Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance

The consolidation of abattoirs serving large agribusinesses and supermarkets has left small-scale livestock farmers with increasingly limited options for processing their meat and getting it to market. Tammi Jonas, an agroecologist and food systems activist, has been addressing this challenge from her regenerative farm in central Victoria. She articulates the pressing need for local abattoirs to support small-scale farmers and enhance food security. Her efforts underscore the importance of decentralising meat processing facilities to empower local producers. For a deeper understanding of this critical issue in the context of Australia’s beef export exposure and new US tariff on Australian beef, read Tammi's piece below. #victorianfarmers #farmlife #sustainablefood #beef #Australiantariff

The #AbattoirCampaign is ramping up! See the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance Farmer Focal Point Tammi Jonas highlight the critical impacts abattoir closurers are having on small farmers, butchers and the range and quality of meat accessible for eaters in Australia #smallfarmers #agroecology #foodsovereignty #ausag

Online Roundtable Discussion on the Future of On-Farm Processing 📅 Tue, 4 Mar, 6:30pm - 8pm AEDT. The rapid closure of abattoirs across Australia is leaving farmers, processors, and rural communities without essential infrastructure. What are the alternatives? How can farmer-led solutions help? Join Sustainable Table and the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) for an online roundtable discussion featuring representatives from Murray Plains Meat Collective, Small Farms WA, Meat Collective @Jonai and Southern Tasmanian Association of Meat Producers (STAMP). This is an opportunity for farmers, industry, and advocates to come together to discuss: 💡 The impact of abattoir closures on rural communities 💡 Farmer-led collective models for micro & mobile abattoirs 💡 Governance strategies for sustainable collective processing 💡 Advocacy for regulatory reforms to support micro-abattoirs Register now to be part of the conversation and help shape the future of farmer-led processing via the link below. https://lnkd.in/geE4j-wf

MEDIA RELEASE: AS GOVERNMENT FLOUNDERS, FARMS ARE ON THE BRINK OF CRISIS. While the federal and state governments are asleep at the wheel, farmers across Australia have been repeatedly hit by the loss of access to abattoirs (6 closures in recent months across NSW, WA and VIC), posing a genuine threat to Australian food security and food sovereignty. This leaves small-scale farmers with few, if any, remaining butchering options. What would the complete disappearance of small-scale livestock farmers mean? - Rural communities would be further gutted by the loss of family farms. - As consumers, knowing where your meat comes from will be a thing of the past. - Local meat?! There will be no local meat in butcher’s shops or on restaurant menus, let alone direct from farmers. - Independent butchers will struggle to survive which risks losing the craft of whole-carcass butchery, plus a generation of knowledgeable and skilled butchers to service high streets across Australia. - Local abattoir and cold chain transport jobs will also disappear as multinationals import labour and export most of the meat. Read more here: Put your support behind Australian farmers! https://lnkd.in/gMHsehQ7 #smallfarms #abbattoir #foodsovereignty #beef #lamb

Check out this quick read by Tammi Jonas on Australian agriculture's relationship with debt and how this can help reframe the current challenges facing micro-abattoirs and small-scale farmers in Australia. #foodsovereignty #farmdebt #ausag

In 2025, the fight for food sovereignty in Australia goes on! With abattoir closures threatening the lives of smallholders across the country, there's never been a better time to join AFSA. We are a farmer-led, member-based, volunteer-run organisation, meaning the work that we do is entirely driven by those committed to creating a food system that prioritises people, animals and planet above profits. We look forward to working with current and new members in 2025! Become an AFSA member here: https://lnkd.in/gaTZGsp5

Small-scale livestock farmers are at risk as abattoirs across the country vertically integrate and/or are bought up by large multinationals who would rather export industrial meat than feed Australian communities.   AFSA has not been sitting by idly while this national crisis has evolved, and we have actions you can take.   LIVESTOCK FARMERS ACROSS AUSTRALIA – show government the numbers affected by loss of service kills, fill out our national survey!   VICTORIAN RESIDENTS – sign our e-petition to advocate for urgent reforms to save the thousands of farmers, butchers, restaurants and eaters affected.   EVERYONE – join AFSA today!   A crowd is not a movement, & we need numbers on the books to show governments that food sovereignty is the largest transnational social movement in the world! You can join, sign the petition, fill out the survey, and keep up to date on the AFSA website - https://lnkd.in/gPvRn9q6

🚜 Join AFSA's Agroecology Roadshow! 🌱 We’re excited to invite you to a three-week journey up the east coast of what is now called Australia! The Agroecology Roadshow is a series of local Agroecology Dialogues designed to bring together farmers, food lovers, and communities to share knowledge, build connections, and strengthen the movement for agroecology, local food systems, and food sovereignty. 🌾 What to Expect: - Farmer-to-farmer and eater-to-eater exchanges of tips and experiences to grow the agroecology movement. - Build connections between local, regional, and national organisations. - Work together to create real change in our food and agriculture systems. 🔍 Background: Australia’s farmers produce 93% of the country’s food, but over 70% of that is exported. While large-scale, industrial farming dominates, small-scale farmers are rising, embracing sustainable, community-driven practices. This shift toward agroecology is gaining momentum, and we need strong networks to push for change at a grassroots level. 🎟 Dates & Locations: 4 Oct: Bilpin (Dharug Country, NSW) 6 Oct: Comboyne (Birpai Country, NSW) 8 Oct: Bellingen (Gumbaynggirr Country, NSW) 9 Oct: Lismore (Bundjalung Country, NSW) 11 Oct: Nerang (Kombumerri Country, QLD) 13 Oct: Goomburra (Githabul Country, QLD) 14 Oct: Armidale (Anaiwan and Kamilaroi Country, NSW) 16 Oct: Wollongong (Dharawal Country, NSW) 21 Oct: Canberra (Ngunnawal Country, ACT) Let’s come together to create a more just, sustainable, and resilient food system! 🌱💪 Get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gYykB89Z #Agroecology #FoodSovereignty #AgroecologyRoadshow

We’re not just talking about agroecology—we’re building it from the ground up! AFSA is hitting the road for its inaugural Agroecology Roadshow from 4-23 October 2024. Join us as we travel through regions in NSW, QLD, and ACT for a series of farm dialogues and town hall meetings to discuss all things agroecology and food sovereignty. We’re calling on First Peoples, farmers, food producers, landworkers, eaters and policymakers to join us in shaping bio-regionally specific dialogues and actions. In classic AFSA fashion, these dialogues will be run as unconferences where your voice sets the agenda, driving democratic participation and collective change. Challenge capitalist food systems and advance food sovereignty with us. Be part of the movement. Let’s radically transform the food system together! Here’s when we’ll be hitting your town: - 4 Oct: Bilpin (Dharug Country, NSW) - 6 Oct: Comboyne (Birpai Country, NSW) - 8 Oct: Bellingen (Gumbaynggirr Country, NSW) - 9 Oct: Lismore (Bundjalung Country, NSW) - 10 Oct: Nerang (Yugumbeh Country, QLD) - 13 Oct: Goomburra (Bundjalung Country, QLD) - 14 Oct: Armidale (Anaiwan and Kamilaroi Country, NSW) - 15 Oct: Maitland (Wonnarua Country, NSW) - 16 Oct: Wollongong (Dharawal Country, NSW) - 18-19 Oct: Food Sovereignty Convergence in Bermagui (Yuin Country,NSW) - 21 Oct: Canberra (Ngunnawal Country, ACT) Head here to find out more and stay tuned for tickets: https://lnkd.in/g_HkAPXJ #AgroecologyRoadshow #FoodSovereignty #Agroecology

After nearly two years of loads of collective effort by a team of farmers, lawyers, paralegals and our incredible General Coordinator Jessie Power, AFSA has officially launched its Legal Guide for farmers! A series of comprehensive state-based guides will help farmers navigate common challenges within the legal system. From land-use planning to food safety and land-sharing agreements, we’ve compiled clear and cohesive information to support the food sovereignty and agroecology movements. The AFSA Legal Guide is available for farmers in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania, and is intended to be a living document that will be developed with further funding and resources. That means that we will aim to include all states and territories in the near future! We’d like to give a huge shout out and thank you to Sustainable Table who provided AFSA with funding to complete the Legal Guide. Click here to access the AFSA Legal Guide: https://lnkd.in/g3q6RPzJ