The importance of food sovereignty and local producers

25th May 2023 | EATIVITY Editors

As the climate continues to disrupt weather patterns and geopolitical events cause uncertainty for international supply chains, the importance of food sovereignty and local producers to Australians has never been more apparent. The extent of the food crisis is looming, yet consumers and industries are still operating as if it’s business as usual. One solution lies in transitioning to a more regenerative, short supply chain food system: buying from local farmers, eating seasonally, and reducing our dependence on increasingly vulnerable ‘big ag food’ systems. The regenerative food system is the way forward, but mobilising consumers to take action requires work.

In winter of 2022, the importance of food sovereignty and local producers was highlighted when the price of iceberg lettuce rose to highs of $11.99. Many Australians were faced with the reality of the food crisis for the first time ever. The extent of the crisis is seen by those who live in the cities when prices soar. But it is a reality that the stewards of our land – the farmers working to grow the food that we need in order to survive – face every day.

“We need to be supporting our farmers and paying them the price that allows them to keep putting nutrient dense, quality food on our tables. We need localised, short-supply-chain food systems because they’re more resilient than the longer chain systems which – as we saw last year following the floods – can so easily break down” said Jade Miles, CEO of regenerative agriculture organisation Sustainable Table

Jade Miles is also the author of FutureSteading – a practical and inspirational guide to living in a way that values tomorrow.

The importance of food sovereignty and local producers has also been backed up by environmental education centre and social enterprise CERES. It has identified seven independent local produce providers that have closed in the six-month period between August 2022 and February 2023. While this rapid fall in demand for local, sustainably sourced food reflects the current cost of living crisis, it is also a reminder that Australians are forgetting about the role that shopping locally plays in our future food sovereignty.

“Australia’s local food system is in its infancy with organisations like Brisbane Food Connect and Open Food Network leading the charge, but they need consumer support in order to survive. Lockdowns resulted in a massive surge in demand – including Open Food Network, which experienced a 400% increase during this time. Since then, as pre-COVID life has resumed, it seems as though consumers have gone back to shopping at the supermarket without thinking about how that might impact local systems,” explained Miles.

Miles is among a key group of strategic change makers at Sustainable Table: the not-for-profit working to pre-empt Australia’s food crisis by connecting regenerative farmers and food organisations, whilst educating the wider public on the importance of food sovereignty and local producers.

Jade Miles, Sustainable Table CEO.

Another leader in the regenerative food movement is Serenity Hill, co-founder of Open Food Network. “We are seeing extreme strains on the regenerative farmers and values-aligned food supply networks, precisely at the time when we need them the most. There is an urgent need for public investment in this sector – a regenerative food sector that’s building resilience for all of us, now and in the future,” Hill explained. 

Sustainable Table is working to educate the wider community about the impact they can have as consumers. It starts with getting to know their local farmer, and reducing their food’s environmental footprint by choosing a shorter supply chain. But educating consumers about the importance of food sovereignty and local producers is just the start.

“There’s a huge amount of activity and imaginative thinking going into agriculture at the moment – turning problems into solutions, seeking the root cause of our climate and food supply conundrums. Sustainable Table is part of this vibrant conversation and growing community of investors trying to support the visionary businesses that are emerging to meet this climate action demand.” said Rebecca Gorman, holistic management farmer and former journalist, who has been tracking Australia’s regenerative food movement over the past several years.

There’s no better place to get a basketful of fresh, local food than your farmers’ market.

But educating consumers about the importance of food sovereignty and local producers is just the start. More needs to be done to support and promote the systems that are already in place, like local farmers’ markets.

“Australia’s farmers market movement is over 20-years-old and there are markets trading every day of the week somewhere across Australia. Paddock-to-plate produce sold freshly picked, plucked or made locally is a win-win for all stakeholders in the much shorter food chain,” said Jane Adams who helms the Australian Farmers’ Markets Association.

“Farmers’ markets are a vital hub in a reimagined food chain. They provide health benefits, education, local economic stimulus, they sustain farming families, support recycling campaigns, waste minimisation and food rescue programs. And most importantly market days brim with full baskets of nutritious food and happy faces.”

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