Food Sovereignty Gathering Naarm - Building Knowledge and Skills

Join the Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET), Degrowth Network Australia (DNA) and the Agroecology & Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) for a day at Farm Raiser to explore food sovereignty, hear from local groups, and discuss how we can keep building local resilient food systems as part of a global movement.

In this gathering (our third, click here for notes on the first and second ones) we will focus on 'Builds Knowledge and Skills', one of the 7 pillars of Food Sovereignty that were adapted from the Nyéléni 2007 Forum for Food Sovereignty.

We will have a panel and discussion with people involved in building knowledge and skills in the local food system, the intersections between food and technology sovereignty, the importance of agroecology brigades, we will learn and participate together with a theatre play using the theatre of the oppressed method, share food and seeds, and continue important discussions (bring a topic to discuss)!

What is food sovereignty? 

Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations. It defends the interests and inclusion of the next generation. It offers a strategy to resist and dismantle the current corporate trade and food regime, and directions for food, farming, pastoral and fisheries systems determined by local producers and users.

Invited speakers:

• Stuart Jonas, farmer, Jonai Farms and Meatsmiths (bio)

• Jade Ambrose, software engineer activist, Merri Bek Tech (bio)

• Eve &/or Charlotte, farmers, Farm Raiser (bio)

• Ben Trethewey, farmer worker and activist (bio)

Rough programme:

• Come at 9.30am for a cuppa

• 10.15am: Panel

• 11.30am: Theatre of the Oppressed play

• 12pm: Potluck (bring your seeds / seedlings to share!)

• 1pm: Unconference - bring your topics and we will continue conversations from AFSA convergence (10-12 October), our last gathering and Deep Winter (for example access to land).

• 2.30pm End

We can't wait to see you there!

The Food Sovereignty Network in Naarm is a collaboration among various groups that emerged from a series of meetings and events in 2025 involving the Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET), Degrowth Network Australia (DNA), Guerrilla Gardening Naarm, and the Agroecology & Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA). The collective is open to other groups and individuals who wish to join.