We assist hard-working farmers who look after their land, so the land can continue to work hard for us.
Farmland Advantage is a research and development project that works with farmers to conserve and enhance critical, natural values in British Columbia, Canada.
Farmland Advantage works with farmers to enhance the natural values on their land. These natural values are often referred to as ‘ecosystem services’; services of a natural environment that benefits humans. They are values that are not traded in the markets but have great value to us all. They can include areas like wetlands that filter and purify water, and forests that clean the air and provide habitat for healthy wildlife populations.
Farmland Advantage helps farmers identify the natural values which can be protected and enhanced, and develops recommendations and plans to preserve them. These plans can include actions such as water or stream setbacks, strategic fencing, reforestation, or rangeland enhancement. Farmers then carry out the recommendations, and Farmland Advantage helps to provide compensation based on successful implementation.
Program Overview
Farmland Advantage takes a regional approach to address environmental and climate concerns. Using site selection methodology that is unique to an area’s specific challenges (e.g. wildfire, drought, or flooding), Farmland Advantage targets farms that have the potential to improve the health of the ecosystem in the immediate and surrounding areas.
Farmland Advantage helps farmers identify the natural values on their land that can be protected and enhanced, and develop recommendations and plans to preserve them.
These plans include:
Farmers or ranchers contracted through the Farmland Advantage Program carry out the recommended actions and are provided modest financial compensation once the activities are completed.
Program Timeline
Farmland Advantage began in 2016. It started small, as a five-year research and development pilot project of the Windermere Farmers Institute and other partners. In that time the project established 60+ demonstration sites across BC.
- 2016
- 2019
- 2020
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
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Farmland Advantage Launch
Farmland Advantage was created as a five-year research and development project. With a full complement of partners and agencies working together, the project developed a solid, replicable program model capable of being administered independently and sustainably. -
60 demonstration sites
As part of the pilot project, 60+ demonstration sites underway across BC by 2019 -
300 ha habitat conserved
Over 300 hectares (740 acres) of prime riparian habitat conserved and enhanced. -
GRASSLANDS PILOT Project
IAF was funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada to complete a Farmland Advantage pilot project addressing the grasslands of BC. -
IAF Begins Delivering Farmland Advantage
After the success of the pilot project, IAF begins to deliver and administer the Farmland Advantage program. -
By the end of the 2021-2022 fiscal year there were:
47 Farms under contract, 14 hectares of riparian areas assessed, & 400 hectares of grasslands assessed

Projects & Research
From stream health to grasslands, see a sample of the ongoing projects & research.