Healthy framework to flourish

INTERESTED in helping develop a better system of food production and consumption in the Loddon Campaspe region?

Community members are invited to participate in a governance taskforce on the issue.

Healthy Loddon Campaspe last week launched its Flourish regional food system framework, and put out the call for locals to get involved.

The framework aims to create a vibrant and sustainable regional food system that promotes health, equity and resilience.

Loddon Shire Council chief executive and Healthy Loddon Campaspe regional steering group chair Lincoln Fitzgerald described development of Flourish as a comprehensive process led by a food systems expert.

Mr Fitzgerald said it included significant background analysis of local policies and plans, a regional food system assessment, workshops with stakeholders and an equity impact assessment focused on governance.

“We’re excited to now move to the next stage, which will build on the amazing work already under way in the region, and guide future approaches tailored for our local communities to create a vibrant and sustainable regional food system,” he said.

Flourish has been designed to act as an advocacy tool, but Healthy Loddon Campaspe recognised that “transforming our food system is no small task.”

“Food is everyone’s business and requires broad, collaborative and innovative engagement from the diverse range of organisations, community groups, networks and individuals both within and outside the health sector,” said Mr Fitzgerald.

Research and analysis during the development of Flourish revealed that only 19 per cent of females and seven per cent of males were meeting the recommended vegetable consumption guidelines and, while more than 90 per cent of land in the region is dedicated to agricultural production, a large amount of locally-produced food leaves the area.

The main objectives of Flourish include building food movements across the region to generate change and grow food system knowledge to reconnect people with healthy food.

It also aims to redesign community food environments to prioritise healthy, seasonal and culturally-appropriate foods from regional food chains.

People interested in being part of the governance taskforce from the Greater Bendigo, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Loddon, Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander areas can visit healthyloddoncampaspe.au/flourish before July 12 to lodge expressions of interest.

The full report and associated background document is available on the Healthy Loddon Campaspe website.