2. Overview and Definition
Knowledge Transfer: activities that accelerate the
transformation of knowledge into practice to improve the
competitiveness and resiliency of the BC agriculture
sector
2
• Organizational structure
• Branches & Knowledge Transfer Linkages
• Sector Development and AGRIServiceBC
3. Food Safety Experts
Agrologists and
Industry Specialists
3
Land-Use Planners and
GIS Analysts
Plant and Animal
Health Experts
Resource Specialists
Market Development
Managers
Professionals and Expertise
The Ministry has a dedicated staff that includes a diversity of highly trained professionals
and technical experts that deliver programs, services and training across the Province.
4. Organizational Structure
Ministry of Agriculture
Agriculture Science and Policy Division
Food Safety and Inspection
Branch
Plant and Animal Health
Branch
Corporate Governance
Policy and Legislation
Branch
Business Development Division
Innovation and
Adaptation Services
Branch
Business Risk
Management Branch
Sector Development
Branch
4
5. Food Safety and Inspection Branch
Units and programs: Meat Inspection Program, Seafood Safety
and Quality Unit, On Farm Food Safety Program, Post Farm Food
Safety Program, Food Safety Extension Services Program,
Identification and Mitigation of Emerging Food Safety Hazards.
Knowledge Transfer linkages:
• Food Safety Extension Services Program (training and
education)
• 58 inspectors throughout province provide information and
knowledge-based support as part of inspection service
– liaison between Ministry and meat and seafood producers
– technical support for best practices and compliance with regulatory
standards
• Liaison with industry associations for issues management
5
6. Plant and Animal Health Branch
Units and programs: Animal Health Center, Plant
Health Unit, and Livestock Health Management and
Regulatory Unit
Knowledge Transfer linkages:
• Laboratory analysis/veterinary diagnostic services
• Applied research and monitoring of emerging pests
• Manuals and training for small flock poultry, sheep
and goat producers (biosecurity best practices)
• Apiary inspection and support
• Disease alerts and disease preparedness workshops
6
7. Corporate Governance, Policy and Legislation
Units and Programs: Agriculture and Seafood Policy,
Legislation, Intergovernmental Relations and Trade,
Corporate Statistics and Research, Statistics & Corporate
Program Management.
Knowledge transfer linkages:
• Engage and consult with industry on specific
agriculture and seafood policy issues
• Consult and support industry on market access
challenges
• Engage with industry on trade negotiations to support
the development of a provincial position
• Support education and outreach initiatives related to
free trade agreement
• Ensure the agriculture and seafood sector is informed
and profiled using current, relevant and accurate
statistics
7
8. Business Risk Management Branch
Offers proactive Business Risk Management (BRM) products to help
farming businesses protect themselves from severe financial loss events.
Units and programs: BRM Policy and Program Development, AgriStability, Production (Crop)
Insurance Program, Agriculture Wildlife Program, Western Livestock Price Insurance Program,
BC Bred Heifer and Feeder Loan Guarantee Program, and AgriInvest.
8
Knowledge transfer linkages:
• Education and outreach initiatives to aid individual
producer’s with their BRM decisions.
• Engage and consult with industry on BRM policy in
support of provincial position development.
• Engage commodity organizations on the design and
operation of BRM products.
9. Innovation and Adaptation Services Branch
Units and programs: Innovation, Strengthening Farming, Resource
Management, and Market Development
Innovation
• Innovation Program (commercialization or adoption of
practices, products processes and technologies that are “new
“to BC)
• Agriculture Venture Acceleration Program
Strengthening Farming
• Climate Change Adaptation Program builds adaptative capacity
by developing farm-level toolkits/manuals and producer
decision support tools and supporting on-farm research.
• Traceability Knowledge Transfer provides funding to support to
industry in learning about food traceability 9
10. Innovation and Adaptation Services Branch (con’t)
Resource Management
• Environmental Farm Plan training
and support
• Tools to help farmers secure
agricultural water and adapt to
changing environmental
regulations of farm practices (i.e.
BC Application Risk Management
tool)
10
Market Development
Cost-shared funding program supports marketing
skills, training, market research and market
development planning activities
11. Sector Development Branch
• Partnerships and Outreach
• Industry Development
• Regional Development
• AGRIServiceBC
11
“Works directly with the agriculture, food and seafood
sectors in all areas of B.C. to build industry capacity
12. Partnerships and Outreach Unit
Knowledge transfer linkages:
• Knowledge Transfer program
(45-50 targeted each year)
• AGRIServiceBC workshops
and webinars
• BC Agri-Business Planning
Program
• BC Indigenous Agriculture
Development Program
• New Entrant Programing
• Youth Development Programs
12
13. Industry Development Unit
Knowledge Transfer linkages:
• Liaison with industry to provide support
to associations and producers to
advance agriculture and food
competitiveness.
• Support industry councils and
associations (research priorities, field
days, conferences etc.)
• Issues management and coordination
with associations, academia and other
agencies to mitigate challenges
13
• Aquaculture
• Food processing
• Marine Fisheries &
Seafood
• Beef (& Livestock)
• Dairy and Pork
• Berries
• Tree fruit and Grape
• Organics
• Vegetables
• Nursery & Greenhouse
• Poultry
• Agroforestry
• Emerging Markets
(cannabis, hemp, hazel
nuts, plant-based
proteins etc.)
14. Regional Development Unit
Knowledge Transfer Linkages:
• Regional leadership on emerging
issues that are cross-commodity
or interdisciplinary
• Pathfinding and relationship
building with regional partners
• Collaboration with stakeholders
to host KTT events/activities
• Operationalize and inform
industry strategies at a regional
level
14
15. 15
“AGRIServiceBC connects farmers, food
processors and new entrant to agriculture
services, programs and information that the
BC government offers to help them succeed.”
What services are provided:
• Online tools and resources for farmers
• AGRIServiceBC Webinars Series
• Information on funding sources
• A pathway to connect to specialist and
experts in your region
Mandate Supports the sustainability and prosperity of the agri-food, meat and seafood industries, while serving to protect the well-being of the people of the province; accomplished through education and awareness, inspection and regulatory compliance, surveillance, risk assessment, and development of policy, programs and strategies to address identified risks.
Food Safety Extension Services Program (training and education)
58 inspectors throughout province provide information and knowledge-based support as part of inspection service
liaison between Ministry and meat and seafood producers
technical support for best practices and compliance with regulatory standards
Mandate: To diagnose, monitor, and assist in the prevention, control and management of plant and animal pests and diseases in B.C. through surveillance, regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and the development of strategies to address identified risks.
Mandate: Leads the ministry’s policy and legislative development, assesses industry research and market trends, leads intergovernmental relations and the Seafood Secretariat, and evaluates the success of initiatives.
-Engage and consult with industry on specific agriculture and seafood policy issues that may result in legislative change or other policy instrument change.
-Consult and support industry on market access challenges.
-Engage with industry on trade negotiations to support the development of a provincial position.
-Support education and outreach initiatives related to free trade agreements.
-Engage and consult with industry on specific policy and/or regulatory issues raised through federal, provincial and territorial meetings.
-Ensure the agriculture and seafood sector is informed and profiled using current, relevant and accurate statistics
Mandate: Improves access to capital and enables investment by helping producers manage risks that cause income losses and lead to financial instability, including weather hazards, natural disasters, wildlife, diseases, pests and market declines.
Innovation
Innovation Program supports industry and academia to research, pilot, commercialize or adopt practices, products, processes and technologies that are “new to BC”.
Agriculture Venture Acceleration Program provides food and agritech SMEs with access to expertise, coaching and mentorship to grow their business and diversify products.
Strengthening Farming
Climate Change Adaptation Program builds adaptative capacity by developing farm-level toolkits/manuals and producer decision support tools and supporting on-farm research.
Traceability Knowledge Transfer provides funding to support to industry in learning about food traceability.
Mandate: Works to enhance agriculture, food and seafood sector growth, competitiveness, sustainability and adaptability. Provides expertise and support for innovation, domestic and international marketing, management practices that promote agriculture and food systems that are environmentally sustainable and productive, climate change adaptation, traceability, and creating and maintaining a positive regulatory climate with local government.
Resource Management
Producers can get appointments with ministry-trained Environmental Farm Plan Advisors to visit farms to address environmental risks, find efficiencies and increase profitability.
Specialists and engineers co-design and develop tools with various clients to help farmers secure agricultural water and adapt to changing environmental regulations of farm practices.
Market Development
Market Development cost-shared funding program supports marketing skills training, market research and market development planning activities.
Mandate: Works directly with the agriculture, food and seafood sectors in all areas of B.C. to build industry capacity by supporting: business development, First Nations agriculture, youth development, farm succession, new entrants, and agroforestry.
“Comprised of professional and technical staff who provide frontline services in the areas of business knowledge development, youth development, and new entrants.”
Knowledge Transfer Program – (45-50 targeted each year)
AGRIServiceBC workshops and webinars (ex. Top 10 Farm Financial Mistakes and How to Avoid them”, “Cost of productions”)
BC Agri-Business Planning Program – Specialized business planning support to enable producers and processors to make more informed decisions and strengthen their business, individuals apply and receive funding to work with an advisor
BC Indigenous Agriculture Development Program - Supports initiatives to increase indigenous participation in the agriculture and agri-food sector, indigenous individuals or communities apply and receive funding to work with an advisor
New Entrant Programing – In partnership with organizations such as Young Agrarians (land matching) and BC Young Farmers ( young farmer leadership capacity building)
Youth Development Programing – In partnership with organizations such as 4-H and Agriculture in the Classroom
A team of 21 experienced Agrologist with diverse expertise who provide frontline services to regional clients and partners across the province to support economic development and production in the agriculture sector.