Public Meeting: Securing the Premium Meat Supply Chain for the Northern Rivers
Description
Join us to:
learn the results of a community-led survey conducted in this region with farmers, butchers and other stake holders concerned about diminishing access to local abattoir facilities,
hear from advocates working to bring about the necessary changes to correct this situation,
Key Goal of the session: form working groups for implementing the next steps
Speakers
Josh Wellman from Wellco Advisory and Managing Director of Banyula Farms. He is a landscape regeneration practitioner, educator and advisor and cattle farmer. Josh is the author of the survey that has been distributed to stakeholders and will be presenting the results of the survey.
Laticia Braving is the Founder of Vitality Farms Northern Rivers. Laticia is dedicated to amplifying the voices of the inspiring diversity of skilled and inspiring growers from this region and seeks to help regional producers, leaders and organisations build resilient businesses and communities.
Sally Cusack is a Co-Founder of Relocalise Northern Rivers and the convenor of this year's Food Forever events, which were co-hosted with Local Futures. Sally is passionate about the importance of building local food systems as foundational for achieving regional prosperity (socially, environmentally, economically) generally.
We will also have other advocates industry representatives present to provide further updates.
Background
Livestock producers who sell direct to local butchers or end consumers across Australia are steadily losing access to abattoirs. Economic and policy pressures are directing these services toward providing for large scale producers only, leaving small scale producers with diminishing options.
Specifically for this region, the closest chicken processing facility is down in Maclean and cattle farmers are likely to lose access to the abattoir in Casino within 18 months.
An important research project released earlier this year outlines the urgency of the work required and the path forward for enabling small producers to continue providing for their local communities.
The solution lies in re-establishing the network of micro abattoirs of times gone by. There are, however, obstacles such as the NSW food safety regulations, funding for new infrastructure and finding a trained workforce.
Thankfully there are trailblazers from elsewhere in the country, including at the the Agroecology and Food Sovereignty Alliance in Victoria and advocates in New South Wales that we can join forces with to bring about the necessary changes to secure our access to the premium meat that is grown in this region.
FAQs
- Who can attend this meeting?
This meeting is especially aimed at local livestock farmers, butchers and other stakeholders in the premium meat supply chain (which includes of course local consumers of meat). However, anyone from the general public is welcome, especially if you are able to assist with working groups.
- What is the survey that this meeting relates to?
Josh Wellman of Wellco Advisory and a cattle farmer prepared this survey for livestock farmers, butchers and other stakeholders to gauge interest in a campaign to build micro abattoirs in this region (and beyond). The closing date for the survey is 30 August (previously advertised as closing on 17 August).
- Is this a free event?
Yes it is free! Although we would welcome a small donation on checkout to cover the cost of drinks that we will be providing on arrival :)
We are grateful for the support of The Farm for providing the venue for this event.
- Who is behind this initiative?
Stakeholders within the local meat supply chain have been getting increasingly nervous about the diminishing lack of access to abattoirs in this region in recent years, however, this particular initiative is led by Wellco Advisory, Vitality Farms Northern Rivers and Relocalise Northern Rivers. All of our organisations are run by local residents. None of us are affiliated with local, state or federal government.
- Where will the meeting be held?
We will be meeting at the Garlic Shed at The Farm, right near the highway exit to Byron Bay. The Garlic Shed is just beyond the Three Blue Ducks Restaurant, diagonally behind the white farm cottage.
NOTE that there will be a wedding on that evening, which will restrict our access through the restaurant courtyard to the Garlic Shed beyond. Instead we will need to follow the gravel pathway to the left and then behind the white cottage.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity