First Southeastern BC Agriculture Forum Creates Partnerships for Ongoing Collaboration

First Southeastern BC Agriculture Forum Creates Partnerships for Ongoing Collaboration

November 17, 2025

In response to severe climate change and other impacts on agriculture, the first Southeastern BC Agriculture Forum, held in March of 2025 in Creston, addressed the region’s most critical issues. The inaugural event had a packed agenda that brought food producers together with policy and decision-makers, leaving participants eager to see the forum held on a regular basis.

The project was led by Kootenay Employment Services Society (KES) through the Creston Valley-Kootenay Lake Economic Action Partnership Program (CVLEAP), which was created in 2017 to develop an economic action strategy for the Creston Valley-Kootenay Lake area. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) provided funding for the event and spoke with Ben Sergent, Executive Director of KES about the value of the forum today and into the future.

What was the impetus for this event?

Ben: In the Southern Interior of BC, extreme weather events are critically stressing producers’ abilities to maintain their operations, reducing food security and threatening the livelihood of the area’s mainly rural communities. From droughts to unexpected cold snaps, pest infestations and forest fires, the Creston area has been hit especially hard. It was time to have serious conversations around these issues and pursue a more resilient agricultural community.

How is the forum model different from other agriculture gatherings that are taking place in the province?

A variety of similar events exist in major centres, but the Southern Interior agriculture community lacks opportunities for professional development and networking. It is a big deal for farmers to make the time to get together like this, so we wanted to provide lots of value. By including politicians and other agricultural decision makers, we created a dynamic environment for education, connections and conversations. The politicians who attended left with an understanding of the uniqueness of agriculture in our region and our needs are top of mind while they are in Parliament.

What did the participants discuss and learn?

While the main focus was on equipping producers with tools to address emergency challenges, the speakers provided insights to sustainability and risk management of tree fruits, heat stress in cattle, and emergency preparedness – all real-life impacts our farmers are dealing with today. Other presentations focussed on the process to exporting, managing water needs, invasive species, and succession planning. Supports for new and aspiring farmers, pathways to land access, financial tools, grant programs, and other support services were also discussed.

How important was regional collaboration to the forum’s success?

The forum was a milestone in regional collaboration between the Town of Creston, the Lower Kootenay Band and the Regional Districts of Kootenay Boundary, Central Kootenay, East Kootenay and Columbia Shuswap. A number of sessions were focussed on support to agri-forestry organizations and agri-tourism operators, amplifying the impact of the event beyond agriculture alone. A productive new partnership between KES and the Fields Forward Society laid the foundation for continued delivery of the Agri-Forum.

How did you measure success of the project?

Through a post-event survey, participants showed a strong desire to continue the event every one to two years, have even more interactive sessions and networking opportunities, and more presentations by local producers. The connections made have paved the way for greater support and advancement of the industry and will support cluster development and industry competitiveness.

Of 123 participants, 55 local businesses directly benefitted from the knowledge shared, including 40 food producers and agri-businesses, and 15 local businesses were selected as vendors and sub-contractors to the event. The forum also attracted out of town visitors to the valley during the off-season, providing a welcome boost to local hospitality, retail and the food and beverage sectors.

Products and services that emerge from the event are still in the early stages of development, but as relationships grow and ideas take shape, tangible outcomes will materialize. In the meantime, we’re already tweaking the format for an even better event in 2026.

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