Report Launch - Regenerating the Regions: Principles and Pathways for Thriving Regional Food Infrastructure (Public)

Across Australia, many communities have stopped waiting for someone else to fix the food system and started building their own solutions: shared food infrastructure that provides crucial tools and resources, builds secure supply chains, and strengthens the ties that hold a place together. Food hubs, micro abattoirs, community kitchens, and more.

When producers, food makers and the general public pool the costs and the effort, the burden gets lighter, farmers get a fairer go, and neighbours end up knowing each other (and where their dinner came from). It’s practical, it’s powerful, and can (should!) be fun.

But a shared shed is only the start. What separates infrastructure that regenerates a region from a building that just serves a few local operators?

Food Connect Foundation’s new guide, Principles and Pathways for Thriving Regional Food Infrastructure, is a practical guide, process and workbook for developing what will work for YOUR region and its unique mix of place, people and industry. From vision to viability, it draws on 20+ years of experience building and working with these hubs across Australia, case studies from other regions, and even lessons from hubs that struggled.

Join us for a walkthrough of the guide, and hear from Tammi Jonas (Jonai Farms & Meatsmiths, Ian & Courtney Young (Woodstock Flour), and Robert Pekin & Emma-Kate Rose (Food Connect Shed). 

We’ll cover:

• An explanation of our signature Heart → Head → Hands process, and how to use the workbook with your group to ideate and take first steps toward the right type of food infrastructure project for your region

• Stories from our guest speakers on what worked, what didn’t, and what they’d do differently

• Seven principles for regenerative food infrastructure and why it makes all the difference

• Time for your questions

• Sneak preview info on what’s coming in 2027, to help make your project reality. 
  

Who it’s for

Community groups, grassroots organisers, farmers, food businesses, researchers, and anyone motivated by local food security and supply chain work. You don’t need to be building a food hub or facility yet. If you’re keen to stay involved in this conversation, we will be running a Community of Practice in 2027, online and in-person at the Food Connect Shed. You can register your interest when signing up for this webinar. 

Speakers

• Robert Pekin (Food Connect Foundation)

• Emma-Kate Rose (Food Connect Foundation)

• Jessie Power (Food Connect Foundation)

With special comments from:

• Tammi Jonas (Jonai Farms & Meatsmiths)

• Ian & Courtney Young (Woodstock Flour)

Format
60 minute webinar, including time for Q&A. A recording and the guide will be sent to everyone who registers.