The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) is a provincial zoning designation in British Columbia that protects farmland from urban development. Created in 1973, the ALR covers about 4.6 million hectares—approximately 5% of BC's land area—including some of the province's most fertile soil. Landowners within the ALR face strict limits on what they can build or do with their land; most non-agricultural uses require approval from the Agricultural Land Commission. The ALR is controversial: supporters see it as essential for food security and preserving farmland from sprawl, while critics (including some farmers) argue it restricts property rights and development that could address housing shortages. Other provinces have similar farmland protection policies, though none as comprehensive as BC's ALR.