This is intellectualising the issue. What is the issue – consumers want to know more about how products are produced. Why? Lack of trust? Profit protection – negative media and stories erodes profits. Shareholders demand profits. By product of this is “compliance mentality”. Basically disgruntled producers who could be prone to “do the minimum” to “get through audit”. So we get more and more clever with the systems, the skills of auditors, the reporting requirements, the level of training in systems management.....we write Codes of Practice, and interpretive guidelines, supporting documents, compliance criteria Where in the world is this happening? Amongst the most affluent – Europe, UK and here For many producers this feels like a lose:win situation
Meanwhile back at the ranch......people are talking about food security “ access at all times to an available and reliable supply of adequate, safe and nutritious food” We can already see this in some many parts of the world. India, Africa, This is a lose:lose scenario
I hear stories of this sort of behaviour when retailers are short of product - the shelves will not be left empty – produce will be found somewhere.
This is a women’s self help group outside Hyderabad in India. These women are scraping a living and putting aside small amounts of money – like their own bank – which can then be used to encourage a real bank to lend a bit more money to the group. And what is this money used for? One of these women took a loan from this group to move into a house, instead of living beside her plot of land under plastic. Another one bought a goat, then another goat, amassed a herd of 50 goats and sold them all for her daughter’s dowry....
To what extent are “systems” a luxury, driven by abundance and status anxiety? We can afford to be choosey. What happens when the impacts of climate change start to bite here? Move from abundance to scarcity – from our traditional western supply chain to some of the supply chains we see in developing countries
What evidence is there that this could happen in Australia? Murray - Darling 1995 water cap on allocations ACCC overseeing the trade in water Take the Murray-Darling....
Who else is seeing this potential future?
This is the win:win
Single label – precedent already established in an alliance between Coles and Biological Farmers of Australia, with the Australian Certified Organic logo being used to unite organic products certified under a variety of organic certification standards to make it less confusing for the consumer to identify organic products. Also the Environmental Systems Recognition Framework for Horticulture – funded by the Australian Government through Caring for our Country and managed by Horticulture Australia Limited. A means of recognising environmental assurance systems that meet agreed standard with the aim of maximising choice of systems for producers and for retailers and minimising the confusion and system “turf war” that we have seen in quality assurance and food safety. Rewards include improved environmental sustainability of the farm, efficient delivery and access to support (financial, technical, social), reduced insurance premiums (like a rating one driver with AAMI), reduced interest rates with bank due to reduced risk (longer term sustainability of the farm). Not reliant on short term government funding – would be a practical demonstration of Corporate Social Responsibility we can all find on the websites of multi-nationals and big business and as such would be supported by these businesses. Increased efficiency – problem – solution package with delivery by those best placed geographically and technically.
Miwatj Health – East Arhnem Land collaborative approach to significant health and social issues for indigenous communities Collaboration between indigenous and western professionals Social, emotional and cultural well being of the community Clinical services – walk in walk out service Chronic disease outreach team Child and maternal health outreach team Men’s health outreach program – preventive Community based educational and preventive programs Alcohol and other drugs program Suicide mitigation program Policy and planning – population health data to see key health issues Bringing together of communities with similar problems for efficient delivery – research needs are identified, appropriate support is available
Probably one of the best examples of community engagement around environmental issues in Australia is Landcare. People enjoy going to meetings and working bees and field days. Its a combination of social interaction and technical information. Quite a different vibe to food safety training days.... This is the vibe we need.
Success depends on compatibility of cultures, empathy for each other’s businesses, acceptance of each others expectations, mutual trust and motivation to develop relationships Major agrifood business, 2010