FIRST NATIONS WILDCRAFTERS, BC specializing in non timber and other value added forest products and services |
Introduction and Invitation to Participate
You are being sent the below Background and Scope Summary
information as an invitation to participate due to prior expression of
interests in Alternate Crops and/or Non Timber Forest Resources
economic and resource management development and/or training
development opportunities.
First Nations Wildcrafters, BC (FN Wildcrafters) has been awarded a
contract with the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Sustainable
Agriculture Branch for the development of Alternate Crops/Non-
Timber Forest Resources, Good Agriculture and Collection
Practices Needs Analysis and Training—Phase 1
During the month of January 2010 FN Wildcrafters will be completing
polls of/discussions with interested parties that are engaged/focused
on the production and harvesting of alternate crops and NTFR’s
through Agroforestry and/or forest-farming practices. Interested
parties will include, but are not limited to, agency, industry/producer,
research, local government and First Nations contacts.
Contact Keith Hunter with FN Wildcrafters should you have any
further questions and/or if you desire to participate.
Point of Contact:
Keith Hunter
First Nations Wildcrafters, BC
7000-A Pacific Rim Highway
Port Alberni, BC
Canada V9Y 8Y3
Office: 250-720-8907
Fax: 250-720-8981
Cell: 250-731-3998
Email: FirstNationsWildcrafters [at] shaw.ca
Alternate Crops/Non-Timber Forest Resources, Good
Agriculture and Collection Practices Needs Analysis and
Training – Phase 1
1. Project Background
In the BC agricultural industry, there is on-going demand for the
development of innovative production systems and product
diversification to enhance the economic viability of producers. One
area of increasing interest is Agroforestry which is the blending of
agriculture and forestry using economically beneficial and
environmentally sustainable practices. It represents the co-
management of trees, crops and/or livestock and their interactions
in an intentional and integrated manner. Agroforestry represents a
viable means of diversifying cash-flow and labour; providing
supplemental income and enhancing long-term sustainability. This is
of particular interest to BC rural communities impacted by Mountain
Pine Beetle and the down turn in the forest industry.
In recent years, non-timber forest resources (NTFR’s) have
presented an increasingly important opportunity for rural
communities to use natural resources while maintaining forest
ecosystems and supporting social and cultural values. Although
often considered a new economic sector, non-timber forest
resources and services have been used for thousands of years by
indigenous peoples globally and continue to play a vital role, both
economically and culturally.
Non-timber forest resources are defined as the botanical (berries,
nuts, edible plants, and medicinals) and mycological resources
(mushrooms) and associated services of the forest other than
conventional timber resources. Managing for non-timber forest
resources also compliments the management of important values,
such as cultural heritage resources, biodiversity, wildlife habitat and
maintenance of clean air and water.
One Agroforestry system that attempts to integrate both non-timber
forest resources and timber is forest farming. This systems
approach to production and management of NTFR’s in conjunction
with the timber resource links to parallel interests in the development
of NTFR’s as alternate crops in the specialty food and bio-products
industries.
Buyers and manufacturers of agricultural products are increasingly
expecting producers to follow good agriculture practices. Although
management considerations and studies have been conducted by
numerous agencies as to how to measure and/or mitigate adverse
impacts on NTFR resources, little to no substantive progress has
been made surrounding the food safety and quality aspects of NTFR’
s.
This is due in part to the complexities involved with the broad term
NTFR. As such, the quality assurance of NTFR’s (in particular with
wild harvested foods and other commercially wild harvested plants
that humans ultimately consume) has become a “buyers beware”
industry. There is a burgeoning need to develop a suite of food
safety and traceability objectives for this sector which integrate First
Nations cultural and sustainability values, moving the sector towards
a model which ensures long term sustainability.
To begin to address some of these issues, the adaptation of Good
Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) to wild foods
management systems will begin to establish food safety criteria and
a higher level of industry accountability. The positive effect will be
the ability for First Nations and rural entrepreneurs and communities
to develop a brand level that encourages sustainable economic
relationships with buyers and consumers while recognizing and
respecting the cultural heritage resources of aboriginal peoples.
2. Scope The project scope is to develop a case study analysis and
training template on the implementation of a food safety and
traceability program (GACP) for alternate crops and non-timber
forest resources to rural and First Nations communities by:
Outlining a baseline scenario and needs analysis for the identified
communities.
Establishing the parameters that will support food safety and
traceability integration into forest farming activities.
Developing a GACP pilot program that can be adapted to existing
operations.
Determining where to target implementation, training and
extension activities.
3. Deliverables
First Nations Wildcrafters, BC (the contractor) will:
1) Consult with First Nations and rural communities on their
expressed interest in NTFR/GACP training. The data will be gleaned
from:
The contractor completing polls of/discussions with interested
communities and individuals that are engaged/focused on the
production and harvesting of alternate crops and NTFR’s through
Agroforestry, forest-farming practices. Interested parties will include,
but are not limited to, agency, industry/producer, research, local
government and First Nations contacts.
Recommendations and reports directed to forest-farming-related
economics, management and sustainable development.
The contractor organizing, facilitating and reporting on direct
correspondence with the identified community designates for the
purposes of garnering detailed input on GACP training needs and
exploration of potential synergies and partnerships.
2) Complete a SWOT and needs analysis to identify the challenges
and opportunities in each of the selected First Nations and rural
communities on the training needs and resources required to
implement a GACP program. This will be directed by First Nations
and rural economic development designates and the project
proponent. The two analyses will identify and weight the potential
economic, environmental, regulatory and social considerations
related to food safety and traceability associated with alternate
crops and NTFR’s identified in each scenario.
3) The contractor will provide a summary of components and
activities necessary to GACP training and forest farming practices
development, which can be tailored to specific projects, communities
and regions. This will be through the development of a GACP
training template, outline of training materials with suggested
presentation materials, demonstration sites and extension materials.
You are being sent the below Background and Scope Summary
information as an invitation to participate due to prior expression of
interests in Alternate Crops and/or Non Timber Forest Resources
economic and resource management development and/or training
development opportunities.
First Nations Wildcrafters, BC (FN Wildcrafters) has been awarded a
contract with the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Sustainable
Agriculture Branch for the development of Alternate Crops/Non-
Timber Forest Resources, Good Agriculture and Collection
Practices Needs Analysis and Training—Phase 1
During the month of January 2010 FN Wildcrafters will be completing
polls of/discussions with interested parties that are engaged/focused
on the production and harvesting of alternate crops and NTFR’s
through Agroforestry and/or forest-farming practices. Interested
parties will include, but are not limited to, agency, industry/producer,
research, local government and First Nations contacts.
Contact Keith Hunter with FN Wildcrafters should you have any
further questions and/or if you desire to participate.
Point of Contact:
Keith Hunter
First Nations Wildcrafters, BC
7000-A Pacific Rim Highway
Port Alberni, BC
Canada V9Y 8Y3
Office: 250-720-8907
Fax: 250-720-8981
Cell: 250-731-3998
Email: FirstNationsWildcrafters [at] shaw.ca
Alternate Crops/Non-Timber Forest Resources, Good
Agriculture and Collection Practices Needs Analysis and
Training – Phase 1
1. Project Background
In the BC agricultural industry, there is on-going demand for the
development of innovative production systems and product
diversification to enhance the economic viability of producers. One
area of increasing interest is Agroforestry which is the blending of
agriculture and forestry using economically beneficial and
environmentally sustainable practices. It represents the co-
management of trees, crops and/or livestock and their interactions
in an intentional and integrated manner. Agroforestry represents a
viable means of diversifying cash-flow and labour; providing
supplemental income and enhancing long-term sustainability. This is
of particular interest to BC rural communities impacted by Mountain
Pine Beetle and the down turn in the forest industry.
In recent years, non-timber forest resources (NTFR’s) have
presented an increasingly important opportunity for rural
communities to use natural resources while maintaining forest
ecosystems and supporting social and cultural values. Although
often considered a new economic sector, non-timber forest
resources and services have been used for thousands of years by
indigenous peoples globally and continue to play a vital role, both
economically and culturally.
Non-timber forest resources are defined as the botanical (berries,
nuts, edible plants, and medicinals) and mycological resources
(mushrooms) and associated services of the forest other than
conventional timber resources. Managing for non-timber forest
resources also compliments the management of important values,
such as cultural heritage resources, biodiversity, wildlife habitat and
maintenance of clean air and water.
One Agroforestry system that attempts to integrate both non-timber
forest resources and timber is forest farming. This systems
approach to production and management of NTFR’s in conjunction
with the timber resource links to parallel interests in the development
of NTFR’s as alternate crops in the specialty food and bio-products
industries.
Buyers and manufacturers of agricultural products are increasingly
expecting producers to follow good agriculture practices. Although
management considerations and studies have been conducted by
numerous agencies as to how to measure and/or mitigate adverse
impacts on NTFR resources, little to no substantive progress has
been made surrounding the food safety and quality aspects of NTFR’
s.
This is due in part to the complexities involved with the broad term
NTFR. As such, the quality assurance of NTFR’s (in particular with
wild harvested foods and other commercially wild harvested plants
that humans ultimately consume) has become a “buyers beware”
industry. There is a burgeoning need to develop a suite of food
safety and traceability objectives for this sector which integrate First
Nations cultural and sustainability values, moving the sector towards
a model which ensures long term sustainability.
To begin to address some of these issues, the adaptation of Good
Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) to wild foods
management systems will begin to establish food safety criteria and
a higher level of industry accountability. The positive effect will be
the ability for First Nations and rural entrepreneurs and communities
to develop a brand level that encourages sustainable economic
relationships with buyers and consumers while recognizing and
respecting the cultural heritage resources of aboriginal peoples.
2. Scope The project scope is to develop a case study analysis and
training template on the implementation of a food safety and
traceability program (GACP) for alternate crops and non-timber
forest resources to rural and First Nations communities by:
Outlining a baseline scenario and needs analysis for the identified
communities.
Establishing the parameters that will support food safety and
traceability integration into forest farming activities.
Developing a GACP pilot program that can be adapted to existing
operations.
Determining where to target implementation, training and
extension activities.
3. Deliverables
First Nations Wildcrafters, BC (the contractor) will:
1) Consult with First Nations and rural communities on their
expressed interest in NTFR/GACP training. The data will be gleaned
from:
The contractor completing polls of/discussions with interested
communities and individuals that are engaged/focused on the
production and harvesting of alternate crops and NTFR’s through
Agroforestry, forest-farming practices. Interested parties will include,
but are not limited to, agency, industry/producer, research, local
government and First Nations contacts.
Recommendations and reports directed to forest-farming-related
economics, management and sustainable development.
The contractor organizing, facilitating and reporting on direct
correspondence with the identified community designates for the
purposes of garnering detailed input on GACP training needs and
exploration of potential synergies and partnerships.
2) Complete a SWOT and needs analysis to identify the challenges
and opportunities in each of the selected First Nations and rural
communities on the training needs and resources required to
implement a GACP program. This will be directed by First Nations
and rural economic development designates and the project
proponent. The two analyses will identify and weight the potential
economic, environmental, regulatory and social considerations
related to food safety and traceability associated with alternate
crops and NTFR’s identified in each scenario.
3) The contractor will provide a summary of components and
activities necessary to GACP training and forest farming practices
development, which can be tailored to specific projects, communities
and regions. This will be through the development of a GACP
training template, outline of training materials with suggested
presentation materials, demonstration sites and extension materials.
Alternate Crops/Non-Timber Forest Resources, Good
Agriculture and Collection Practices Needs Analysis
and Training—Phase 1
Agriculture and Collection Practices Needs Analysis
and Training—Phase 1
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