Abstract
Food security is a growing concern for rural communities that rely on imported food. Increasing a region's food self-reliance is a strategy to address this concern, but is a challenge in regions with limited arable lands as a result of topographically diverse, mountain-dominated landscapes. Mechanized, large-scale agriculture relies on contiguous areas of arable land, rather than small parcels of dispersed arable soils and suitable climates. The Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada, serves as an example of the opportunities for mountainous, rural communities to increase their food self-sufficiency by considering the potential for agriculture on small parcels of land. Soil capability survey maps that provide a biophysical assessment of arable lands were used as a basis for determining (a) the potential land base available for small-scale agriculture, and (b) the potential for niche crops that may be grown on poorer capability lands in the Kootenay region. The soil capability criteria, coupled with farm survey data, were used to measure and quantify the distribution of underutilized farmland in the region. Results indicate that up to 90 percent of land capable of agriculture and 69 percent of high quality farm land protected under the Agricultural Land Reserve is not under production for crops or pasture. Global Climate Model scenarios for 2050 indicate that the region will have a longer growing season, hotter summers, and more frost-free days, which could increase the region's capacity to grow food but might require additional water for irrigation. The assessment suggests that soil surveys based on biophysical attributes can assist mountainous regions in assessing their potential for agriculture.
Highlights
As recently as the 1950s, much of the food consumed in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia (B.C.) was grown or raised locally, whereas about 95 percent of food consumed is imported from outside the region (Brynne Consulting, 2011)
We introduce the concept of ‘pocket agriculture’ to identify small parcels of land that can be used for agricultural uses that do not require large holdings or climate regimes that are conducive to a range of crops, but have potential to serve local food needs
There is Creston (Central Kootenay B and C) is the cominsufficient Class 1–3 land to provide for 70,000 mercial agricultural center of the region, and its people (Figure 3); if Class 4 lands were major crops are tree fruits, forage, and some grain
Summary
As recently as the 1950s, much of the food consumed in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia (B.C.) was grown or raised locally, whereas about 95 percent of food consumed is imported from outside the region (Brynne Consulting, 2011). Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (2006) suggests that to achieve food selfsufficiency from a land-based perspective, about one-half a hectare (0.5 hectare) of farmland is needed to produce the food for one person for one year, given the production technologies available today This is an oversimplified way to evaluate food self-sufficiency, it does provide a land-based measure and could include small parcels, or pockets, of arable land that provide opportunities to increase local food production. The West Kootenay region does not contain large tracts of contiguous land for today’s mechanized agriculture, the question becomes, if there is a need and interest in local food production, is there an opportunity to develop pocket agriculture in the region? Make a preliminary assessment of the effects of climate change on this potential for small-parcel agriculture
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