2020 Festival Program

The goals of the Food for Thought Festival are to:

• Galvanise the WA and national food movement leadership around high impact actions

• Foster food system stakeholder cooperation, information and best practice exchange, and enhance confidence in actors’ capacity to effect significant changes

• Showcase a world-leading approach in establishing whole-of-system policy and practice framework, with an emphasis on lessons learned from both successes and failures

• Identify the types of partnerships, skills, experience and capacity, infrastructure, governance options, funding requirements and financing options that are necessary in order to develop and implement a regional and / or state-level food and farming strategy

Thursday 19th March
Centennial Stadium, Albany
9.30am - 5.30pm

Bookings: We strongly suggest booking for both studios but understand that it will not be viable option for everyone. 

The Innovation Studios.
Why are these happening in 2020?
For those who want to be part of the change. 

Over the last 5 years of the Food for Thought Festivals many smart and motivated people have shared their ideas and passions over forums, workshops, long table dinners, field days, community events and last year’s Dialogue Studios. 

With the focus for 2020 being “Courageous Leadership Enabling System Change” we’re responding to a shared desire. The desire to turn ideas into actions. 

It’s time to come together to create the change – and these two related Innovation Studios are where this will happen at this year’s Festival.

What can we expect in these Innovation Studios?
We will reflect on what we’ve already done and know about the food system in the Great Southern - just enough to bring everyone to a good level of awareness to join in.

We will share initiatives that are working well for people here and elsewhere:

Innovation Studio Part 1 - Case Study 1 (USA) Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund and Farm to Plate Network - Jake Claro. Established in 2009 - these partners are working to create quality jobs, open additional markets for locally produced food, improve economic development in the farm and food sector, and improve access to healthy food for all Vermonters. The Vermont Farm to Plate Plan is widely regarded as the most comprehensive food system program in the United States, and the only one with full government engagement. It’s completed its first decade, and gearing up for the next with a growing global reputation. The Plan takes a coordinated, long-term and collaborative approach with all parts of the food system, far beyond a simple focus on agricultural output.

Innovation Studio Part 1 - Case Study 2 (Australia) Cardinia Food Circles Project - Dr Nick Rose. Sustain: The Australian Food Network. This ground-breaking, multi-year collective impact food systems project continued to make major advances in 2019 as it concluded the third year of Sustains partnership with Cardinia Shire Council. A key achievement including the Community Food Strategy - one of the first of its kind in Australia, was endorsed by Cardinia Shire Council in December 2018. With an ambitious 8-year action plan encompassing 67 actions across five key strategic areas, and involving commitments from 20 local organisations, the next phase of transforming Cardinia’s food system is well underway.

Innovation Studio Part 2. Case Study 3 - (Netherlands) Commonland For Tomorrow's Harvest - Dieter van den Broek. For Tomorrow’s Harvest is an Innovation Lab or multi-stakeholder platform. It brings together 95 change agents from across the food system including business, non-profits, farmers, entrepreneurs and government. Through a facilitated leadership journey these change agents are creating a better understanding of the current food system (system blockages, challenges), observing and sensing into the current possibilities and key leverage points and developing strategies including rapid prototypes. The aim of the prototypes is to have a strong systematic change project with key leadership and resources.

(NOTE CASE STUDY 3 WILL BE PRESENTED ON MARCH 23rd IN INNOVATION STUDIO PART 2.)

With Western Australian case studies to be explored over both days. These case studies will be announced soon.

The speakers are being invited to tell-it-like-it-really-is. So while these initiatives have been proving themselves, they’ve not come without challenges, failures, tensions, changes along the way.

So the opportunity is to reflect, ask and learn from these examples and relate them to our own country here in the Great Southern.  Together we will determine leverage points to enable our own actions, and how we might scale these to overcome our current challenges.

Monday 23rd March
Centennial Park Stadium
9.30am - 5.30pm

Bookings: We strongly suggest booking for both studios but understand that it will not be viable option for everyone. 

The Innovation Studios.
Why are these happening in 2020?
For those who want to be part of the change. 

Over the last 5 years of the Food for Thought Festivals many smart and motivated people have shared their ideas and passions over forums, workshops, long table dinners, field days, community events and last year’s Dialogue Studios. 

With the focus for 2020 being “Courageous Leadership Enabling System Change” we’re responding to a shared desire. The desire to turn ideas into actions. 

It’s time to come together to create the change – and these two related Innovation Studios are where this will happen at this year’s Festival.

What can we expect in these Innovation Studios?
We will reflect on what we’ve already done and know about the food system in the Great Southern - just enough to bring everyone to a good level of awareness to join in.

We will share initiatives that are working well for people here and elsewhere:

(NOTE CASE STUDY 1 & 2 WILL BE PRESENTED ON MARCH 19th IN INNOVATION STUDIO PART 1.)

Case Study 1 (USA) Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund and Farm to Plate Network - Jake Claro. Established in 2009 - these partners are working to create quality jobs, open additional markets for locally produced food, improve economic development in the farm and food sector, and improve access to healthy food for all Vermonters. The Vermont Farm to Plate Plan is widely regarded as the most comprehensive food system program in the United States, and the only one with full government engagement. It’s completed its first decade, and gearing up for the next with a growing global reputation. The Plan takes a coordinated, long-term and collaborative approach with all parts of the food system, far beyond a simple focus on agricultural output.

Case Study 2 (Australia) Cardinia Food Circles Project - Dr Nick Rose. Sustain: The Australian Food Network. This ground-breaking, multi-year collective impact food systems project continued to make major advances in 2019 as it concluded the third year of Sustains partnership with Cardinia Shire Council. A key achievement including the Community Food Strategy - one of the first of its kind in Australia, was endorsed by Cardinia Shire Council in December 2018. With an ambitious 8-year action plan encompassing 67 actions across five key strategic areas, and involving commitments from 20 local organisations, the next phase of transforming Cardinia’s food system is well underway.

CASE STUDY 3 WILL BE PRESENTED DURING INNOVATION STUDIO PART 2.                      MONDAY 19th MARCH.

Case Study 3 - (Netherlands) Commonland For Tomorrow's Harvest - Dieter van de Broek. For Tomorrow’s Harvest is an Innovation Lab or multi-stakeholder platform. It brings together 95 change agents from across the food system including business, non-profits, farmers, entrepreneurs and government. Through a facilitated leadership journey these change agents are creating a better understanding of the current food system (system blockages, challenges), observing and sensing into the current possibilities and key leverage points and developing strategies including rapid prototypes. The aim of the prototypes is to have a strong systematic change project with key leadership and resources.

With Western Australian case studies to be explored over both days. These case studies will be announced soon.

The speakers are being invited to tell-it-like-it-really-is. So while these initiatives have been proving themselves, they’ve not come without challenges, failures, tensions, changes along the way.

So the opportunity is to reflect, ask and learn from these examples and relate them to our own country here in the Great Southern.  Together we will determine leverage points to enable our own actions, and how we might scale these to overcome our current challenges.

Friday 20th March
Farm Venue TBA - Shire of Jerramungup
Time 10am - 3pm

Members of RegenWA and friends are invited to a farmers field day for a hands on exploration of regenerative agricultural practices through greater ecological knowledge and understanding. Come and get excited with peer to peer knowledge sharing between the host property and attendees as they open their gates to you. Explore the on farm successes, challenges and constraints and discover capability and capacity building for grazing practitioners. Most importantly come and enjoy the opportunity to connect socially and support the network development and engagement in the regions.

To buy tickets click here or email [email protected]

Sunday 22nd March
Oranje Tractor, 108 Link Rd Marbelup
9am - 11am

Join fellow farming members in a 2-hour tour of regenerative agriculture practices. The tour will focus on what has worked well, what hasn’t and future plans. In addition, there will be a focus on enterprise stacking which is overlaying additional agricultural practices that will further regenerate the landscape.

To buy tickets click here or email [email protected]

Regenerative farming isn’t a new concept; it is used globally, from backyards to broad acre farms. Regen in the Real World introduces the concepts of regenerative farming over three days of workshops, covering key ideas of regenerative farming: stock rotations, re-vegetation, fire mitigation, water harvesting, multi-cropping and much more! Regen in the Real World focuses on teaching practical skills you can use on your property through a combination of tours, presentations and workshops.

For more information related to Regen in the Real World please contact Kirsten Beidatsch on 0417 904 059, or email [email protected]

Celebrating Jerramungup’s Food System Innovators
Friday 20th March
Bremer Bay Sports Club 
6pm – late

Fervor are known for harnessing fresh ingredients, with a focus on locally sourced produce, and presenting it in a unique location to create an unforgettable dining experience. Crafted with passion and prepared before your eyes, Fervor bring out the taste and excitement of the region with each dish served. An Australian experience unlike anything you can imagine.

Join Fervor and Food for Thought for a 4 course degustation menu celebrating the region's food system innovators, share life on the land stories, see cross connection of Noongar and non-indigenous farming communities and be inspired!

Guest Speakers to be announced.

Book Your Tickets

Saturday 21st March
Twin Creek Reserve, Knight Rd, Porongurup
6pm – 10pm

Fervor are known for harnessing fresh ingredients, with a focus on locally sourced produce, and presenting it in a unique location to create an unforgettable dining experience. Crafted with passion and prepared before your eyes, Fervor bring out the taste and excitement of the region with each dish served. An Australian experience unlike anything you can imagine.

Join Fervor and Food for Thought for a 4 course degustation menu, share life on the land stories, see cross connection of Noongar and non-indigenous farming communities and be inspired!

Dinner program to be announced.

Book Your Tickets

Sunday 22nd March
Oranje Tractor, 108 Link Rd Marbelup
1pm -4pm

Join in the celebration of Autumn abundance from Amazing South Coast growers and producers and Slow Food Chef from the Swan Valley, Vince Velletri.  Vince has curated an eight course Italian degustation luncheon using produce from local growers and producers that align with the Slow Food principles of food that is Good, Clean and Fair. Courses will be paired with organically grown Oranje Tractor wine. Meet the growers and the makers and other ambassadors of Slow Food in a rustic and relaxed alfresco setting. Amble through the potager garden, rambling vegetable, fruit and herb beds and the espalier orchard, all laden with produce.

To buy tickets to this event please click here

Albany Town Square. York St, Albany.
9am - 5pm
FREE Community event

Mark this date in your calendar as you will not want to miss this event. The Sustainable Community Festival is a massive partnership project for 2020 with fantastic exhibits, entertainment, food, market stalls, and presentations. Food for Thought has partnered with GreenSkills, Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre, Albany regional Volunteer Service and The City of Albany to deliver this extraordinary free community program. 

The Sustainable Communities Festival is an opportunity to meet and network with local producers, farmers, businesses and community groups working to achieve sustainable community outcomes for the Great Southern region. More information can be found here.