AFSA and our partners recently negotiated a streamlined application process for pastured pig and poultry production… however, during the final stages in planning and negotiation, state administrators suddenly removed non-chicken poultry–ducks, quail, turkey, squab….from the proposed streamline application process on the basis of “biosecurity” concerns. AFSA commissioned a report by Robert G. Wallace, PhD to […]
GM News
Greens MP Mark Parnell’s bill to extend the moratorium on growing GM crops in South Australia until 2025 has passed the Upper House. It is expected to pass the Lower House. Jay Weatherill’s Labour Government is supportive of the ban. It creates a “significant price premium for our state’s farmers compared to GM crops grown in […]
Rebuilding the Foodshed — the book
THERE’s a lot in Philip Ackerman-Leist’s book, Rebuilding the Foodshed, but don’t expect to come away from reading it with a formula to go and create a viable local food system.
Australia Needs a Food Literacy Campaign
New research published by the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance shows that most Australians have never heard of the term ‘food security’. Only 25% of the adult population feel confident in saying what it means. Also, most Australians have no concerns about Australia’s food supply over the next several decades. These findings point to the need […]
Union of Concerned Scientists Endorses Local Food Economies
While focused specifically on the United States, this report released in mid-2011 is highly relevant to Australia. It synthesises the existing literature on the economic benefits of food localisation, looking particularly at the job creation benefits of farmers’ markets; and the employment and financial implications of a greater demand for seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables. […]