Local focus for new food group

A NEW group that includes representatives from the region’s food industries as well as not-for-profits and government has been formed with the aim of strengthening Ballarat’s food system.

A partnership between the City of Ballarat and Sustain: The Australian Food Network, the group is known as the Ballarat Local Food Coalition.

Food is Free director Lou Ridsdale is part of the initiative and said it will help find solutions for food insecurity the region.

“This is a collection of like-minded passionate people from Ballarat who represent different sectors of the industry in food,” she said.

“It’ll be a think-tank of people for localising our food systems and making it for future generations.

“This has been born from the health plan from the City of Ballarat and Caroline Amirtharajah in particular who have been bolstering putting food security into policy.”

Ms Ridsdale said it’s important to support the region’s producers in keeping food local.

“It’s really important for climate change reasons to bolster this for future generations,” she said.

“The pandemic has also shown us if we don’t have food on our shelves from far afield we’re in trouble.

“We need to help and promote groups and individuals who want to grow their own food because there’s so many factors against us in terms of supply.”

With about 15 core members, the long-term goal of the coalition is to roll out a three-year action plan.

The group launched on Wednesday at the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council, which included Kittelty’s owner Sara Kittelty, and Amanda Collins from Backyard Beekeeping Ballarat as guest speakers.

Ms Ridsdale said the possibilities are endless for what the coalition can do.

“It’s up to them to chart their own destiny,” she said. “That’s the exciting part, we don’t know exactly what’ll come of it.

“We know there’ll be a lot of talking and a lot of discussion as well as analysis around what’s missing in our local food systems and how we can get council and State and Federal Government to help.”

The coalition is expected to meet five times in 2023, and expressions of interest to join are open for submission by emailing [email protected] before Monday, 3 April.