15 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca THE PEI PLAN 2025-2030 PEI is now responding to climate change impacts with “Building Resilience for PEI Agriculture: Adaptation Plan 2025-2030 (The Plan) is the province’s first ever agriculture sectoral adaptation plan. Its purpose is to: • Highlight the shared and unique adaptation needs of commodities at the field and sector levels; and • Address barriers faced by PEI farmers and agriculture sector organizations in proactive adaptation.” This Plan presents an opportunity to explore how climate change adaptation can also address other challenges like attracting workers, meeting consumer preferences, skills development and more. The eight key actions include: 1. ESTABLISH PRODUCER CLUBS Producer clubs (including extension services) was at the top of the list to address the lack of resources, improve knowledge sharing, and increase collaboration and capacity required for successful adaptation. 2. SUPPORT CO-OPERATIVES Supporting cooperatives that provide specific shared services, was also a top choice to address the capacity required for successful adaptation. This could apply to labour, and admin services like bookkeeping. 3. IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH Having access to soil data, information, and manure were seen as foundational components to supporting ongoing improvements in soil health. 4. ENLARGE AND UPSKILL WORKFORCE Upskilling programs already offered include micro credentials through Holland College, AGRI Skills through Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, Class 3A and forklift training through PEI Agriculture Sector Council, but the need to enlarge and upskill labour remains in PEI. 5. APPLY AND DEMONSTRATE INDUSTRY-LED RESEARCH Increase producer access to research findings to implement similar practices on their own farms, and see applied research create and validate new approaches. 6. ENHANCE AG INFRASTRUCTURE An approach to support technological adaptation, address resilience of sector and farm assets during extreme weather events and add redundancy and capacity of supply. 7. SUSTAIN AGRICULTURAL LAND With competing land use pressures and lack of succession planning, the loss of agricultural land has been apparent. 8. SUPPORT LOCALLY RELEVANT ADAPTATION Commodity adaptation plans are underway to fill the gap of addressing commodity-specific climate related issues, opportunities, and challenges. TIP: On-Farm Actions - outline climate change impacts and adaptation responses for 17 species of crops and livestock. Download the PDF. Source: PEI Federation of Agriculture PEI FOOD EXCHANGE PEI is sometimes referred to as the Garden of the Gulf or Million Acre Farm, but research shows that PEI has some of the highest levels of food insecurity in Canada. The PEI Food Exchange is a volunteer group harnessing the power of food to create new foodways on Prince Edward Island. MISSION To empower people to address food security for themselves and their communities through the “3G’s” gleaning, growing food, and gaining knowledge. GLEANING Gleaning enables people to secure healthy food through exchange. Benefits are realized by both the farmers and gleaners. Typically, the harvest is shared: 1/3 to the farmer, 1/3 to gleaners and 1/3 to social service agencies. GROWING YOUR OWN For people who want to grow their own food but don’t have the space, a community garden is a great option. Many community gardens have shared tools and other resources. GAINING KNOWLEDGE The Food Exchange gives workshops on growing, cooking and preserving food, like: Edible Gardening for Beginners - skills workshops presented throughout the growing season. Fermenting workshops collaborating with local farmers from Heart Beet Organics. Pressure canning collaborating with Bernardin Home Canning. Preserving using the water bath method collaborating with Salvation Army. PEI FOOD EXCHANGE
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