In an Open Letter to the Premier, a group of experienced soil science professionals has expressed concern regarding the scientific basis and justification for proposed changes to the provincial Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and the provincial Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). Under Bill 24, which was recently introduced in the Legislature, the current ALR would be divided into two zones and administered by six regional panels. Farmland would be less protected in Zone 2, comprising the Kootenay, Interior and North regions of the province, as regional decision-makers would be required to consider short-term economics in addition to the primary consideration of the soil/climate capability of the land to support food production. http://prsss.landfood.ubc.ca/2014/04/11/soil-scientist-press-release-open-letter-regarding-the-bill-24-changes-to-alr/