Study of the British Columbia Agriculture Sector Prepared for the BC Agriculture Council and the Investment Agriculture Foundation
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Study of the British Columbia Agriculture Sector Prepared for the BC Agriculture Council and the Investment Agriculture Foundation September 2020 Prepared by: STUDY OF THE BC AGRICULTURE SECTOR 2 Study of the BC Agriculture Sector Prepared by MNP LLP STUDY OF THE BC AGRICULTURE SECTOR 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... 4 2. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 8 Background and Study Purpose ...................................................................................................8 Our Approach .................................................................................................................................8 Acknowledgments ..........................................................................................................................9 Report Limitations ............................................................................................................................9 3. Overview of the Sector ................................................................................................................ 10 Definition of the Sector .................................................................................................................10 Overview of the Sector ................................................................................................................11 4. Economic Impacts of the Sector ................................................................................................ 16 Economic Impact Analysis Overview .........................................................................................16 Economic Impacts of the Sector in 2019 ...................................................................................17 Economic Impacts of the Sector by Region in 2019 .................................................................18 Linkages with Food and Beverage Processing ..........................................................................19 Comparison with Other Industries ...............................................................................................20 5. Projections of Economic Impacts of the Sector ....................................................................... 22 Projections of Economic Impacts ...............................................................................................22 6. SWOT Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 26 7. Government Priorities and Role for the Sector.......................................................................... 36 Scan of Government Priorities .....................................................................................................36 8. Solutions Provided by the Sector ................................................................................................ 41 Case Studies ..................................................................................................................................41 9. Appendices .................................................................................................................................. 67 Appendix A – Subsector Definitions ......................................................................................................68 Appendix B – Study Methodology ........................................................................................................69 Appendix C – Economic Impacts Food and Beverage Processing and Agriculture in BC ...........71 Appendix D – Provincial and Regional District Priorities and Reports ...............................................72 Appendix E – Data Sources ...................................................................................................................97 Appendix F – About MNP .......................................................................................................................99 STUDY OF THE BC AGRICULTURE SECTOR 4 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background and Study Purpose The British Columbia agriculture sector (“the Sector”) has been an important piece of BC’s identity for more than a century. With over 200 primary commodities grown, harvested and raised in the province, the Sector is one of the most diverse in Canada.1 In March 2020, the BC Agriculture Council and its member organizations, in collaboration with the Investment Agriculture Foundation, embarked on a project entitled Cultivating Prosperity in British Columbia (“Cultivating Prosperity in BC”) to lay the foundation for the development of a new vision for the Sector. In support of the work under the project Cultivating Prosperity in BC, the BC Agriculture Council, in collaboration with the Investment Agriculture Foundation, engaged MNP LLP (“MNP”) to conduct a study of the Sector. The purpose for the study was to provide baseline data and qualitative information on the Sector to help guide future consultations with Sector representatives for the identification and development of a new vision for the Sector. Overview of the Sector In recent years there has been sustained growth in the total farm cash receipts of the Sector. Between 2015 and 2018, the total farm cash receipts of the Sector grew approximately 4 percent annually, while between 2018 and 2019 total farm cash receipts grew by approximately 12 percent. Cannabis, which was legalized for recreational use in October 2018, accounted for approximately 73 percent of the growth in farm cash receipts in 2019. Table A summarizes some of the key statistics of the Sector. Table A: Key Sector Statistics • In 2016, there are approximately 17,528 farms across the province.2 • In 2019, the Sector generated total farm cash receipts of $3.8 billion. Crops accounted for approximately 56 percent of farm cash receipts and livestock and livestock products accounted for the remaining 44 percent. 3 • In 2019, BC exported approximately $3.2 billion worth of agriculture and agri-food products. 4,5 • In 2019, the Sector generated an estimated 35,100 direct jobs within the province.6 1 Government of British Columbia, Agriculture & Seafood. Available here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture- seafood 2 Statistics Canada. Farms Classified by Farm Type. Table 32-10-0403-01. 3 Statistics Canada. Farm Cash Receipts. Available here: https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=3437 4 Export figures include Fruits and Nuts, Vegetables, Vegetable Oils, Bread, Pastry, Prepared Cereals, Pasta, Meat and Prepared Meat Products, and Other. 5 Export figures include Fruits and Nuts, Vegetables, Vegetable Oils, Bread, Pastry, Prepared Cereals, Pasta, Meat and Prepared Meat Products, and Other. 6 Direct employment includes both permanent and seasonal employees. STUDY OF THE BC AGRICULTURE SECTOR 5 Economic Impacts of the Sector The Sector is a major contributor to the provincial economy. Table B summarizes the estimated economic impacts generated in 2019 by the Sector. Table B: Economic Impacts of the Sector in 2019 Government Output GDP Employment Taxes ($ millions) ($ millions) (FTEs)7,8 ($ millions) Direct $4,640 $1,870 35,100 $400 Indirect and $3,850 $2,030 19,900 $550 Induced Total $8,490 $3,900 55,000 $950 The following are comparisons of the Sector’s impacts with other important industries in BC: • Mining Industry. The direct employment supported by the Sector (35,100 FTEs) in 2019 was roughly three to four times that generated by the BC mining industry (10,196 FTEs) in 2017.9,10 • High End Television Series. The total output created by the Sector (8,490 million) was equivalent to the total output that would be created from approximately 95 high-end television productions in BC.11 • Vancouver International Airport. The total output created by the Sector ($8.5 billion) was equivalent to 0.4 times direct output supported by the operations of Vancouver International Airport as well as tourism and cargo facilitated by the airport ($20.2 billion).12 Projections of Economic Impacts of the Sector Figure A shows the range of projected economic impacts of the Sector between 2020 and 2030 in terms of real GDP and employment. Real GDP was projected to grow by up to 20 percent while the change in direct employment was projected to grow by up to 15 percent if capacity constraints do not have a significant impact on production. 7 According to the 2016 Census of Agriculture, direct employment of the BC agriculture sector totalled 35,255 in 2016. 8 Direct employment includes both permanent and seasonal employees of the Sector. 9 PWC, 50 Years On - The Mining Industry in British Columbia 2017, Available here: https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/mining/publications/p386537_release5_en-v2.pdf 10 Direct employment includes both permanent and seasonal employees. 11 Motion Picture Association, Economic Impacts of Once Upon A time, Available here: https://www.mpa-canada.org/wp- content/uploads/2016/02/Economic-Impacts-of-Once-Upon-a-Time.pdf 12 Vancouver International Airport, Economic Impact, Available here: https://www.yvr.ca/en/airport-improvement-fee/economic- impact STUDY OF THE BC AGRICULTURE SECTOR 6 Figure A: Projected Real GDP and Direct Employment 2020-2030 $5,000 50,000 $4,000 40,000 $3,000 30,000 $2,000 20,000 $1,000 Dollars) 10,000 $0 Direct Employment 2020 2025 2030 - Indirect