Planning for Uncertainty: Adaptation Strategies for Agricultural Self-Reliance in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada

Despite relatively progressive policies put forth by the Canadian government to tackle the challenge of climate mitigation, cities and regions across the country are only beginning to address the equally important task of adaptation. This conversation typically focuses on the spatial adaptability of shorelines, dense urban environments, and the enhancement of green spaces. While these measures are undoubtedly important to implement, there is a lack of public awareness regarding how our region’s food systems and the agricultural landscapes that sit on edge of cities across Canada, must also adapt. Agriculture is a key part of the Canadian economy, both in the export of products grown domestically and the importation of products from the United States, Mexico, and Asia. This reliance on imported food is a standard part of the food supply chain in Canada. However, with a changing climate affecting places like California (where a lot of fresh produce is imported from) and global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, these supply chains are becoming more vulnerable to unexpected disruptions. This, in turn, threatens the food security of all Canadians. This thesis explores the adaptive potential of the local and regional food system in Canada’s only urbanized delta region, the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. As with all delta regions around the world, this low-lying metropolitan region will increasingly face many challenges related to flooding, ongoing urbanization, and the unpredictability of extreme natural disasters that threaten communities and food production. The Lower Mainland is one of the most agriculturally dynamic regions in Canada and is unique as a considerable amount of arable and cultivated land is integrated closely with the urban fabric of the territory. However, with decreasing self-reliance in regional food production and an over-reliance on cheap imported products, the Lower Mainland is at a crossroads when it comes to the future of its food system. The intent of the design proposal is to find ways in which to rebalance regional food cultivation by expanding how and where production takes place. Integrating agriculture tightly within communities and using it as a catalyst for new public spaces, urban development, and agri-tech innovation along a key regional corridor will serve as the basis for the design exploration. The objective of this thesis is therefore to demonstrate how the spatial and functional organization our food systems can, and must, adapt given the uncertainty of our collective future. Vulnerable supply chains, unexpected disasters and shifts in the global economy significantly risk our ability to adequately feed people. If we take this issue seriously and begin planning for an uncertain future by first addressing what makes us most vulnerable, we can begin to adapt and build the capacity to face these challenges with confidence.

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