Just in time to increase interest in the recently released book, "The 100 Mile Diet," there's more evidence that eating locally is an important step in tackling global warming.

On the cover of the Vancouver Sun today, nestled next to Nelly flying high across the Juno crowd, was this story about the relationship between rising oil prices and food security.

The argument for protecting B.C.'s Agricultural Land Reserve just got a little stronger. Climate change and rising oil prices are a threat to the province's ability to feed itself in the future according to a report prepared by the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture. The report, titled B.C.'s Food Self-Reliance, says that the area of farmland with access to irrigation in B.C. would have to increase by nearly 50 per cent by 2025 to provide a healthy diet for all British Columbians.

Maintaining the current level of food self-reliance in 2025 would require a 30% increase in agricultural production. This is even more significant when you consider that today B.C. farmers only produce 48% of the meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables that we consume.

The agricultural industry's reliance on fossil fuels for irrigation, processing, harvesting, refrigeration, transport and the production of fertilizer means that as the world's oil supply wanes and fuel prices spike, we should look forward to eating more B.C. apples and less Chilean grapes.

What can you do? Check out local farmers markets - they'll soon start up all over this country, including Ontario, Saskatchewan and B.C. Until then, read those stickers on fruit and ask your grocer where your produce came from. After all, eating is a political action we take each day, so choose that spud wisely.

Hmmm...maybe with the Junos in Saskatoon, the bread basket of Canada just became that much sexier. And maybe Nelly will be our next poster girl.

Randi Kruse is the Foundation's Nature Challenge queen.