#16 The Cornucopia🫕- Fossil Fuel in Food, Slow Food Markets, National Stocktakes, Recipe Books, COP31 Conversations & More
Melbourne to Victoria and Beyond: Your Regular Scoop of the Food Systems Scene
Regen Melbourne acknowledges and respects the Bunurong, Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation, which is now known as Melbourne. We extend these acknowledgements to all Traditional Owners across the State of Victoria. The food system knowledge, practices and deep wisdom of the First Nations people of this land guides, informs and drives our work.
Hello Cornucopians🧣!
We've been hibernating like many others with the cold winter hitting us all. It's the time for rugging up, indulging in some delicious soups, or if you're lucky, escaping to somewhere warmer!
We know we promised an exciting new announcement last edition, but we're going to keep you in suspense for a little bit longer. What better way to get through these cold months than knowing there's a tasty morsel of goodness at the end of that tunnel. Let's get stuck into the foodie news!
🫓 Hot Off the Grill
Across the Globe 🌎
⛽ IPES Food’s latest report reveals that "fossil fuels are the lifeblood of the food industry," with 40% of global petrochemicals consumed by the food system. Major agribusiness continues pushing dependency on fossil fuels and petrochemicals, but the report provides a crucial roadmap for getting fossil fuels out of our system.
IPES-Food. 2025. Fuel to Fork: What will it take to get fossil fuels out of our food systems
😟The New Zealand government has for a second time said no to creating a national food strategy, but advocates are planning to keep campaigning on this critical issue.
📢The excellent Bite Back billboard calling out the harmful marketing tactics of the food industry has been blocked by the very industry it was critiquing.
🌱A Conversation article explores why there's a growing backlash against plant-based diets, highlighting the urgent need for a just transition that supports eaters, farmers, and everyone along the supply chain.
🌍The Planetary Alliance has released a white paper spotlighting the work and learnings from 10 global visionaries who are transforming food systems.
🛒Slow Food celebrates a remarkable market in Mexico that serves as a space for food education, cultural exchange, and environmental dialogue, centring gender equity and agroecological practices.
Closer to Home 🏠
📊 CSIRO has released the first national stocktake of Australia's food system, highlighting the need for more holistic and better reporting, greater collaboration, and for nourishment to be better centered while supporting local economies and sustainability.
📚 You can now pre-order the Just Food Collective and Open Table's recipe book designed for and with students to create cheap and delicious meals easily!
🥕 The Community Grocer has released its inspiring 2024 impact report, celebrating incredible achievements including 84% of their customers increasing fruit and vegetable intake as a result of shopping at their market.
🔧 The University of Melbourne Foodprint team has launched their comprehensive new toolkit to support communities and organisations in building more resilient food systems. It's a wealth of frameworks, templates, and insightful case studies, including guidance on enacting a human right to food in your work.
Carey, R., Murphy, M. and Behen, T. (2025) Victorian food resilience planning toolkit.
🍎 A Conversation article shows how the current model of Australian kids bringing their own school lunches could be reimagined to be much healthier and better for families.
🗑️ Unclear 'best before' and 'use by' labelling is costing the average Australian household $2500 a year due to food waste.
💰 A new report by Farmers for Climate Action details how climate change is hitting us at the checkout on our most commonly consumed foods like eggs, coffee, and beef.
Foodie Calendar🗓️
July 4, 9:30-10:30am | Online: Join a conversation with Gonzalo Muñoz, U.N. High Level Climate Action Champion for COP25, to discuss the potential for ambitious food and agriculture outcomes at the possible Australia and Pacific COP31.
July 17, 12:30-1:30pm | Online: ANU Planetary Equity Hot House hosts a webinar by Dr Kate Sievert on why finance matters-understanding food system financialisation to shape better policy.
August-September, 12 sessions | Online: Permaqueer is launching their exciting new learning community "Orienting Futures" for emerging culturally and ecologically responsive practice in the social enterprise sector. If interested, complete an expression of interest before the 11th of July!
Until next time, stay cozy, keep your soup pot simmering, and hold tight, that special announcement is coming soon and it's going to be worth the wait!
🥝 Do you have something delicious brewing that you want us to share in The Cornucopia?
Send us an ✉️ at dheepa@regen.melbourne