Local Food Matters: Building a local food system in Sunraysia

Grant Amount: $5000

Region: Sunraysia, Victoria

Delivered by: Deb Bogenhuber

Year funded: 2024

Project status: Complete

The Challenge

Australia’s food system faces a significant challenge: much of the work to reimagine, redesign, and regenerate it has been led by grassroots movements, with limited formal roles or dedicated funding to drive these efforts at a regional level. This lack of structured support makes it difficult to achieve meaningful change that is tailored to local contexts.

In Sunraysia, a major food-producing region in Australia, the local food system remains small and fragile. Despite being a food bowl for the nation, it is challenging for community members to source local produce and for small-scale farmers to sell their products locally. Strengthening local food systems is essential to reducing emissions, protecting against supply chain disruptions, and increasing resilience in the face of climate change and future pandemics.

The Innovation

Grassroots leaders, like Deborah (Deb) Bogenhuber, have emerged as ‘regional food activators’—critical connectors who galvanise regional food movements. These leaders identify opportunities, foster collaboration, and advocate for local food systems. However, their work is often undervalued and underfunded, despite being essential to building cohesive and effective food movements at a local level.

Deb secured an initial $20,000 from the Victorian Government (via Bendigo Health) to conduct talking circles in Mildura and surrounding townships. This funding supported her work to engage the community and produce a report, Local Food Matters: Building a local food system in Sunraysia, to guide future lobbying efforts and reinvigorate the local food system. With support from Sustainable Table, Deb was able to produce the report and summary report Local Food Matters.

The resulting report captures the community’s vision for a resilient local food system in Sunraysia, along with practical recommendations and solutions. This report serves as a roadmap for building a stronger, more cohesive local food movement in the region.

Why Did Sustainable Table Fund This Project?

Sustainable Table recognises the critical role that local food activators like Deb play in transforming Australia’s food system. For over seven years, Deb has been fostering a resilient local food system in Sunraysia through her work with initiatives such as the Food Next Door Co-op, Out of the Box Mildura, and Slow Food Mildura.

Her ability to connect communities, build relationships, and coordinate efforts across multiple organisations has made her an invaluable asset to the region. Sustainable Table views her collaborative approach as the backbone of a sustainable and resilient food system, and her work aligns with our mission to strengthen local food systems and reduce emissions. By supporting Deb’s efforts, we aim to amplify the impact of her work and catalyse meaningful change in Sunraysia.

What Were the Outcomes?

Deb’s expanded local food activation work resulted in a comprehensive report that consolidates the community’s vision for a stronger local food system in Sunraysia. This document outlines key recommendations and solutions, which Deb will use as a platform to engage the local Shire and advocate for greater investment and strategic commitment to strengthening the region’s local food system. You can read the full report here or a summary of the report here.

The project has laid the groundwork for ongoing collaboration and provided a clear pathway for Sunraysia to develop a more resilient, sustainable, and thriving local food system.

Please consider donating today to help us support more projects like this and regenerate Australian food and farming.