Surf Coast Shire Local Food Program
- Admin
- Jun 13, 2018
- 2 min read
From community gardens and innovative food businesses, to regenerative farming and food retail – local and sustainable food is important in the Surf Coast Shire.
Council’s Local Food Program sets a vision for a sustainable local food system where:
Our food system protects and enhances the natural environment.
People are connected with where their food comes from and are equipped to make good food choices.
Residents have opportunities to produce food in their home and/or community.
Local growers, producers, distributers, sellers and consumers contribute to and benefit from a well-connected and sustainable local food economy.
Food production and access in the shire is resilient and well positioned for the future.
The Surf Coast Shire has a reputation for its sustainable, innovative and connected food system, and diversity of high quality food products and experiences.
The Local Food Program discussion paper highlights some of the things Council and our community are doing already, and identifies challenges and opportunities for our local food system.
Feedback on the discussion paper to date has been positive and has helped shape a first draft of a three year action plan to deliver the program. We’re in the process of running some focus groups with key stakeholders to refine the plan further.
A recent agribusiness focus group highlighted three priority areas for the action plan:
Branding and promotion with a focus on food tourism.
Establishing and strengthening agribusiness networks.
Developing case studies and information to clarify pathways and support producers enhancing their participation in the local food economy (e.g. setting up a farm gate).
The Local Food Program Action Plan will be finalised in July and we’ll soon have a Local Food Officer to support the delivery of the program.
If you’re keen to have input to the draft action plan or to find out more, please contact Lauren Watt, Coordinator Environmental Sustainability at lwatt@surfcoast.vic.gov.au
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