Agroecology Roadshow 2024

Join us for the Agroecology Roadshow - a three-week journey up the east coast of what is now called Australia! We're hosting a series of local Agroecology Dialogues, where farmers, food lovers, and communities can come together to share knowledge, connect, and build a stronger movement for agroecology, local food systems and food sovereignty.

What to Expect:

1. Share experiences and tips, farmer-to-farmer and eater-to-eater, to help grow the agroecology movement.
2. Build connections between local, regional, and national organisations.
3. Work together to create real change in our food and agriculture systems.

Background:
Australia’s farmers produce 93% of the country’s food, but over 70% of that is exported, mostly to wealthy countries or used in livestock feed, biofuels, and processed foods. Despite this, small-scale farmers are on the rise, selling directly to local markets and embracing more sustainable practices. These farmers are moving away from large-scale, industrial farming towards small-scale, localised and community-driven practices. In a global context, we call this movement agroecology, which is still an emergent term in Australia. To define agroecology in an Australian context and make it accessible to farmers, eaters and communities alike, we need to built strong networks at a grassroots level.Without strong support networks, many farmers find themselves stuck in cycles of debt and reliance on expensive consultants. The Agroecology Roadshow aims to empower small-scale farmers and activists to push for change from the ground up, resisting big agribusiness and advocating for more sustainable, fair food systems.

Dates & Locations:

4 Oct: Bilpin (Dharug Country, NSW) at Bilpin Springs/Harvest Farm, 2570 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin NSW 2758

6 Oct: Comboyne (Birpai Country, NSW) at Grazed and Grown, 594 Ponsford Rd, Comboyne NSW 2429

8 Oct: Bellingen (Gumbaynggirr Country, NSW) at Levenvale Farm, 347 Hydes Creek Rd, Hydes Creek NSW 2454

9 Oct: Lismore (Bundjalung Country, NSW) at Namabunda Farm, 112 Whites Lane, Alstonville, 2477, NSW

11 Oct: Nerang (Kombumerri Country, QLD) at Ediblescapes, 74 Billabirra Cres, Nerang QLD 4211

13 Oct: Goomburra (Githabul Country, QLD) at Echo Valley Farm, 157 Forest Spring- Goomburra Road, Goomburra QLD 4362

14 Oct: Armidale (Anaiwan and Kamilaroi Country, NSW) at Legacy Hall, 89 Faulkner Street, Armidale NSW 2350

16 Oct: Wollongong (Dharawal Country, NSW) at University of Wollongong, iAccelerate Building Rooftop, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong

18-19 Oct: Food Sovereignty Convergence in Bermagui (Djiringanj Country, NSW)

21 Oct: Canberra (Ngunnawal Country, ACT)at Canberra Food Co-Op, 3 Kingsley St, Canberra ACT 2601

Before the Event:

We’ll be sending out a short survey to ticket holders about 10 days before the event to help us understand the key challenges and opportunities in your area. This will allow us to focus the discussions on what matters most to your community. The email will also include important info like directions and event logistics.

Catering:

Most events will have a potluck lunch or dinner, so please bring a dish to share! If you have specific dietary needs, we encourage you to bring something that suits your requirements. Also, please bring your own cups, mugs, and cutlery to help reduce waste.

Got Questions?

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions at: admin@afsa.org.au.

Support AFSA's Agroecology Roadshow and Pay the Rent

Ticket prices for the Agroecology Roadshow are kept as low as possible to enable as many people as possible to participate in the discussion.

If you have capacity to contribute to the Roadshow with a donation in addition to your ticket price, this will help to cover the full costs of the event, and support AFSA's work advocating for food sovereignty in Australia. Your support is greatly appreciated, and enables the Roadshow to be an inclusive and democratic space for the food sovereignty movement in Australia.

In addition to supporting AFSA’s work, we have also included an option to Pay the Rent to local First Peoples in your region. This is an optional contribution for attendees wishing to offer a gesture of reparation and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.