By Charles Otway, on behalf of Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance

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

• 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.

Creating the openPeoples Food Planinstead of the closedCorporate 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.

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.

Support our Food Producers – To sustain farming as a viable,

attractive and fulfilling career.

Create a participatory urban agricultureRe-educate the real cost of good food

Fair Trade rather than free trade

Reduce Food waste361 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 ?

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.

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.

Our Food System is the product of your Wallet

Waste less, grow your own, shop local, eat local, and know your farmers.

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/