The average age of Australian farmers is now 55 and ageing. As the bulk of our food producers near retirement. Who will our feed hungry mouths and how?
Future Feeders is an initiative providing young people with opportunities for mentorship in small-scale farm management and agricultural skills development. We hope to provide a supporting bridge for young people eager to move into careers in sustainable food production, with an emphasis on local food security.
Our task is not an easy one, but it is necessary. The time is right for revolutionary ideas within the food movement. Globally, channels are opening for young people to take responsibility for the future of their food. We have momentum and positive examples of productive and collaborative community supported agricultural projects to follow.
The Northern Rivers region's rich soils, rainfall and access to infrastructure provides us with huge potential to act as a significant food production hub for the larger populations of our urban neighbours in both Brisbane and the Gold Coast. More importantly we can secure our own community's local food resilience.
Future Feeders is a platform rather than a total solution. It aims to gather young people committed to feeding our community to be participating owner/members of a food production co-operative. It aims to foster an enterprise which acknowledges the power of collective unity and ideas.
Future Feeder's vision is that there will be a strong and united network of young Australian famers who are working to support each other to thrive and prosper though the use of agroecological farming practices and the application of the principles of Food Sovereignty.
We are facilitating this vision in two ways. Firstly, by creating our own working demonstration model that shows the benefits of farmers working collaboratively and peer-to-peer learning. This will also provide meaningful and sustainable employment for FF cooperative members.
Secondly, we are building a united network of young ethical farmers at the local, regional and national level. We want to maintain a focus on the urgent need for a new generation of young farmers in Australia.
