Letter to Politicians – August 2010

Re: National food policy

Dear              ,

The undersigned organisations and individuals congratulate you on your recent announcement that Labor will implement a national food plan if re-elected.

Given the intimate relationship between contemporary agricultural production and the many urgent challenges we face, the development and implementation of a national food policy is a matter of the highest priority. This is true not only for every Australian now alive, but for all future generations of Australians.

In order for such a plan to be effective, the process of formulating it must be inclusive, participatory, and democratic. The inter-generational ramifications of this policy insist upon the need to set the highest standards in these respects. We believe that it is vital to include stakeholders and participants from across the food and agricultural system, and not only those with the largest economic influence.

The communities, organisations, alliances and enterprises we represent have proposed the need for state and national food policies in forums such as the Hungry for Change summit, held in Sydney in October 2009, and the Plains to Plate Convergence, held in Adelaide in February 2010. As we have been debating and undertaking practical actions in this field over many years, we have a valuable contribution to make to the successful formulation and implementation of a national food policy.

The strengths we bring to an open and participatory, consultative process are the diverse perspectives of consumer and community initiatives and the social enterprise sectors of the food and agricultural system.

In a time of considerable economic uncertainty, experience in the US and elsewhere is demonstrating that strong, local food economies are powerhouses of creativity, innovation and employment.

We believe that our extensive practical experience in these fields complements that of others participating in the process of developing a national food policy, ensuring a balance of views and creative ideas that will further the goal of creating a strong, sustainable and resilient food and agricultural system for Australia.

Policy must address emerging trends

We recognise that Australia’s food system faces emerging pressures stemming from climate change, insecurity of the agricultural water supply as well as the growing likelihood of the peaking of global oil production.

These and other factors, alone or in combination, are expected to force up food prices, perhaps significantly. Such considerations are an important context for the food-related issues the undersigned organisations and individuals are already addressing. These include ensuring equitable access to fresh food (particularly for low-income communities), food safety and quality, the loss of agricultural skills and knowledge as the age of the average Australian farmer passes 60, and the protection of agricultural land from urban sprawl and the extractive industries.

We believe that a national policy on food must address these topics as matters of equal priority to the macroeconomic considerations you have already indicated. The enterprises and community food initiatives we represent are themselves responses to some of these issues. They are a growing presence in the national food system.

Towards an inclusive national policy

Our close contact with communities reveals that households, individuals and community-based organisations seek an active role in the formulation and implementation of a national food policy framework. Thus we believe that the purpose of such a policy is not only that Australians have year-round access to a secure supply of safe, nutritious and affordable food, but also that their food is produced in ways that ensures the dignity of farmers and the integrity of our soils, water tables and ecosystems.

Our inclusion in the proposed formulation of a national food policy will ensure that the voices of tens of thousands of ordinary Australians who are working to create their own sustainable and resilient local food systems can be heard in this matter of vital national and global interest.

We firmly believe our inclusion will make the process more open, participatory and democratic and help ensure that it achieves its goal of advancing the wellbeing of all Australians, now and into the future.

Signatories

• Adelaide Hills Climate Action Group – SA
• Adelaide Hills Community Garden – SA
• Adelaide Showground Farmers Market – SA
• Alfalfa House Food Co-op – NSW Sydney
• Alana Mann – NSW Sydney
• Alison Lyssa, Rhubarb Food Co-op – NSW Sydney
• Amadis Lacheta, Director, Village Well – VIC Melbourne
• Amanda Cuyler, Permaculture Education Australia – VIC Melbourne
• Andrea Koch, Sustainable Food and Agriculture Advisor
• Andrew Muller – NSW Leichhardt
• Anne Lanyon, Columban Mission Institute, Centre for Peace Ecology & Justice – NSW Sydney
• Ania Mylka, Rhubarb Food Co-op – Sydney
• Aukje and Arthur van Vark, Non-commercial growers – VIC Cockatoo
• Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network
• Bellingen Community Garden Association – NSW
• Bob Phelps, Executive Director, Gene Ethics
• Brad Nott, Aldinga Arts EcoVillage – SA
• Carol McArthur, Lecturer UniSA & Community Development Coordinator, City of Charles Sturt – SA
• Dr Carol Richards, Food and Agriculture Sociologist, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland – QLD
• Cecelia Nunez, Rhubarb Food Co-op – NSW Sydney
• CERES Community Environment Park – VIC Melbourne
• Cittaslow Katoomba Blue Mountains – NSW
• Chloe Evans, Rhubarb Food Co-op – NSW Sydney
• Coffs Coast Local Food Alliance – NSW
• Community Harvest – VIC
• Costa Georgiadis, Landscape Architect and host of Costa’s Garden Odyssey on SBS
• Cultivating Community – VIC
• Fat Goose Fruits – SA
• Fiona Campbell, Local Government Sustainability Educator – NSW Sydney
• Food Alliance – VIC
• Food Connect Brisbane
• Food Connect Foundation
• Food Fairness Alliance Canberra
• Food Fairness Illawarra
• Food Integrity Group Organic Co-op – NSW Ourimba
• Friends of the Earth Australia
• Food Irradiation Watch
• FoodLAB Research Laboratory, School of Architecture and Design, RMIT University – VIC Melbourne
• Gilbert Rochecouste, Managing Director, Village Well – VIC Melbourne
• GM Free Consumers Network
• Goodwood Goodfood Food Co-operative – SA Adelaide
• Graeme George, Earthcare Permaculture – VIC Healesville
• Growing Together Baw Baw, Community/School Gardening Network – VIC Baw Baw
• Hamish Mackay, Food Production and Education
• Healthy Life Dubbo, Mike and Kathy Parish
• Healthy Soils Australia; Pennie Scott; writer, editor, designer, educator
• Henley Community Garden – SA Adelaide
• Henley Fruit and Veg Swap – SA Adelaide
• Hills Organic Box Scheme – VIC Dandenong Ranges
• Holly Shiach, GM-free Australia
• James Macdonald-Buchanan, macadamia producer/farmer
• Associate Professor Jane Dixon, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University – ACT Canberra
• Julie Shelton, Winston Churchill Memorial Trust 2008 Fellowship – research – Small-scale food production and local food economies; Co-owner, The Village Organic Farm – producers of organic dairy products, eggs, poultry & beef
• Katrina Shields, Mullumbimby Local Food Alliance
• Kelly Jones, Public Health Academic, Director of Food Connect Adelaide and Director of The Ethicurean
• Kelverne Johnston, vegetable grower and the owner of the Kels Food brand
• Ken Howard, Chef in remote indigenous community
• Kerry Dwyer, Sydney food co-op participant
• Kevin Carle, Professional Health Coach; Body,Mind, Spirit Environmentalist, Essential Recovery Services
• Kirsten Daly, gardener
• Lauren Mathers, 2009 Victorian Rural Ambassador, Long Paddock Food Store – VIC Koondrook
• MADGE (Mothers Are Demystifying Genetic Engineering), Fran Murrell
• Dr Mary O’Connell, historian and author, Membership Coordinator, Randwick Community Organic Garden – NSW Sydney
• Melinda Hammond, Public Health Nutritionist – QLD
• Michael Neville, Community Educator and Food Grower – NSW Springfield
• Michele Smith
• Michelle Watson, Naturopath – SA Hove
• Mike Parish, Advisor, Educator in Holistic Management, Health Food Store Owner
• Mount Barker Coalition for Sustainable Communities – SA
• Moss Vale Community Garden – NSW Moss Vale
• Nambucca Permaculture – Jocelyn & Brad Edge
• Northey Street City Farm, Urban Permaculture and Sustainability Education Centre – QLD Brisbane
• NOURISH — Food Fairness Outer East associated with the Outer East Health and Community Support Alliance – VIC Melbourne
• Organic Farm Share – NSW
• Pennie Scott, ecological community designer, gardener and lover of soil-critters
• Permablitz Melbourne
• Permaculture Association of South Australia – SA
• Permaculture Education Zone – SA Adelaide
• Permaculture Inner North – VIC Melbourne
• Permaculture Sydney East – NSW
• Permaculture Sydney South, Loki Ysebaert, Vice President, Permaculture Sydney South & Co-convenor, Permaculture St George and Sutherland
• pilla-kartinya
• Queensland Conservation, Toby Hutcheon, Executive Director – QLD
• RCS (Resource Consulting Services), Biological / Holistic Farmer Trainers, Kerry McKosker
• Rhubarb Food Co-op – NSW Sydney
• Rob Allsop, Illustrator, Quietworks
• Robyn Williamson, Local Seed Network Coordinator, NW Sydney Community Seed Savers – NSW Sydney
• Rosalie Austin
• Russ Grayson, Community Food Systems Consultant – NSW Sydney
• SAGFIN — SA Genetic Food Information Network, Anna Clements, Secretary – SA
• Sally Fisher, Director, Food Connect Adelaide – SA
• Sandy Murray, Dietician & Local Food Advocate for Tasmania – TAS
• Sarsha Symonds – NSW Sawtell
• SecondBite
• SEED International (Sustainability Education and Ecological Design) – QLD
• Simon Martin, Director, Food Connect Adelaide – SA
• Six Degrees Coal and Climate Campaign – QLD Brisbane
• Slow Food Adelaide & Barossa – SA
• Slow Food Adelaide Hills – SA
• Slow Food Canberra – ACT
• Slow Food Fleurieu Peninsula – SA
• Slow Food Hobart – TAS
• Slow Food Mildura – VIC
• Slow Food New England
• Slow Food Sunshine Coast Hinterland – QLD
• Soil Association of South Australia Inc – SA
• South Australian Farmers Federation – SA
• South Australian Regional Food Boards; Fleurieu Peninsula Food; Good Food Kangaroo Island; Food Barossa; McLaren Vale; Taste of the Southern Flinders Ranges; Limestone Coast Food Group; Adelaide Hills Food; Clare Valley Cuisine; Yorke Peninsula Producers Group
• South Channel Sustainable Living Group – TAS
• Stewart Mills, Project Green Church – NSW Balmain
• Suzie Hunter, A Passionate Foodie – NSW Sydney
• Adjunct Professor Stuart B. Hill, Foundation Chair of Social Ecology; School of Education (includes previous School of Social Ecology & Lifelong Learning), University of Western Sydney, (Kingswood Campus) – NSW
• Sustain QLD Inc – QLD
• Sustainable Communities South Australia Inc – SA
• Sustainable Living Armidale Inc
• Sydney Food Connect – NSW Sydney
• Sydney Organic Gardens, Steve Batley, Landscape Architect & Director – NSW Sydney
• Tania Cummings, Food/Pet Food Safety Advocate
• Tasmanian Community Gardens Network
• TerraCircle Inc; International Development Consultants
• Terry Bail, Architect, Archology
• Transition Adelaide Hills
• Transition Adelaide West
• Transition Bellingen
• Transition Epping, Sandra Nichols, Coordinator – NSW Sydney
• Transition Kurilpa (Brisbane) – QLD
• Transition Sydney – NSW
• Transition Town Kenmore, Carol Shantal – QLD Brisbane
• Transition Town Nambour
• Transition Willunga
• Trevor Seppings, The Good Earth Inc – VIC Melbourne
• Very Edible Gardens Pty Ltd – VIC Melbourne
• Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab, University of Melbourne – VIC
• Kerry  Westbury and Jess Westbury, Small farm holding with dairy goat stud/dairy and vegetable growers
• Yarra Valley Permaculture Group