California droughts could leave B.C. high and dry on food

The dry spell in California, which some studies blame on climate change, is raising concerns about future food price hikes across North America. In B.C., which over the past 20 years has relied increasingly on crops from California, food security experts describe the situation as alarming.

If California’s agriculture productivity collapses “we’d be in huge trouble,” says Brent Mansfield, co-chair of the BC Food Systems Network. “The urgency is … as prices go up, will we be able to [afford to] put food on the table?” Mr. Mansfield asks. “First off, they are going to feed their own and then they are going to feed those who can pay the most. And that might not be us.”

Mr. Mansfield recently wrote a report predicting produce prices in B.C. could jump by 25 per cent to 50 per cent over the next five years as California’s productivity declines.

Mr. Mansfield said while California’s loss of productivity will be felt across North America, B.C. is particularly vulnerable because of a shift in the province to imported produce. B.C.’s vegetable production fell more than 20 per cent between 1991 and 2011. Currently, more than 67 per cent of all B.C. vegetable imports come from the United States, with more than half that coming from California.

Broccoli, lettuce, strawberries and other crops that used to be grown in B.C. for consumption there are now largely imported from south of the border.

B.C., Mr. Mansfield said, needs a dramatic shift back to local supply, and that means getting more agricultural land into production.

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