Charles Otway presentation to Perth Green Drinks November 2013 on the People's Food Plan

1. By Charles Otway, on behalf of Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance

2. The international movement for food sovereignty
http://www.nyeleni.org/spip.php?article290

3. • In July 2012, the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance started
the creation of a food plan in response to the federal
government’s National Food Plan Green Paper.
• The Peoples’ Food Plan is in contrast to the governments, it is
an authentically open, inclusive and democratic document
reflecting the aspirations of eaters, farmers, community
organisations, small to medium size food businesses and
nutritional, health and other advocacy organisations.
• And while the National Food Plan is again dead in the water
due to political whim, the Peoples Food Plan is becoming a
wiki for long term community development, guidance and
relevance.

4. Creating the open
Peoples Food Plan
instead of the closed
Corporate Food Plan
•The Peoples’ Food Plan is the outcome of in-depth
discussions with more than 600 individuals around the
country in 40 public forums.
•AFSA facilitated Australia’s first Fair Food Week, in
which more than 15,000 people around the country
participated in 112 separate events.
•AFSA’s positions and statements have been endorsed
by national organisations with combined membership
and support bases in excess of 500,000.

5. Why do we need a Food Plan
• Business as usual is not going to be an option.
– Existing broad scale mechanised monocrops have never
been sustainable, just opportunistic and exploiting.
– Sustainable low-impact farms are key to permanently and
securely feeding us all.
• The governments national Food Plan was more of the same
exploitation thinking, ‘siezing new market opportunities”,
“raising productivity and competitiveness”, and “Boosting
exports”.
• Under that model corporate profits will increase while human
wellbeing, ecosystem integrity and access to local, safe and
nutritious food are badly compromised.

8. Support our Food Producers – To
sustain farming as a viable,
attractive and fulfilling career.

9. Create a participatory urban agriculture
Re-educate the real cost of good food

10. Fair Trade rather than free trade

11. Reduce Food waste
361 kg per person per year.
45% of food grown is not consumed.
• ¼ of the food the developed world wastes
would feed the Third World.
• Question why are we support and allow
corporately patenting and untested GMO
solutions to ‘feed the starving millions’ rather
than just addressing waste ?

12. Promote Farm Direct and Local
•
Farmers’ Markets - The direct relationship between farmer and customers.
•
Farm Gate - ‘Pick-your-own’ farms, farmgates and cellar doors all offer the unique experience of
visiting the source of your produce and meeting the people who grow and make it.
•
Seasonal Food Box Delivery - Even the time-poor can source local.
•
Consumer Supported Agriculture – CSA – Share the risk and reward with your rural farmers.
•
Local Groups, Community Gardens and Food Swaps - If you love to grow your own food, but find
yourself with too much of the one thing, then food-swaps are for you.
•
Local food Co-op’s - Buying in bulk together to avoid packaging and middle men. Co-ops are owned
by their members.
•
Local Organic Stores – Small family run businesses offering the best produce they can source.

13. Some other items addressed in PFP.
• Provide authentic Free Choice – Food labelling
• Food Tech - Take Precautionary approach to
biotech and GMO. Question the need and
protect non GMO.
• Re-educated people about real food and costs.
• Spread Food Democracy – Transparency !
• Allow access indigenous food and land.

15. Our Food System is the product of your Wallet
Waste less, grow your own, shop local, eat local, and know your farmers.

17. The Peoples Food Plan is to become a wiki
so you can all be part of drafting your food future.
Head to http://www.australianfoodsovereigntyalliance.org/