Posts Tagged ‘food security’
The space is ripe-Building a Community Food System in Port Phillip
Posted in Events, Movements by paula on April 19th, 2010
- PPUFFN supporters at the Port Phillip EcoCentre
Port Phillip Urban Fresh Food Network (PPUFFN) is hosting its first public forum for 2010: “The Space is Ripe-Building a Community Food System in Port Phillip”, to be held at the Port Phillip EcoCentre on Tuesday 27 April from 5.30-7.30pm.
The event will incorporate a twilight session of guest speakers, food/garden share and swap opportunities, as well as an inviting supper which is free of charge for all participants.
Join other local residents, community groups and businesses to hear how our guest speakers from City of Port Phillip and Friends of the Earth (FOE) are working to make Port Phillip more edible.
Find out about Council’s latest ideas for developing community gardens and help shape policy by contributing your own. Discover more about the enterprising and food-focused community hub which FOE is creating in South Melbourne and how you can get involved.
After the forum, from 7pm, enjoy an earthly supper prepared in the Eco Centre’s kitchen from both garden fresh and locally donated produce – sustainable eating at its best!
All participants will be invited to delve into the PPUFFN food/garden share and swap table where you’re guaranteed to find a few surprises. Please bring along any surplus produce, seeds, preserves, recipes, etc to share, if you can. And if you can’t, come along anyway!
RSVPs and enquiries to:gardeners@ecocentre.com. Ph: 9525 3102. RSVPs essential for catering purposes.
Victorian Local Government Association
Posted in Models, RDAG by Devin Maeztri on May 1st, 2009
The Victorian Local Government Association (VLGA) is a unique peak body for councillors,community leaders and local governments working to build and strengthen their capacity to work together for progressive social change.
They have established the Food Security Network to provide support for local governments and other stakeholders, who are working with their communities to reduce barriers to local food access for healthy eating and to improve food security. The Food Security Network, supported by The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and auspiced by VLGA, runs a dynamic mailing list and regular meetings to support the officers and municipalities who are participating in the VicHealth Food for All program, and the many others who are also addressing food security issues in their local areas.
This is from “Social Innovations in Victorian Food Systems”, case studies by Ferne Edwards.
Food Connect – A Collaboration Between Local Farmers and City Folk
Posted in Models, RDAG by Virginia on April 20th, 2009
Food Connect is a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) enterprise based in Brisbane that distributes ecologically sustainable, affordable produce by collaborating directly with local farmers for a fair financial return helping the local region to be more food secure.
(Please note: A Community Shared Agriculture differs to a Community Supported Agriculture as the former is explicity a two-way relationship between farmer and consumer.) Their goal is to provide fresh, local, predominantly organic, affordable (their boxes are twenty per cent cheaper than the supermarkets), seasonal food with the best outcome for farmers, communities and the environment.
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The Brotherhood of Saint Laurence Wholesale Food Security Community Enterprise
Posted in Models, RDAG by Virginia on April 15th, 2009
The Brotherhood of Saint Laurence (BSL) is an independent organisation with strong Anglican and community links that was established during the Great Depression to end social injustice and fight for an Australia free of poverty.
The Brotherhood’s mission is to deliver services, develop policy and support social change to help empower people, build community capacity as part of the community by creating and developing enterprise projects and ventures as catalysts for individual and community transformation.
BSL is currently conducting a feasibility study as part of its Community Enterprise Development Initiative into establishing a Wholesale Food Security Community Enterprise (also called “Food PAD”) to source produce for redistribution for local community organizations. This project aims to support the development of food related community enterprises to address issues of food insecurity and provide a pathway for social engagement and skill building while benefiting the environment.
The project intends on establishing and facilitating new sets of relationships between producers and consumers, placing the focus foremost on community benefits, whilst supporting the creation of sustainable new community initiatives. BSL, the Victorian Government and other stakeholders will provide the catalyst for the project while the impetus and ownership of the community enterprise will rest with community organizations. BSL is also supporting the development of two other food projects, the Western and Northern Metro Distribution Systems, in addition to the Food PAD project.
For more information about this project visit www.bsl.org.au or www.communityenterprise.org.au.
This is from “Social Innovations in Victorian Food Systems” case studies by Ferne Edwards.
Concerned over GM-crops?
Posted in Seeking by Virginia on March 17th, 2009
Concerns about Genetically Manipulated (GM) crops and foods must be framed by a broader context. In 2009, Gene Ethics and an Alliance of GM-free groups will discuss the many strands of thought and action on how agriculture can be made sustainable for this and future generations, giving all people secure access to affordable and nutritious local foods.
Please have your say here:
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au
A small sample of contemporary writings on these key topics follows, to begin:
‘Free markets haven’t delivered on food and won’t
By Adam Wolfenden
With the food, environment, water and global economic crises it’s hard to think of an area vital to our lives in which free market theory hasn’t failed us. The future of food must be considered afresh, not just a repetition of the same old ideas.
Land Use and Food Security Workshops
Posted in Events by Maeztri on November 10th, 2008
What: Victorian Land Use and Food Security Workshop by Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA)
When: November 2008
Where: Please visit the flyer for more details about the Local Council and date for each council.
RSVP is essential to 9349 7999 or vlga@vlga.org.au
For further information please contact Liana Thompson on 9349 7902
We know from daily experience that that the demand for residential development is putting pressure on land used for food production so that ‘the last crop of the land will be houses. While it is recognized that 25% of our food is grown in and around the urban areas, it has not been seen as a priority land use planning issue.
The VLGAs cutting edge project funded by VicHealth exploring these issues is now well underway in partnership with Latrobe University . Dates for workshops across Victoria have been finalised and locations and venues, along with more detailed information on this Project can be found on our website.
The future of food security begins at home: new report
Posted in Research, Sustainable Cities Round Tables by kirsten on May 22nd, 2008
Hidden environmental costs make food production more vulnerable than society has estimated and consumers should prepare for continuing rising food prices, a new report has shown. Lead author Kirsten Larsen, based at the University of Melbourne, says food production will be increasingly challenged by changing climate, dwindling supplies of cheap oil and declining water and soil resources. “What has become patently clear is that major innovations – well beyond efficiency improvements in existing food production – are needed, and soon, if we are to have good food to feed all Victorians and to meet export demands.†The report, Secure and Sustainable Food Systems for Victoria, produced by the Victorian Eco-Innovation Laboratory (VEIL) recommends actively developing more sustainable and resilient food systems now, to enable longer term food security in the face of rising input costs and environmental risks. The report can be downloaded from www.ecoinnovationlab.com/reportssubmissions. The media release and key findings can be downloaded from www.ecoinnovationlab.com/pages/press-releases.php.