@prefix vivo: . @prefix edm: . @prefix dcterms: . @prefix skos: . @prefix ns0: . vivo:departmentOrSchool "Business, Sauder School of"@en ; edm:dataProvider "DSpace"@en ; dcterms:contributor "University of British Columbia. Sustainability Office"@en ; dcterms:creator "Jhaveri, Rushab"@en, "Fraser-Marinoske, Jordanna"@en, "Dench, Marc"@en, "Wu, Yang"@en, "Keswani, Vijay"@en ; dcterms:issued "2010-03-26T18:26:52Z"@en, "2005-12-05"@en ; dcterms:description "Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”"@en ; edm:aggregatedCHO "https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/22667?expand=metadata"@en ; skos:note "Plan for Sustainable Organic Growth Monday, December 5, 2005 U B C F a r m Marc Dench Jordanna Fraser-Marinoske Rushab Jhaveri Vijay Keswani Yang Wu Team #15 We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation toward all those people who have helped us throughout the development of this business plan. We would like to acknowledge the following people for their help and cooperation. Mark Bomford, Program Coordinator, UBC Farm Brenda Sawada, SEEDS Coordinator, UBC Sustainability Office Roxana Quinde, UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems EXECUTIVE SUMMARY UBC Farm is a 15 acre organic farm located on UBC’s South Campus. UBC Farm needs to develop a commercially sustainable business model to ensure its long term survival as this area under threat of housing development from 2012. This business plan provides a medium term vision for UBC Farm and a short-term action plan to increase the Farm’s commercial viability by leveraging clear sustainable competitive advantages within a rapidly growing, attractive market sector. Proposition The proposition is to invest in the development of UBC Farm’s infrastructure and productive capacity to create a self sustaining organic farm and a world leading educational centre by 2010. This is achieved by: ƒ Increasing the farmed area from the current three acres to eight ƒ Enhancing the product range to include processed foods such as smoothies ƒ Increasing awareness of UBC Farm and developing new channels to market ƒ Enhancing on site facilities to enable academic and commercial services Attractiveness and Sustainable Competitive Advantage UBC Farm benefits from a unique location and association with the UBC brand. When these inimitable assets are combined with the growing market demand for organic produce and the growing local population, it is clear that the proposition to develop UBC Farm reflects the right products at the right place at the right time. Furthermore, this plan supports UBC’s objective to be a leader in sustainability and academic excellence. Financial Summary UBC Farm currently relies on grant funding of approximately $100,000 to cover net annual losses. The business plan requires investment of $200,000 in new equipment and infrastructure which results in an increase in the area farmed and the yield per acre to generate a positive surplus in 2010 following which grant funding will no longer be a necessity. The investment generates a positive NPV of $194,000. Social Values UBC Farm is about much more than the bottom line financial return. It generates significant social value through the promotion of healthy and sustainable lifestyle in the local community and via school academic programs. In addition, UBC Farm encourages and supports research projects that benefit British Columbia’s and Canada’s organic industry. Future Opportunities There are many sources of revenues that are not included in the financial analysis, but that represent attractive commercial opportunities. These include establishing an international academic program and the hosting of events. Risks The key risks of the plan are the realisation of the operational efficiencies as the farmed area increases in size and the risk of crop failures through uncontrollable factors such as weather and disease. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to quantify the impact of these risks. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. UBC FARM OVERVIEW.................................................................................................................................1 2. PROPOSITION..................................................................................................................................................2 2.1. VISION.........................................................................................................................................................2 2.2. COMMERCIAL AND SOCIAL VALUE PROPOSITION .......................................................................................2 2.3. PRODUCT AND SERVICE MODEL..................................................................................................................3 2.4. MARKET GARDEN .......................................................................................................................................3 2.5. PROCESSED FOODS......................................................................................................................................3 2.6. FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES..............................................................................................................................4 2.7. UBC FARM’S COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES..................................................................................................4 3. MARKET ANALYSIS.......................................................................................................................................5 3.1. MARKET OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................................................5 3.2. IDENTIFICATION OF CUSTOMERS .................................................................................................................5 3.3. MARKET SIZE, ANALYSIS AND FORECAST....................................................................................................6 3.4. INDUSTRY ANALYSIS AND FORECAST ..........................................................................................................6 3.5. COMPETITOR ANALYSIS ..............................................................................................................................7 4. MARKETING STRATEGY .............................................................................................................................8 4.1. OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS..........................................................................................................................8 4.2. TARGET MARKET AND POSITIONING ............................................................................................................9 4.3. THE MARKETING MIX ..................................................................................................................................9 4.4. IMPLEMENTATION .....................................................................................................................................10 5. OPERATIONAL STRATEGY .......................................................................................................................11 5.1. OVERVIEW OF CURRENT OPERATIONS .......................................................................................................11 5.2. ORGANIC FARMING ...................................................................................................................................11 5.3. INCREASING UBC FARM’S PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY ..................................................................................12 5.4. INCREASING UBC FARM’S REVENUE PER ACRE ........................................................................................12 5.5. OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY ........................................................................................................................13 5.6. MANAGEMENT TEAM AND HR OPERATIONS.............................................................................................14 5.7. UBC OPERATING ENVIRONMENT & CONSTRAINTS ..................................................................................14 6. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS................................................................................................................................15 6.1. CURRENT FINANCIAL POSITION .................................................................................................................15 6.2. INVESTMENT PLAN....................................................................................................................................15 6.3. KEY FINANCIAL DRIVERS...........................................................................................................................16 6.4. SUMMARY INCOME STATEMENT ...............................................................................................................16 6.5. CASH FLOW AND INVESTMENT APPRAISAL................................................................................................17 6.6. SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS .............................................................................................................................18 6.7. FUNDING ...................................................................................................................................................18 7. CRITICAL RISKS...........................................................................................................................................19 8. SOCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................................20 8.1. SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE OPERATIONS .......................................................................................................20 8.2. SOCIAL BENEFITS......................................................................................................................................20 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................................ I APPENDIX I – INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM (SUMMARY) ........................................................................... I APPENDIX II – EVENTS & SERVICES ................................................................................................................II APPENDIX III – TARGET MARKET .................................................................................................................. III TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTINUED APPENDIX IV – PORTER’S FIVE FORCES - INDUSTRY ANALYSIS ......................................................... IV APPENDIX V – ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE ...........................................................................................V APPENDIX VI – CUSTOMER MARKET SURVEY........................................................................................... VI APPENDIX VII – MARKET SURVEY ................................................................................................................VII APPENDIX VIII – MARKETING MIX ................................................................................................................ IX APPENDIX IX –ORGANIC FARMING OPERATIONS ......................................................................................X APPENDIX X – OPERATIONS: REVENUE PER ACRE................................................................................... XI APPENDIX XI– INVESTMENT SCHEDULE.....................................................................................................XII APPENDIX XIII - MARKET GARDEN INCOME STATEMENT................................................................. XIV APPENDIX XIV - MARKET GARDEN – PRODUCTION ECONOMICS......................................................XV 1 1. UBC FARM OVERVIEW UBC Farm is a 15 acre teaching, research, and community Farm located to the South of the main University of British Columbia campus. The Farm is a student-driven initiative with an ultimate goal to retain and re-create UBC’s existing Farm and forest lands into an internationally significant centre for sustainable agriculture, forestry and food systems. UBC’s first Farm was established for agricultural research by the Faculty of Agriculture around 1915 and was located just west of the Chemistry building along what is now West Mall. Between the 1950s and 1980s, most of UBC’s mid-campus was occupied by agricultural facilities, and by the mid-70’s, the Farm moved from mid-campus to its current location. The Farm initiative started in 2000 and has progressively developed with small incremental projects on an annual basis. Responsibility for the operations of UBC Farm now lies with the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. As such all aspects of the Farms operations and financing have to be considered in the context of UBC’s requirements and constraints. Today the UBC Farm is faced the prospect of being displaced forever. In 1997, in an effort to reduce commuter traffic, the university pledged to double the number of on-campus residents through construction of more residential housing. The land the Farm currently occupies is therefore escalating in value, and the Farm is challenged with showing itself to the university administration as a practical and sustainable use of land. This threat has prompted the faculty to create a long-term vision for the land as a centre of instruction, learning and research excellence that integrates principles of organic production and sustainability, and adds to the quality of life of the local community. 2 2. PROPOSITION This section outlines the vision and objectives of the business plan, and details the competitive advantages that support UBC Farm’s long term success. 2.1. Vision To invest in the development of UBC Farm’s infrastructure to create a step change in the productivity and commercial viability of UBC Farm, and to ensure its long term viability as part of the South Campus community. The proposed business model is based on the development of a robust, self-sustaining organic farming capability that demonstrates both diversity of produce and strong commercial and community attributes. The key steps to achieve this are: Goal Key drivers Increased Output ƒ Investment in new farming equipment ƒ Recruitment of full time Farm manager ƒ Increased productive land in use and efficiency Increased Sales ƒ Increased awareness of UBC Farm ƒ New product and channel development Social & Community Value ƒ Investment in Farm infrastructure ƒ Development of international academic program (future opportunity) 2.2. Commercial and Social Value Proposition This investment creates multiple sources of value. These include, increased revenue yield per acre farmed from the sale of higher margin processed produce, and the potential to leverage increased venue awareness and the popularity of organic farming to generate revenues through the hosting of events and academic programming. UBC Farm is far more than just a commercial asset; it is a unique academic and community asset that generates social value through school educational tours, community programmes and ongoing academic research. UBC Farm’s vision is closely aligned with UBC’s overall vision as expressed in Trek 2010. It helps UBC to realise the following goals: 3 UBC Farm Organic Production Centre Pr oc es se d Fo od s M arket Garden A ca d em ic P ro g ra m m esServices & Events …… by offering new programs that meet the needs of communities…throughout BC, UBC will also develop more opportunities for local communities to make use of UBC facilities and contribute actively to learning and research (UBC Trek 2010, Greenpaper) …… Develop the University Town as a model of an engaged, sustainable community (UBC Trek 2010, Greenpaper) 2.3. Product and Service Model UBC Farm’s operating model is summarised in this diagram. The heart of the operation is UBC Farm itself. From this core a number of products and services are supported: 2.4. Market Garden UBC Farm’s Market Garden grows produce for retail purposes. Several types of vegetables, fruits and prepared foods are provided, with more available from local organic producers if required. Produce is mainly sold at the Saturday market held at the UBC Farm and through on-campus locations such as Sage Bistro, and Sprouts, as well as in other local restaurants. As demand for produce exceeds supply the business plan proposition is to invest in increasing the productive capacity of the farm’s useable land, and to establish the Market Garden as a local community destination. 2.5. Processed Foods To increase the revenue yielded from fresh produce, the proposition is to sell fruit in processed form. There is significant room for profit when the cost of processing is compared 4 with the price at which these products can be sold. There are many products that can be produced such as smoothies, preserves, and ice cream. The plan is to start with smoothies because the production process is the simplest, the cost of equipment is low and there is existing demand. 2.6. Future opportunities There are many other sources of revenues that are not included in the business plan financial analysis, but represent attractive commercial opportunities once UBC Farm has become commercially sustainable in its core activity. These include: ƒ International Academic Program – UBC Farm is ideally placed to host a program targeted at government officials and students seeking knowledge of organic methods and the commercial side of organic farming (Appendix I provides more detail on this opportunity) ƒ Events - UBC Farm has the potential to earn revenues as an event facility. For example, hosting team building cooking classes. (Appendix II provides more details on this opportunity) 2.7. UBC Farm’s competitive advantages UBC Farm enjoys sustainable competitive advantages. It is positioned as the only working organic farm in Vancouver proper. It is affiliated with the UBC Brand that Vancouver area residents recognize and typically support. It is located close to the University village and the University Endowment Lands, which are rapidly growing. The farm is also in close proximity to other organically conscience neighbourhoods such as West Point Grey, Kitsilano, Kerrisdale and Dunbar. 5 3. MARKET ANALYSIS This section talks about the Market and Industry analysis for the Organic Farm industry and the competitive advantages of UBC Farm with respect to other farms in the industry. 3.1. Market Overview Organic farming is a growing trend in North America. Organic food is increasingly considered to an important aspect of healthy living. The U.S. Organic Center, based on their research on organic foods concluded that, on average, organically grown food has 30% more antioxidant levels (helpful for reducing risks to various diseases) than non organically grown products (Benbrook). This relates to health and lifestyle conscience people driving up the demand for organic foods. The market growth rate for organic products in Canada is 15% per annum. Almost 71% of Canadians have tried organic food once, out of which 40% regularly purchase organic food regularly (more than 2 times per year). Organic purchasers are characterized by higher education, health and nutrition conscience, lower price sensitive and come from all income brackets (Cunningham, 2001). 3.2. Identification of Customers The chart in Appendix III-A highlights that the market is driven by both customers above 35 years of age and health conscious individuals of the younger generation. In terms of education, the more educated the person, the more likely is he or she to purchase organic foods. In addition, the higher concentrations of organic food consumers are found in the income brackets of $20,000 to $40,000. 6 3.3. Market size, analysis and forecast It is estimated that in the overall target market (UBC, Dunbar and Kitsilano) the percentage of people buying organic food several times a year will increase from 27% in 2006 to 44% in 2010. Appendix III B gives a graphical representation of the growth trends for the target locations. In addition, the development of housing for 4000 residents in South Campus increases the size of UBC Farm’s target market. (Szeto, 2005) 3.4. Industry analysis and forecast Industry Characteristics Organic food refers to food grown under specific environmental friendly production methods, which include avoiding synthetic chemicals, promoting soil health and biodiversity. The organic foods industry is in the growth stage of its life cycle. Currently organic foods represent a relatively small portion of all farm products. An increasing focus on healthy eating, concerns about food safety and a desire by an aging population to prevent disease are all factors will enhance the growth of the industry in the future. The organic foods industry is currently believed to be non-cyclical. The industry is characterised by a large number of small producers. Industry Competitiveness/Attractiveness Please refer Appendix IV for a detailed analysis of Porter’s five forces which talk about the industry attractiveness of the organic farm industry. They are briefly discussed below. Barriers to entry: The barrier to entry to organic food industry is relatively higher than the conventional food industry. The requirements and regulations for organic land are high. 7 Intensity of Rivalry: Due to the entry of big companies into the market, competition in the industry has intensified. The typical way of operation for these large new comers is purchasing established brands rather than developing their own products. Substitution threat: The major substitution to organic foods is the conventional foods. Although switching costs are low, health conscious people reduce the substitution risk. Suppliers: The major suppliers for the organic food industry are the provider of seeds, tools and equipment. The supplier concentration is low, thus keeping the purchase cost low for farmers relative to total costs in the industry. The bargaining power of the suppliers is very low. Buyers: For Canadians the most important factor in choosing food is taste, while the least important factor is price. In addition most Canadians are willing to pay a premium price (up to 10% extra) for healthier organic foods. (Cunningham, 2001) 3.5. Competitor Analysis Although there are numerous organic farms and three farmer’s markets in the greater Vancouver area, UBC Farm is the only organic farm in an area described by the Organic Consumer Association’s website as “…one of the most lucrative as well as competitive in Canada.” (Wong, 2005). This could mean that the competition might increase which necessitates UBC farm to be prepared for more intense competition in the future. 8 4. MARKETING STRATEGY The marketing strategy section of the business plan details the target market, marketing activities and resources required to achieve the targeted sales objectives of increasing awareness, visits to the farm on a weekly basis, increased commercial purchases and other “off- farm” sales. 4.1. Objectives and targets The overall objectives of the marketing strategy are to: ƒ Increase awareness of UBC Farm within the target market ƒ Develop and exploit new channels to reach the target customers ƒ Promote the new value added processed products This is achieved through the recruitment of an additional marketing co-ordinator (see Appendix V for Organisational Structure) to develop sales channels and a small increase in marketing expenditure to build awareness within the target market. The table below summarises the key objectives and targets for UBC Farm’s marketing activity. These targets represent key success factors for the overall business plan. UBC Farm awareness figures based on market research found in Appendix VII and interviews with Mark Bomford, Program Coordinator at UBC Farm. 2005 2006 2008 2010 Visitors to the farm (average weekly) 300 400 600 900 UBC Farm awareness (in target market) - on Campus 73% 75% 75% 75% - off Campus 33% 35% 40% 45% Restaurants purchasing direct 3 5 8 10 Proportion of 'off-farm' sales 25% 30% 40% 50% 9 4.2. Target market and positioning There are several dimensions to segment the target market by. The market is largely restricted by geographic region to the population of UBC Campus, University Endowment Lands, West Point Grey and Dunbar. Within this population an appropriate way to segment is by Farm Visitors and Non-Visiting Farm Consumers. This segmentation encapsulates different needs and behaviours that can be addressed by distinct marketing mixes. Market research (Appendix VII) suggested that the Visitor/Non-Visitor segmentation basis is a simpler and more effective way to target the market than segmenting by other dimensions such as student/non- student, resident/non-resident and other demographic bases. The attitudes and behaviours of these segments are as follows. Farm Visitor ► ƒ UBC Farm is part of a weekly routine, a social event. They tend to come with family and friends and spend time at the farm to wander around the trails and garden. ƒ Value the sense of community and the organic, healthy lifestyle ƒ Close association with the UBC Farm brand Non Visitor► ƒ Value healthy lifestyle, fresh and tasty local produce ƒ UBC brand association (rather than UBC Farm brand) ƒ Large proportion of this group are students and on-Campus (non- residents) 4.3. The marketing mix The table found in Appendix VIII summarises the key elements of the marketing mix for each target segment. There are two elements that are critical to the overall success. 10 ƒ Increasing the overall awareness of UBC Farm, its location and opening time. Our market research identified a lack of awareness of UBC Farm in off-campus residents, and that many that are aware of UBC Farm were unsure of its location. (Appendix VII) ƒ Developing new sales channels to get UBC Farm produce to the non-visitor segment, such as pre-paid weekly delivery of produce which has proved interesting to some area residents. 4.4. Implementation The marketing plan requires an additional part time student employee to take responsibility for developing and supporting new sales channels. This will free up the existing marketing co-ordinator to develop awareness of UBC Farm. Implementation of the marketing plan requires careful management to ensure that the growth in demand is balanced with the availability of supply. Significant increases in supply are not projected until the 2007 season, therefore the increase in marketing campaign spending is not projected to commence until the end of the 2006 season. UBC Farm’s reporting will be expanded to track the marketing objectives to ensure that the increased investment in marketing is delivering the target objectives, and that the targeted objectives are resulting in appropriately increased sales. Further, to keep abreast of market trends and customer opinion, it is recommended that UBC Farm continue to gather customer feedback through regular surveys and continuous market research. The information gathered will act as a check against the validity of the current marketing plan and help in the creation of future plans. 11 5. OPERATIONAL STRATEGY The plan is to increase the UBC Farm’s productive area from the current three acres to eight and to increase the average income per acre through a combination of higher yielding product, lower wastage and increased efficiency. 5.1. Overview of current operations UBC Farm currently produces over forty types of produce, including a wide variety of seasonal vegetables as well as fruits, herbs and flowers. In recent year eggs and prepared salad mix have been added to the range require new operational processes to be adopted. UBC Farm uses basic farming equipment to assist with production, relying heavily on labour. Produce are currently planted in three acres of cultivated land as well as two large greenhouses. Production is only in the summer season, from the beginning of May until October. It does not produce any winter vegetables. Although not currently ‘Certified Organic’, UBC Farm uses organic methods mimicking the function and structure of a natural ecosystem. 5.2. Organic farming Compared to mainstream production methods, organic fruits and vegetables have inferior yields. However, the price commanded by majority of organic produce is generally higher. Overall, the yield and price combinations show that approximately half of the organic crops generate higher revenue per acre as than for conventional methods (see Appendix IX). Organic Certification Currently there is no official certification in Canada for organic food labelling. However, the voluntary Canadian Organic Standard is being developed by the Canadian General Standards Board. The draft of this coming organic regulation states basic requirement for the process of organic food that UBC Farm will need to comply with (see Appendix IX). 12 5.3. Increasing UBC Farm’s productive capacity UBC Farm has 15 Acres of which three are currently farmed. The plan is to increase the area used for production to eight acres over a five year period as shown below. On average it takes at least one year to bring land into production as it has to be prepared for the specific crops that are to be grown. The chart includes this lag: 5.4. Increasing UBC Farm’s revenue per acre There are three key operational practices to increase the revenue per acre from UBC Farm, the production of processed produce, season extension and yield management. Processed produce Processed produce like preserves, smoothies and ice cream add value and boost revenues. Appendix X details the additional profit available from processed produce relative to standard fresh produce. Every different processed product requires investment in different machines. Processing Machines and processes Fruits Preserves, Ice Cream, Smoothies etc. Acres Farmed and Revenue per Acre 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 A cr es 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 R ev en ue P er A cr e 13 Market research (Appendix VII) indicated that UBC students preferred smoothies to other processed goods therefore we initially concentrate on producing smoothies. Smoothies are made by mixing fresh or frozen fruits with milk. Season Extension Average annual revenue per acre can be increased by extending the time that land is productive by starting the seasons earlier through better winter preparation and establishing a winter crop. Yield Management As the land farmed increases UBC Farm will have more opportunity to grow crops purely for revenue purposes. Currently with only three acres farmed, and a mandate to produce a diversity of produce, the Farm cannot easily allocate areas just to produce large amounts of a crop for the sole purpose that it generates a higher revenue yield. 5.5. Operational efficiency A key driver of profitability is the amount of labour required to successfully manage the farmed area. To realise operating efficiencies requires the recruitment of a full time, experienced farm manager. This will maximise the overall yield from the available space and increase the productivity of existing workers. The investment in a new utility tractor will also improve operational efficiency and reduce the average variable cost per acre. Blender (Blend till smooth) Fruits + Milk + Sugar Serve fresh and delicious Smoothies Pour into container 14 5.6. Management Team and HR Operations Please see Appendix V for a detailed organisational structure chart. Farm-workers - Industry Experience & Education UBC Farm employs students for the running of day-to-day operations. As the facility is primarily designed to be educational, this is one of the ways in which students gain hands-on agricultural experience. Students are also encouraged to create and execute new projects that add both to their learning and to the Farm’s production. UBC Farm has a policy of paying students a higher wage than the average farm labourer. Farm Manager The business plan requires a professional farm manager to be hired to support the existing team. Not only would a professional manager improve UBC Farm’s efficiency, they would also enhance the educational experience, thus further elevating the Farm’s academic reputation. 5.7. UBC Operating Environment & Constraints UBC Farm is subject to the same constraints and regulations as other parts of the university. Whilst Farm management are free to make day to day operating decisions more significant decisions require escalation to the UBC Farm Advisory Committee and potentially higher up through the UBC administration meaning that bigger decisions or investments can take a significant amount of time to finalise. 15 6. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS This section contains information on the required investment, the return from that investment, financial sensitivities, and social value generation. It also identifies the cash flow funding requirements on an annual basis. 6.1. Current financial position In the year to March 2006 UBC Farm will generate revenues of $55,000 with expenditure of $155,000 resulting in a net deficit of $100,000 that has been covered by grant funding and individual and corporate donations. Without the proposed investment plan, the annual deficit is expected to remain at or around this level. 6.2. Investment Plan To support a step-change in the commercial self-sustainability of UBC Farm a number of capital items have been identified for investment, including general items such as a utility tractor ($50,000) and farm truck ($40,000) and a number of project specific investments such as a Smoothie machine and a chicken shed. To support the community and academic objectives of UBC Farm, investment has been included for a new portable classroom unit and the removal of the exiting dilapidated unit. A full investment schedule is provided in Appendix XI. 16 6.3. Key financial drivers Income - The primary sources of revenue and the drivers behind each source are: Farm Produce ► ƒ UBC Farm generates revenues through multiple channels (Market Garden, Retail, Direct, Restaurants) and through the sale of both Fresh and Processed product. Key drivers of this revenue stream are: ƒ Quantity – total volume of produce available for sale, driven by the number of productive acres in use and number of weeks per year of use ƒ Price – rises with increased mix of processed foods and increased average yield through production of more high value produce (e.g. strawberries, eggs, micro-greens) Academic/ Community ► ƒ Academic and Community activities generate income based on a small fee. e.g. $5 per pupil. This activity is part of the social and community objective of UBC Farm. Expenditure - Excluding depreciation, UBC Farm’s main expenditures are employee costs and associated benefits and expenses. These are both (semi) fixed and variable in nature: ƒ Fixed –include the Program Co-ordinator, the new post of Farm Manager, Market garden co-ordinator, Marketing co-ordinator(s) and Outreach Program co-ordinator ƒ Variable– Farm workers are employed ‘in season’ and vary with the number of acres of land used for production ƒ Other costs - marketing, office administration and Market Garden expenses 6.4. Summary Income Statement There is a lag between the initial investment and increase in revenues and moving into a positive net surplus position. This is primarily due to the long lead time between preparing the farm land for production and the land actually becoming productive. The investment in 2006 17 and 2007 will start to impact the results from 2008 when the benefit of increased output and production efficiencies becomes apparent. (Please refer to Appendix XII and XIII for details.) Income Statement 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Revenue Market Garden (Fresh and Processed) 46,828 61,100 107,400 150,000 189,100 252,000 Education & Community 5,578 6,000 8,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 52,406 67,100 115,400 160,000 199,100 262,000 Net Income by segment Market Garden (Fresh and Processed) (20,561) (52,173) (17,109) 17,482 46,449 99,215 Education & Community (14,062) (13,640) (11,640) (9,640) (9,640) (9,640) (34,623) (65,813) (28,749) 7,842 36,809 89,575 Shared Overhead 64,980 72,329 83,043 83,043 83,043 83,043 Net Surplus/(Deficit) (99,603) (138,141) (111,792) (75,201) (46,234) 6,532 6.5. Cash Flow and Investment appraisal The cash flows assume a continued level of grant funding up to the point where UBC Farm starts to generate a net surplus in 2010. Cash Flow 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Cash flow from: Operations (99,603) (123,149) (91,085) (54,494) (25,527) 27,239 Investment (124,500) (40,000) (99,603) (247,649) (131,085) (54,494) (25,527) 27,239 Financing (Grants/Donations) 105,730 110,000 110,000 110,000 110,000 Net Cash Flow 6,127 (137,649) (21,085) 55,506 84,473 27,239 Investment Appraisal Discount Rate 8% NPV 193,728 The net present value of the proposed investment is $194,000. This is based on a discount rate of 8% for UBC projects. The actual cost of capital for UBC is not publicly available. However, UBC does receive preferential rates on debt therefore 8% is considered a conservative rate. The cash flow after 2010 has been included in the NPV analysis as perpetuity with no further growth. The NPV analysis above does not include a valuation of the social benefit generated through UBC Farm’s academic, community and research activities, as discussed in section 8. 18 6.6. Sensitivity Analysis All of analysis above comes from the expectation based on the currently available information. To valuate the possible risks, a sensitivity analysis is also made as below. Criterions including productive acre and crop yield are considered. 6.7. Funding The vision for UBC Farm requires $200,000 capital investment. The farm is still growing and hence does not have the sufficient reserves to fund its own capital expenditure. Funding can be acquired from the following: ƒ UBC Grants or Loan: UBC grants have kept the farm alive to date, with an average $50,000 grant per annum. A loan or grant or a combination are the most feasible option to fund the required investment. A loan by UBC could be structured for an appropriate duration. ƒ Banks and other financial institutions: There is a growing trend for banks and financial institutions to fund corporate social responsibility related sustainable projects. However, they typically require collateral against which they grant the loan. ƒ Venture Capital: VCs generally ask for a stake in the project as part of the deal. As UBC Farm is the property of UBC this limits this option. Another drawback is the fact that the VC normally withdraws their money from the project fairly quickly for instance in 3 years. Event/Scenario 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 1 productive acre less per year - (19,800) (23,000) (25,300) (25,000) 50% less crop yield in a year (2007) - (49,500) - - - No worker efficiency realized - (3,228) (4,842) (6,455) (8,069) More processed in sales mix - 4,500 12,000 23,100 40,000 No Processed sales (5,100) (9,000) (18,000) (23,100) (40,000) Impact on Surplus/(Deficit) 19 7. CRITICAL RISKS No business is risk free, but the key to success in any business is to make business and strategic decisions taking into consideration the risks. Few of the risks that our plan is susceptible to are as follows: Organic market decline: There is always the risk of a decline in demand for organic foods. This reduction in demand will directly affect UBC farm’s sales and revenue (especially direct sales and sales through farmers market). Soil degradation and exhaustion: Soil degradation reduces the ability to produce higher yield per acre and in turn the overall produce level. However, at the UBC farm this risk is reduced by producing produce organically. Crop failure: There may be crop failures due to larvae such as wire worm. These failures can have a devastating effect on UBC Farm’s produce. There have been instances when farms have lost their total produce to “crop pests.” This is a high risk for organic farms, who avoid using pesticides. Land usage for housing: The UBC farm is located strategically near the UBC main campus near grocery stores and student population. There is always a threat from construction companies who want to make residential buildings in place of the farm. Decline of UBC brand: The UBC farm is directly connected to the brand image of UBC. A decrease in UBC brand image will have negative impacts on the farm. UBC bureaucracy: The farm is a part of UBC. Hence, to get permission regarding any major decisions about the farm (reconstruction or investments for instance) the authorization of the UBC board is required. This can very well be a hindrance in terms of slow decisions, expansion or reconstruction 20 8. SOCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS The core focus of the farm revolves around community involvement, enrichment and providing healthy food. The Farm does not focus only on profit maximization but rather on the triple bottom line. This is exhibited by operating the school programs at a deficit and paying students above the standard farm labourer wage. (Community enhancement rather than profit maximization). 8.1. Socially responsible operations The processed foods (smoothies) manufacturing and sales will involve minimal packaging, waste minimization and reusable methods. Organic farming by default does not use harmful chemicals, which in itself is an environmentally beneficial activity. UBC Farm aims to be a “Zero Footprint” operation. 8.2. Social Benefits The Social Marginal Benefit to society obtained from the educational programs, such as the Community and Schools Program and the Community Urban Agriculture Program, is higher than the Private Marginal Benefit to UBC farm. The majority of benefits arising from the existence of the UBC Farm are difficult to measure. The increase in the value of the surrounding residential properties as a result of a vibrant, thriving farm, and the health benefits derived from the promotion of a healthy lifestyle focussing on the consumption of organic foods are difficult to quantify. Also difficult to place a value on are the benefits that university itself derives by hosting a facility as unique as an urban farm. i REFERENCES References Benbrook, Charles, The Organic Center, Growing Healthier Food -- Increasing Antioxidant Levels through Organic Farming and Food Processing, retrieved date 25th November, 2005 from http://www.lohas.com/journal/food.html The Canadian Organic Standard (draft January 2005) Cunningham, Rosalie. (2001). The organic consumer profile. Retrieved on November 25, 2005 from http://sherlock.bib.umontreal.ca/STAR/crepuq/sac2002/pdf/Organic%20consumer.pdf Future Shop. (2005). Appliance Pricing. Retrieved November 24, 2005, from http://www.futureshop.ca Lazurus, Chris; Urban Agriculture: Join The Revolution; accessed 25 November 2005 http://www.newvillage.net/Journal/Issue2/2urbanagriculture.html Parsons, William. (2002), Organic fruit and vegetable production: Is it for you?, retrieved date 25th November, 2005 from http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/21-004-XIE/21-004- XIE02009.pdf Szeto, Eric. November 2005, The Ubyssey, GVRD approves South Campus plans, Retrieved date 4th December, 2005 from http://www.ubyssey.bc.ca/20051109/article.shtml?