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Food security on agenda

Tristan WheelerManjimup-Bridgetown Times
Evelyn Collin presented a talk on food security.
Camera IconEvelyn Collin presented a talk on food security. Credit: Manjimup-Bridgetown Times

Transition Bridgetown’s monthly open space event focused on food security this month.

The guest speaker was Evelyn Collin, founder of Community Food Events, who has been involved in running Albany’s Food for Thought festival since 2014.

Ms Collin’s keynote address discussed issues that impact food security, as well as ways individuals could improve food security on a local level.

“Transition Towns did a fantastic job of convening the community from across Bridgetown, Greenbushes, Manjimup and Boyup Brook,” Ms Collin said.

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“It was impressive ... community members, producers and local government representatives came from across the region to participate in the discussion on food security.

“It fills my heart to see such strong community spirit and willingness to come together to address the issues of food security from many different angles.”

Ms Collin said COVID-19 had had a profound impact on the food system.

“It’s clearly shown the underlying risks and inequities in global food systems,” she said.

“Communities have come together to plug gaps in food systems, and public authorities have taken extraordinary steps to secure the production and provisioning of food in recent months.

“Civic society clearly desires to participate with industry and government in identifying and implementing food systems that improve the environmental, economic, cultural, social and health outcomes for our local communities and farmland in WA.”

After the discussion, attendees gathered in groups to brainstorm practical initiatives to improve food security.

One initiative implemented by Transition Bridgetown is a recently released guide to local produce, available online, as part one of a three-phase project.

For more information on the guide or the project, email transitionbridgetown19@gmail.com.

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