Open Collections

Abstract

In the modern West, we’ve become increasingly disconnected from our food sources, relying on imported, mass-produced goods grown in distant monocultures. This system generates excessive waste and significant transit emissions. But to eat well, we don’t need to look far. British Columbia produces an abundance of food, with its diverse agricultural biomes offering a rich variety of local crops at a much lower environmental cost. In response to concerns about food miles, waste, and the harms of monoculture farming, this project proposes a demonstration centre overseen by B.C.’s Ministry of Agriculture to celebrate the bounty of food produced within the province. It brings together a food market, restaurants, greenhouses, and a waste treatment facility under one roof—creating a space where food is grown, prepared, and recycled in full view of the public. The facility showcases the province’s agricultural diversity by organizing dining areas into distinct “biomes” representing regions like the Okanagan, Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island. Visitors can explore emerging farming technologies and dine alongside the harvesting, processing, and recycling of crops—offering a tangible vision of a more sustainable future.