[rfn-l] FW: MEDIA: RELEASE CROWDFUNDING SUCCESS A CLEAR SIGN OF SUPPORT FOR AUSTRALIAN FARMERS

[Adele Wessell]

Dear colleagues,

I thought a few people would be interested in this media release on the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance’s Legal Defence Fund Campaign:

View this email in your browser<http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=50e651d6e6cc9be87723fe2c2&id=f6f12f5630&e=5b31080066>


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MEDIA RELEASE -Please distribute to your networks and local media!
CROWDFUNDING SUCCESS A CLEAR SIGN OF SUPPORT FOR AUSTRALIAN FARMERS
28 May 2016

Individuals, organisations and communities across Australia have donated over $11,000 <http://australianfoodsovereigntyalliance.us6.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=50e651d6e6cc9be87723fe2c2&id=ce9b74ed43&e=5b31080066> to support food producers fined facing stifling regulations on food standards.

Led by the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) a crowdfunding campaign to raise $100,000 for a Legal Defence Fund will support farmers such as Helen and Mark Tyler of Willunga, SA, fined $17,500 last month for providing raw milk.

The unjust penalty triggered a strong reaction from members of AFSA who claim that government failure to keep up with innovation in small-scale local food production is damaging livelihoods and restricting consumer choice.

The Legal Defence Fund campaign has struck a chord with producers and consumers alike.

“This fund will be great help for all of us in the industry,” commented one donor.

“I feel so frustrated for these farmers and producers and will do all I can to help them get back to producing excellent food,” said another donor.

“It makes me angry that these regulators make it so difficult when they should be there to support and assist.”

The Legal Defence Fund will establish a legal advice hotline to support farmers caught up in a trial by media and fund casework to lobby for legal reform.

“It’s a shame when farmers have to fight their own governments for the right to feed their communities, but that time has come,” said AFSA President and free-range pig farmer Tammi Jonas.

‘’On-farm processing is copping unfair and inconsistent regulation of facilities, and outdated and illogical definitions in local planning schemes.

“Regulation is preventing us from supplying ethical, ecologically-sound, nutritious and delicious food to our communities. “

Recent cases include the enforced closures of Elgaar Organic Farm in Tasmania, and Happy Valley Free Range pig farm in Victoria.

Along with emergency support, the Legal Defence Fund will also provide advice on public and product liability for farms and food producers who sell direct to the public and offer examples of best-practice planning for farmers and local councils.

All funds received will go directly to support farmers and eaters in their efforts to produce and have access to ethically and ecologically grown food.

Contact: Tammi Jonas, AFSA President, 0422 429 362

 DONATE TODAY TO SUPPORT FARMERS (AND GET A YEAR'S MEMBERSHIP OF AFSA)!<http://australianfoodsovereigntyalliance.us6.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=50e651d6e6cc9be87723fe2c2&id=9d52d8254e&e=5b31080066>

The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance
The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) is a collaboration of farmers, academics, chefs, organisations, and individuals working together towards a food system in which people have the opportunity to create, manage, and choose their food and agriculture systems from paddock to plate. Our members include peak bodies and local government agencies such as the Melbourne Farmers Markets Association, the Victorian Local Governance Association, and Southern Harvest; leading ecological organisations such as Regrarians, Food Connect, MADGE, Feather & Bone, and Milkwood; and regenerative direct-to-consumer farms such as Buena Vista, Jonai Farms, Milking Yard, Old Mill Bio, Sage, Savannah, and Southampton Homestead.

AFSA recently attended the Asia Pacific Regional Conference of the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN, where support for smallholders to control their value chains, and for agroecological farming systems are priority workstreams.

Our vision is to enable regenerative farming businesses to thrive, free from restrictive outdated regulations that work to protect industrialised farming and food producers. Australians increasingly care about the way their food is produced including its social and environmental impacts, and food produced on small regenerative farms is in unprecedented demand.

With the support of the Australian public, AFSA aims to take back control of the food system from corporate interests and educate our government about what a fair food system looks (and tastes) like.




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