The City of Delta has issued a request for proposals for a consultant to help develop an updated agricultural plan.
The work is to be undertaken in consultation with the city council, Delta’s Agricultural Advisory Committee, civic staff, agricultural stakeholders and residents.
According to Delta, the new plan is to eventually lead to an update of the current Official Community Plan policies, which reflect strong support for productive agriculture, protection of the Agricultural Land Reserve, conservation of land for soil-based agriculture, as well as an integrated approach to managing the needs of agriculture, the environment and non-farming stakeholders.
The city notes it wants to update the current plan to shift the focus more to the issues, recommendations and implementation actions that Delta could undertake and lead.
The shift in focus would involve increasing opportunities for engagement with external agencies and stakeholders, focus more on action items that are within Delta’s authority and providing more practical details on how action items could be implemented.
Recommendations within the plan are organized into four objective areas: improve the economic sustainability of Delta agriculture, enhance the agricultural resource base, create opportunities for efficiency, competitiveness, diversification and new entrants, and increase public support for agriculture.
The city also notes it may be pursuing provincial grant opportunities for the project.
