Council takes a lead role in local food system mapping

2 May 2022

Mount Barker District Council is a member of the Food Systems Working Group (FSWG) which includes 8 other South Australian councils, Green Adelaide, Wellbeing SA and the Heart Foundation.

The term ‘food system’ describes the various elements that go into growing, production, marketing, distribution, consumption and disposal of food.

In 2020, the FSWG was successful in winning a Local Government Association Research and Development Grant to help better understand local food systems and prepare a guide for councils to support and strengthen such systems.

Mount Barker was the second of four councils to host an Our Local Food Systems workshop as part of the project. Workshops were also held by Onkaparinga, Alexandrina and Marion Councils.

The workshop in Mount Barker was attended by 35 people from the community and was supported by the project consultants and staff from participating councils and Green Adelaide.

Mount Barker Mayor, Ann Ferguson said: “It was clear from the workshop that there is a role for everyone to play in building a healthy and sustainable food system in the Mount Barker region, and there is strong interest and goodwill in working together to do this.”

“Individuals can become a food citizen by making conscious decisions about what and where they eat. Ms Ferguson added,

“Community groups and organisations can help to create resilient local food systems by being involved in activities such as community gardens, cooking programs, food education and other opportunities identified in the key vision themes from the workshop.

“There are already many projects and activities that occur throughout the district and region that align with the visions, themes and actions discussed at the workshop. A key next step for Council is to begin to raise awareness of these projects through further mapping and ongoing engagement.”

A report from the Mount Barker workshop is available on the Council’s website www.mountbarker.sa.gov.au/community/food-safety/food-systems-project