It could get more expensive for families to put food on the dinner table this summer. The worst drought to hit the United States in nearly 25 years is threatening to drive up food prices around the world.
Corn prices are rising dramatically as farmers suffer crop losses, affecting everything from the price of cereal to meat. By supporting local producers and buying local food, we can avoid sudden price increases on the grocery bill.
As our population grows, there is pressure to encroach on agricultural lands.
But that compromises our food security and adds to car-dependent sprawl. We must continue to defend the urban containment boundary.
Instead of carving up our farmland as real estate, we can support local farmers by keeping farming profitable. In Saanich, we're changing outdated bylaws to allow more "pocket food markets." We have a buy-local policy for our recreation centres and special events. And a food security task force will recommend actions to support local growers.
We're looking for ways to grow our own food. Using public and private open space for community gardens gives urban residents a place to produce their own food. We're encouraging green roofs on new development projects as community gardens. And the Saanich-owned Panama Flats could be used for food production.
We can defend ourselves against global food price increases. Let's make local food affordable and abundant by protecting farmland from urban development and creating spaces to grow and sell food.
Our food security depends on it.
Dean Murdock
Saanich councillor
