From Plains to Plate

The declaration for the South Australian food convergence, From Plains to Plate: the future of food in South Australia has been released.

"In February 2010, over 700 farmers, academics, government, health and community workers, environmentalists, permaculturalists, small growers, gardeners, students, educators and other community members gathered at the University of South Australia, Adelaide, for From Plains to Plate: the Future of Food in South Australia," said event coordinator Joel Catchlove.

"Developed through consultation with the convergence participants, this declaration is a historical record of the discussions and ideas shared at this event, and a practical vision for ensuring a just, sustainable and secure food system in South Australia," Mr. Catchlove said.

The declaration summarises key challenges facing South Australia's food system, including food security, sustainability, urban planning, public health, economics and education and offers recommendations to address them.

"One of the most powerful aspects of From Plains to Plate was the participation of communities who are already taking action to increase access to healthy food in their communities in the face of climate change and economic and social challenges. However, there is also an important role for government to strengthen this work," said Permaculture Education Zone spokesperson Eric Nicholson.

Declaration recommendations include:
- The establishment of a government agency specifically focused on Food Security and Sustainability, uniting the many, disparate government approaches to food and agriculture under one agency
- The establishment of entrenched land zoning for food security, protecting high-quality urban, peri-urban and rural land for local food production
- Greater support for urban food production, acknowledging urban agriculture's potential to reduce carbon emissions and oil dependency and cultivate healthy food in the communities that consume it
- Government assistance for access to good land for young farmers
- Educational reform to place good food and its cultivation at the centre of schooling

The full declaration is available online.