Feeding the future is presented by The Sandro Demaio Foundation and Currie, in partnership with Fed Square – as part of the National Sustainability Festival.

Our health – and that of the planet – is intricately linked to what we eat. Every bite we take affects emissions, soil health, waste, as well as our physical and mental health.

As we face a cost-of-living crisis, how can we produce, distribute, sell, cook and recycle food in ways that will create a more equitable and sustainable Australia?

The Sandro Demaio Foundation, the organisation behind the Little Food Festival – Australia’s only food festival made for kids – has partnered up with Currie, a communications consultancy specialising in climate and agriculture, to answer this question.

Join us on the 27th of February for the first in a series of thought-provoking panel discussions, at The Edge, Fed Square – in keeping with the Little Food Festival values, this event is completely free.

Hosted by Dani Valent, one of Australia's most respected food communicators, this panel kicks off the series by delving into actionable ways for us all to connect with, and contribute to, sustainable food production.

About the panel

Hannah Moloney is best known for her work in permaculture and as a presenter on ABC’s Gardening Australia, quickly followed by her commitment to climate activism. Having grown up on a herb nursery in inner city Meanjin/Brisbane she’s acutely aware of what sustainability approaches are possible in urban spaces (an enormous amount). She’s worked and lived on urban agriculture and small farms her whole life and these days continues doing just that in her home where she keeps goats, chickens, ducks bees amongst large edibles gardens. Her first book, The Good Life: How To Grow A Better World explores ways to counter the climate emergency individually and collectively.

James McLennan is the CEO and Co-founder of Farm My School. Over the last 15 years, James has dreamed, designed, developed and implemented education programs to engage people of all ages with their surrounding environment. James also runs his own education business, Grassroots Sustainability, focusing on the whole food cycle and bringing it back to the food we eat and the importance of eating local, seasonal, spray free, nutrient dense food. James was recently awarded the Jamie Oliver, Food Hero Award – Food Entrepreneur of the Year, 2024.

Nornie Bero is an Island girl from the Komet Tribe of the Meriam people in the Torres Strait. With over 25 years of experience as a professional chef, Nornie is passionate about bringing native Australian ingredients to the forefront of Australian cuisine. As the founder of Mabu Mabu, a native foods business, Nornie operates a flagship restaurant in Fed Square, a catering service, and a range of retail products. She is also the author of her own cookbook. Nornie has appeared on several TV shows, including Zac Efron’s Down to Earth on Netflix, her own series Island Echoes, and as a host on Adam Liaw’s The Cook Up.

Dr Michalis Hadjikakou is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science and Sustainability in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at Deakin University. His research expertise is in developing indicators and analytical tools for assessing the sustainability of food systems. He uses these tools to test solutions that meet environmental targets (e.g., net-zero emissions target) while safeguarding food security, such as alternative farming methods and dietary shifts. Michalis is also passionate about communicating food system sustainability issues and the underpinning science. In 2023 he was one of the recipients of the Victorian Young Tall Poppy Science Awards for his excellence in science and science communication.