BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) is the lead industry advocate for key sector-wide priorities in British Columbia.
BC Agriculture Council Agriculture Sector Emergency Response Project
Emergency events such as wildfires, floods, droughts, and animal disease outbreaks are becoming more frequent and are having increasing impacts on agriculture, rural communities, and food security. These events can quickly threaten homes, livelihoods, and the future of farming and ranching in British Columbia. In response, BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) is working with its member organizations, Local Authorities and First Nations, the Province, and many other partners to strengthen a coordinated emergency response structure that promotes resilience across the agriculture sector. With financial support from the Province of British Columbia, BCAC has developed tools for Local Authorities and First Nations to help support agriculture during emergencies, as well as informational resources to help farms and ranches strengthen their own emergency preparedness.
Resources for Local Authorities
Emergency Operation Centre Agriculture Coordinators
More than 40 people across the province have been trained to serve as Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Agriculture Coordinators, providing agriculture industry expertise and contacts to assist an EOC with their local agriculture industry.
To receive the list of EOC Agriculture Coordinator candidates available for your area, along with their resumes, please complete this form (link coming soon) and email it to BCAC at projects@bcac.ca, or the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food at AF.EM@gov.bc.ca.
If you already have an EOC Agriculture Coordinator identified, BCAC may provide up to three days of direct per diem support for participation in your emergency preparedness activities. Funding support eligibility and parameters (link coming soon).
Requests must be submitted by a Local Authority or First Nation by completing this form (link coming soon) and emailing it to BCAC at projects@bcac.ca.
Enhanced Temporary Access Pass (TAP) Templates
BCAC has developed both digital and Word-based templates for Local Authorities and First Nations, providing a consistent framework that can be adapted to local needs to help streamline access management and improve coordination during emergency events.
To request access to either TAP template, please complete and email this form (link coming soon) to BCAC at projects@bcac.ca.
Ministry of Agriculture & Food
Emergency Management Resources
Links and resources related to emergency preparedness for all types of farms and ranches, and many different emergency events.
AgSafe BC
Emergency Preparedness Resources
Resources to help you prepare for emergencies and guidance for when emergencies occur on farms and ranches in B.C. Includes guidance on how to support and prepare for emergencies with your staff and your responsibilities as an employer.
Prepared BC
Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Resource Toolkit
Emergency preparedness and mitigation resources for you and your family.
Climate Change Adaptation Program
FireSmart BC
B.C. Farm and Ranch Wildfire Preparedness
Tools and support resources to help B.C. farmers and ranchers prepare for wildfire-related emergencies and guidance on what to do when they occur.
Commodity-Specific Emergencies
Including plant pests, animal diseases, etc.
Reach out to your provincial or national commodity associations, or the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food through AgriService BC.
Join BC Agriculture Council and AgSafe to:
- Learn how to develop and implement effective emergency management plans tailored for your farm.
- Understand BC’s emergency response framework and how it supports producers.
- Explore vital tools, including the Access Pass System, Premises ID, and producer-specific resources.
- Build connections with local Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) and strengthen community collaboration.
Upcoming Workshops:
Our spring sessions have now concluded. We’ll share updates here as fall in-person and online sessions are confirmed and added to the schedule.
Interested in working with us to host a session for your commodity or community? Reach out to us at projects@bcac.ca!
Interested in being notified about future workshops? Sign up below!
Be the first to know when more sessions are confirmed and added to the schedule, either online or in-person!
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
The Government of British Columbia and the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC are pleased to participate in the delivery of the project. We are committed to working with our industry partners to address issues of importance to the agriculture and agri-food industry in British Columbia. Opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the presenter and not necessarily those of the Investment Agriculture Foundation or the Government of British Columbia.
