We have to change our narrative around climate change. Our government tells us that we are too small here in New Zealand to make any positive impact on climate change. But we have been leaders in social change. We were the first nation to give women the vote in 1893, we have been world leaders … Continue reading Local food and climate change
Category: Sustainability
Sustainable food systems and the UNEP
Take a look at this brilliant video from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). In under 4 minutes it provides a clear and concise evaluation of our global food system. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcL3BQeteCc It is good to know that at the highest level of global governance there is awareness of the dire state of our food system. … Continue reading Sustainable food systems and the UNEP
The iPES-Food report – from uniformity to diversity
In June 2016 the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems released its first thematic report, From Uniformity to Diversity: A paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems. The report advocates the shift from industrial food systems to sustainable food systems. The failure of the industrial food system is presented starkly in the … Continue reading The iPES-Food report – from uniformity to diversity
Food chains or food webs?
The choice is becoming starker as we learn more about the impacts of industrial food delivered through long food chains. Do we want to support industrial food delivered through long food chains or sustainable food systems closer to home? This is the first of a series of extracts from Our Food Story. But first, here … Continue reading Food chains or food webs?
Our food story
Today Our Food Story, an investigation into Northland's food system is being published. It surfaces a compelling vision of the benefits accruing from a more connected and local food system. The executive summary from the document is reproduced below. Thank you to my co-researcher Eloise Neeley for her superb work over summer to enable this report to happen. … Continue reading Our food story
A national collaboration for the local food movement?
The local food movement is active internationally and nationally, but to our knowledge, in New Zealand there is limited national engagement. Local food initiatives are proliferating globally and offer significant economic, social and environmental gains for communities. Growers continue to suffer from food chains dominated by international distribution and retail companies. Smaller growers are marginalised … Continue reading A national collaboration for the local food movement?
Vegetable tourism, Trojan horses and sticky economies
Pam Warhurst is in New Zealand sharing the message of edible landscapes. In 2009 she and her friend Mary cleaned up a piece of waste land in her Yorkshire Town of Todmorden and planted veggies. This started a movement that is now world-wide. In her interview with Kim Hill Pam relates how Todmorden has been transformed … Continue reading Vegetable tourism, Trojan horses and sticky economies
Relocalising our Food
Here is the final version of Relocalising our Food. Thanks to all of those who helped shape the thinking in this document. Jeff, Clive and I are continuing to work on pursuing the outcomes envisioned here.
Food for Thought
Rita Shelley I grew up in the most urban of environments. We didn’t have land. We didn’t grow things. Most of my life I couldn’t understand the pleasure in gardening. Recently, I’ve begun to change. I got there through food. You see, my partner and I love to eat and we are enthusiastic cooks. I … Continue reading Food for Thought
Choosing local food
There are restaurants and cafes around Northland that choose to support local producers, but do you know who they are? And if you did know, would you be more likely to choose them to dine with? There are a surprising number of local restaurants and cafes that are passionate about local food, but they are … Continue reading Choosing local food
Moving the food system towards sustainability
We are promoting a sustainable food system for Northland. Sheri Flies… says that three essentials must be considered in order to move the food system towards sustainability. “The first thing is that you have to have a critical mass of benevolent demand on the side of the customers. Then you need full economic, social, and … Continue reading Moving the food system towards sustainability
Aotearoa Food Policy Network 