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Enabling resilient food systems in South Australia.�The role of local government

The role of local government

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Enabling resilient food systems in South Australia.��

Presentation Overview

Explain local governments role in enabling food systems
Share insights from local governments who took part in the project
Introduce resources to assist local governments to build resilience of their local food systems.

Local Government Association Research and Development Scheme Grant Project

Key goal�Build the capacity and capability of local governments, communities and stakeholders to play their part in enabling a thriving local food system.

As the closest level of government to the people, Local Government are well-placed to step into a leadership role, hosting conversations with their communities about how they can strengthen their local food system.

And so in 2020, a project called ‘Local Government: Enabling Resilient Food Systems in South Australia’ was launched to begin/strengthen their work in this emerging space.

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This project was developed and implemented by the emerging Food Systems Network in South Australia who drew on best practice Nationally and internationally to identify that a key first step was to

… build the capacity and capability of Councils, community and stakeholders to play their part.

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- This presentation will explain Local Governments role in enabling resilient food systems

- share some insights from Councils who were involve

- And introduce resources that have been developed to assist their Councils in this work

This presentation is an invitation to join the growing number of Councils already making food systems a strategic priority in South Australia.

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The story of food.

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Food procurement policy

Urban development

Public facilities

Community garden policies

Green verges policies

Public health & wellbeing plan

Environment & Climate �Resilience plans

Urban planning

Agriculture

Tourism and Economic Development

Public health plan

Food safety regulations

Waste management plan

Composting policy

Environment plan

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Impacts on �the food �system.

A wake up call for action.

Our food system however is vulnerable to many factors including a changing climate as well as changing environment, economic, political and social factors.

For example:

•As mentioned earlier Heat, bushfires, flood, drought are making food hard to grow/produce

•Soil is being depleted from over farming

•Growing population and urban sprawl is taking up space for growing producing food.

•Food literacy is decreasing – people are becoming more disconnected from where food comes form, how to grow and prepare food and from and an understanding of nutrition and healthy eating

•Food prices and sometimes location of fresh food outlets are such that it can be difficult for everyone to access and purchase healthy food

•Food is increasingly supplied from offshore and our food produced locally is often sent offshore making supply vulnerable to disruption in international distribution interruptions.

As a recent example of the vulnerability of the food system - most of us would have experienced the challenges caused by the COVID 19 pandemic. Some effects included - food supplies interrupted, rise in prices of fresh food, sometimes not enough supply, conversely sometimes huge amounts of food being disposed of because there were no ways to get it to market, food businesses shutting down and people losing jobs. These impacts saw mental health rise and many people to turn to creating edible gardens

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The National pandemic gardening survey reported that the interruptions to the food system due to the COVID 19 pandemic is a wake up call that the food system is highly vulnerable and food security in Australia is at risk.

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“While there are seeds, water and sunshine, while community exists, while trees still stand, while ethics and morals unite us, while we are at 1C warming, while we are here, while people care… then, it’s not too late.” �Brenna Quinlan

There is growing commitment to enabling resilient food systems.

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Over 2000 food system references in plans, strategies and policies (VIC & NSW)

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We are individuals, businesses, organisations and local and state government.��We want to increase access to fresh, locally grown food, so everyone in our state can enjoy the benefits of healthy eating, increased skills and improved wellbeing, while also helping protect our precious land, water and soil.

The role of local government

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Reasons for local government �to prioritise action.

Economic

Increases/retains local jobs and volunteering
Creates new opportunities for local business creation and circular economy innovation
Increases/maintains tourism potential

Environment

Increases tree coverage and creates greener cooler neighbourhoods
Provides solutions for local management of waste and water
Motivates action towards climate change
Supports biodiversity

Development

Improves liveability
Land is used productively e.g. urban farms, community gardens
Greens and beautifies the area

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More reasons to prioritise action.

Public Health and Wellbeing

Increases connectedness, sense of contribution and contact with nature
Creates a sense of place and community identity
Increases opportunity for physical exercise
Increases sense of self reliance and sufficiency
Increases access to fresh food including culturally diverse food
Opportunities to bring the community together to celebrate food
Increases community led food projects

Local Government Effectiveness and Efficiency

Increases skills, cross departmental collaboration, knowledge of systems thinking and evaluation
Increases collaboration between local governments and industry
Provides a lens to address many areas of Local Government business and progress key actions within related state plans

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Aims

Food literacy

Vision

Priorities and actions

Toolbox

Enabling resilient food systems in South Australia- Project Summary

Project consultants�Ethical Fields in association with Sustain: Australian Food Network and Collaborative Futures

Project team�Cities of Onkaparinga, Holdfast Bay, Marion, Salisbury, Alexandrina Council and Mount Barker Council, Heart Foundation and Green Adelaide

Supporting organisations�Cities of Campbelltown, Charles Sturt, Adelaide, Whyalla Council, Sustain: Australian Food Network, Wellbeing SA, University of Sydney, SA Nutrition and Dietetics Network, Adelaide Sustainability Centre & Conservation SA, Onkaparinga Food Security Collaborative

More project specific, as mentioned in the introduction, the aim of the Enabling resilient food system project was to:

•Build local food systems literacy and advocacy within government and communities so that Councils could understand, advocate for and foster local food systems

•Identify the local food system vision and principles of communities so that Councils could identify and prioritise the best ways to invest and promote local food system initiatives

•Enable governments and communities to take coherent actions towards their visions so that Councils could develop and embed relevant food systems policy and planning as part of government's’ response to climate change risks

And to develop a toolbox to assist other Councils to do the same

This was funded through a LGA Research and Development Scheme grant

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Share & iterate

Evaluate

Document plans for action

Facilitate workshops

Engage Industry & Community Stakeholders

Document rationale

Consider readiness

Project process.

There were a number of steps in this process

Participating Councils:

considered their readiness for pursuing a food systems agenda now
Documented their rationale for pursuing a food systems agenda including the local relevant context relating to economics, environment and health and wellbeing. Councils highlighted the work they were already doing in this space
Councils engaged industry and community stakeholders from across the food system
and hosted workshops where participants were invited to consider what a healthy and sustainable food system would look like for their local area. “Our Local Food Systems” workshops were hosted by four councils; City of Onkaparinga, Mount Barker District Council, Alexandrina Council and City of Marion.
Councils synthesized the information generated in these workshops into draft plans for local action
They participated in evaluation and feedback about the process
And shared their experiences and outcomes with the other stakeholders involved

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Workshop tools: visioning

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Workshop tools: system mapping

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Workshop synthesis: priorities and plans

Mount Barker Prioritisation (Page 1 of 3)

Alexandrina summary for participants

Onkaparinga next steps

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Powerful impacts on local government capability

“The project has shown that there is a role for councils in supporting and encouraging sustainable and resilient food systems and demonstrated a process whereby relevant strategic objectives can be progressed and eventually extended formally through development of administrative levers, such as food policies. “�Greg Sarre, Manager Sustainability and Corporate Planning, Mount Barker Council

“I’ve expanded and strengthened my networks with other local and state government agencies – I now know more about where each are at on their food systems resilience journey and related projects they are undertaking. As a result I’ve been able to bring ideas and learnings from them back to our council to inform our next steps.”�Kylie Makrow, Community & Health Wellbeing Officer, Alexandrina Council

“The process has led me to an in-depth in understanding of who works in this area, who needs to have a greater voice and the under-utilised resources as well as limitations within local governments.”�Sue Dugan, Community Development Coordinator, City of Holdfast

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Six next steps

1. Explore the toolbox

A web based toolbox has been developed to support local governments. �

2. Articulate strategic commitment and rationale�Document why it makes good sense to have a strategic focus on food systems will consolidate the vision for action and support.�

3. Internal Audit �Map what you are already doing within the domains of the food system and identify who could be part of an internal working group.�

4. Food literacy upskilling for staff and your communities�Host workshop(s) or focus groups to map the food system in your area, clarify the vision and refine priority areas for action.�

5. Plan �Identify where priority areas for action fit within existing strategies and plans and where new plans are needed.�

6. Evaluate and share with other councils and communities�Investigate the positive impact of your food systems actions and the process of working with a food systems lens. Contribute to the sharing of knowledge and the collective impact of food systems work in SA.

For those Councils who are ready to pursue a food systems focus; here are some first steps:

1. Explore the toolbox

You aren’t alone in this work, A toolbox has been developed to support Councils; it has resources, examples to draw on and can be adapted to your context.

2. Thinking about your strategic approach – why do you want to invest?

3. Internal Audit – what’s already happening in this space?

4. Food Literacy – host some training to upskill staff (this was important in Onkaparinga to have a shared understanding about what a local food system is and how this approach could be embedded through our council).

5. Plan – where does this work fit within your council? For example in our council – with our Community Capacity Strategic Plan, our Climate Change Response Plan, our Regional Public Health plan.

6. Share with others – help build the momentum through collective actions

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Collective next steps

Share the story
Ongoing evaluation
Join the Food Systems Network

We are scoping and looking to invest in:

- an independent Food Policy Council/Alliance and appropriate staffing to continue to build the priority of this work across South Australia

- a cost/benefit analysis of local food

- ways to tell more local food system stories through the media and case studies.

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Enabling resilient food systems toolbox.

www.saurbanfood.org/our-projects

This project and toolbox was made possible by:

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Image references

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F Wilkings J & Eames- Shearly, M, Discovering the food system. An experiential learning program for young and inquiring minds. Cornwell University, Departments of Nutritional Science and Horticulture, https://www.discoverfoodsys.cornell.edu

Image Slide 5

https://www.goodfoodworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Food-System.jpg

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Donati, Kelly and Rose, Nick 2020. "Every seed I plant is a wish for tomorrow" Findings and Action Agenda from the 2020 National Pandemic Gardening Survey. https://sustain.org.au/projects/pandemic-gardening-survey-report/

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Carrad, A., Aguirre-Bielschowsky, I.,Reeve, B., Rose, N., Charlton, K.E. (2021).The role of Australian local governments in creating a healthy, sustainable, and equitable food system: Results of a policy mapping study in New South Wales and Victoria. Sydney, NSW:University of Sydney.

All photos used with permission from City of Onkaparinga, SA Urban Food Network and the project team.