly. We do this in 
cooperation with First Nations, municipalities, regional districts, improvement districts, other persons 
and organizations, and the Government of British Columbia.  
 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
 
 
Peter Luckham 
Chair, Islands Trust Council 
pluckham@islandstrust.bc.ca  
 
 
cc: Bowen Island Municipal Counc

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