Institutions: Vancouver Island University (Lead), Coast Mountain College, Vancouver Community College, Camosun College, University of the Fraser Valley, College of the Rockies
There is a perceived need for a training inventory and a gap analysis in support of food security. Looking at food literacy, production, processing, retailing, capacity development and more. We seek to scan internally within CETABC and externally with stakeholders and indigenous communities focusing on training that is beyond the traditional cook training delivered by many CETABC members’ institutions.
A significant amount of farming and food processing operations in BC are “entrepreneurial” and micro-to small scale in size. Individuals entering these fields may have little to no background in farming or food processing or entrepreneurial skills and are learning from the ground up, selling their produce at farm gates and local farmers’ markets which act as incubators for their business development. The governments of BC and Canada are also investing heavily in the creation of regional food hubs and incentive programs such as Growing Forward to help farmers and start up businesses create added-value (processed) food products for consumption for the local to export spectrum.
We propose to complete an environmental scan and gap analysis to look at programming already available in the Province, who potential partners may be and provide a summary of this analysis to help inform next steps. Included in the analysis will be:
- identification of existing programs that can be utilized/licensed;
- identify gaps for opportunity for new programming;
- identification of potential partnerships rural/urban/remote; indigenous communities; industry etc
- explore potential funding sources for programming and/or new curriculum development in this area
- This project will also report on the different needs for urban/rural/remote regions as they present themselves in the scan
Upon completion this report, the consultant will present on their findings to the member institutions for further discussion and next step planning. A possible next step may be a proposal for Phase II of the project, i.e., seed funding to develop curriculum.