• Food Resilience Alliance

What is the Food Resilience Alliance?

The Food Resilience Alliance (FRA) is a collaborative network dedicated to strengthening food and agriculture initiatives across the Southern Gulf Islands. Since securing a Community Works Fund grant in Spring 2021, the FRA has supported a diverse range of projects led by organizations across all four islands. Our mission is to address regional food system challenges and opportunities through collective action, fostering sustainable practices and resilience within the local agricultural sector.

In 2024-2025, the SGI Community Economic Sustainability Commission (CESC) and Capital Regional District (CRD) sponsored the newly shaped Grower Network Initiative (GNI) to advance three key priorities.
First, Knowledge Sharing through two online workshops: Unlocking Agricultural Grants, providing guidance on accessing funding opportunities, and a Climate Strategy Workshop for small-scale producers, which explored closed-loop farming practices and climate adaptation strategies.

Second, the introduction of an online Farmstand Mapping tool to support SGI Growers by increasing visibility and accessibility of locally grown food.

Third, the creation of a Farm to Market service designed to support SGI livestock producers, paired with a Farmgate Awareness Campaign to encourage both emerging and established livestock producers to participate in the Province’s Farmgate Plus License Program, expanding local meat processing capacity and increasing access to regionally produced meats.

Together, these initiatives aim to strengthen regional agricultural capacity, enhance food security, and promote sustainable food production.

Current Projects

Farmgate Plus & Resources

Interested in finding out more about the Farmgate Plus License? Check out the FRA’s Farmgate Plus Resource Catalogue here. This useful guidebook outlines the process with online links to applications, education and additional resources for livestock producers.

Click on the images below for more information.

Farmstand Mapping

Join us in making it easier for island residents and visitors to discover and support your farm’s fresh offerings!

GNI’s Farmstand Mapping Project connects local consumers with fresh, locally grown foods across the Southern Gulf Islands. If you’re a farmstand owner, register your stand to be included on the Islands Farms Stands map and help promote your fresh, sustainable products to the community!

Click on the image below for more information.

Food Resilience Alliance Partner Projects

Inter-Island Seed Libraries

Native Food Plants Project

Seed Programs

Info Hub Tables at Farmers Markets

Gleaning Club
Garlic Co-op
Microgreens Workshop
Kitchen Countertop Garden
Roundtable Meetings

Interested in Food Resilience on the Southern Gulf Islands? Join us for upcoming roundtable meetings:

Next Session: TBA

Past Sessions:

  •  An introduction to the Mayne Island Food Bank and their new food distribution project.
  • A discussion about the SGI Hay Dilemma with Kristine of Mayne Island.
  • A discussion about the South Island Farm Hub’s pilot project with Emma of Galiano Island.
GNI Suggestion Box

💡 Got an Idea? Tell Us!

The Grower Network Initiative (GNI) and the Food Resilience Alliance (FRA) want to hear from you!

Do you have a project idea, workshop topic, or initiative that could support growers, producers, or boost food resilience in the Southern Gulf Islands? Whether it’s a practical skill you’d love to learn, a collaboration you’d like to see, or a challenge you think we should tackle – this is your space to share it.

We’re collecting ideas from community members like you to help shape the future of food and farming in our region.

🌿 Share your suggestions using our Online Suggestion Box Form!
Big ideas, small ideas, and everything in between – we’re listening.

Connect with us

Email foodwork@sgicommunityresources.ca with any questions or comments about the Food Resilience Alliance.

In Partnership With

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia