Food waste is one of the biggest challenges to sustainable urban food systems. We know food waste has massive detrimental environmental, climate and water effects. In urban environments, food waste can be tricky, smelly and expensive to manage for local residents and local councils.

In this episode, we hear stories from Susi and a microbrewery trying to close the food waste loop through collaboration with farmers and other local food businesses; Cris and her ideas for gourmet food experiences that powerfully connect people to place and waste; and Margaret overcoming her fear of worms to compost at home, cooking with discounted groceries and the joy of sharing her journey as part of spreading food innovation.

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Parts of this episode were recorded in public spaces, a microbrewery and a cafe. The audio contains background radio, voices and small machinery noises.

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The Food Forward Podcast was created by Dr Sarina Kilham and produced with a knowledge exchange grant from the City of Sydney (2021-2023). Food Forward is part of a broad research project titled Mapping Social Innovation in Sydney's Food Systems. The ⁠project website⁠ has a free, downloadable ⁠Food-SCAN Tool ⁠that you can use to capture stories of social innovation in your local urban food systems, and additional in-depth multi-media Sydney Food Innovator Stories.

This research was developed with funding and support from the City of Sydney, The Australian Sociological Association and Charles Sturt University (CRICOS 00005F).

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Food Forward was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and we acknowledge their ongoing connection and care of Country. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands, skies and waters across Australia and pay our respect to elders past and present. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

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Host & Creator: Dr Sarina Kilham

Co-Creator: Dr Tania Leimbach

Recording Studio: ⁠The Brain Studios⁠

What is the role of trust and community building in creating a thriving and sustainable urban food system? Turns out - trust is an essential ingredient (excuse the food pun:). In this episode, our food innovator guests talk about how to build trust through small steps, doing what you can when you can and not being overwhelmed.

We hear from Phil Pettit from the Royal Botanical Gardens Sydney Community Greening 'Master Gardeners' program. Phil highlights how conflict, trust and commitment are negotiated when everyone's a volunteer.

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The Food Forward Podcast was created by Dr Sarina Kilham and produced with a knowledge exchange grant from the City of Sydney (2021-2023). Food Forward is part of a broad research project titled Mapping Social Innovation in Sydney's Food Systems. The ⁠project website⁠ has a free, downloadable ⁠Food-SCAN Tool ⁠that you can use to capture stories of social innovation in your local urban food systems, and additional in-depth multi-media Food Innovator Stories.

This research was developed with funding and support from the City of Sydney, The Australian Sociological Association and Charles Sturt University (CRICOS 00005F).

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Food Forward was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and we acknowledge their ongoing connection and care of Country. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands, skies and waters across Australia and pay our respect to elders past and present. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

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Host & Creator: Dr Sarina Kilham

Co-Creator: Dr Tania Leimbach

Recording Studio: ⁠The Brain Studios⁠

In this final episode of series 1 - we hear the conversations recorded at a one-day workshop from Sydney's Food Innovators in April 2022. The Food Innovators were asked to share their personal food innovation journeys and map out the challenges, obstacles, enablers, networks and strengths of Sydney's food system. We also asked them to 'zoom out' and consider bigger issues of policy, the role of local and state government and what food innovators like themselves would need to thrive in Sydney. This episode is composed a medley of that conversation.

Through this workshop and research - we developed a free, public, open-access tool that can be used by anyone to capture stories of local food innovation. You can find the Food-SCAN Tool via the weblinks below.

That's all for Series 1. We hope to be back with a series 2. If you are listening to this podcast on Spotify, please use the Q&A function to let us know what stories you'd like to hear in a future series of Food Forward.

Resources and Links:

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The Food Forward Podcast was created by Dr Sarina Kilham and produced with a knowledge exchange grant from the City of Sydney (2021-2023). Food Forward is part of a broad research project titled Mapping Social Innovation in Sydney's Food Systems. The ⁠project website⁠ has a free, downloadable ⁠Food-SCAN Tool ⁠that you can use to capture stories of social innovation in your local urban food systems, and additional in-depth multi-media Sydney Food Innovator Stories.

This research was developed with funding and support from the City of Sydney, The Australian Sociological Association and Charles Sturt University (CRICOS 00005F).

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Food Forward was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and we acknowledge their ongoing connection and care of Country. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands, skies and waters across Australia and pay our respect to elders past and present. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

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Host & Creator: Dr Sarina Kilham

Co-Creator: Dr Tania Leimbach

Recording Studio: ⁠The Brain Studios⁠

How much land would we need to ensure a sustainable food supply for Sydney? In this episode, we explore the idea of food as essential public infrastructure and discuss parts of the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Food production and supply, food insecurity in Australia and why the COVID food hoarding was actually pretty reasonable behaviour. We'll hear stories from local volunteers and the importance of community gardens as essential public infrastructure that contributes to wellbeing, health and social connection. 

If you are listening on Spotify, remember to send us your feedback via the polls and Q&A on the episode profile page.

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Additional Resources & Links: 

The Food Forward Podcast was created by Dr Sarina Kilham and produced with a knowledge exchange grant from the City of Sydney (2021-2023). Food Forward is part of a broad research project titled Mapping Social Innovation in Sydney's Food Systems. The ⁠project website⁠ has a free, downloadable ⁠Food-SCAN Tool ⁠that you can use to capture stories of social innovation in your local urban food systems, and additional in-depth multi-media Food Innovator Stories.

This research was developed with funding and support from the City of Sydney, The Australian Sociological Association and Charles Sturt University (CRICOS 00005F).

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Food Forward was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and we acknowledge their ongoing connection and care of Country. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands, skies and waters across Australia and pay our respect to elders past and present. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

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Host & Creator: Dr Sarina Kilham

Co-Creator: Dr Tania Leimbach

Recording Studio: ⁠The Brain Studios⁠

We kick off this episode with a quick look in your fridge. Have you ever thought how the food in your fridge is connected to a broad, complex food system and the social significance of different food to you?

Whilst you're looking in your fridge, we hear from Sydney food innovators about the important of social learning, connection and networks on their journeys to becoming food innovators. Social innovation in urban food systems isn’t just one thing or defining moment, it is multiple small moments stacked and layered and connected with other people, activities and groups. Food is part of a complex web of activities and is what we call ‘food systems’. And we use the plural of systems because even in the same city - there are multiple food systems in action at any time.

Food systems are about both the tangible - such as farms, infrastructure like roads and shipping, supermarkets, and the intangible - the policies, the regulations, the social preferences and cultural norms that affect all aspects of how we produce, share, access, distribute and dispose of food.

If you are listening on Spotify, remember to send us your feedback via the polls and Q&A on the episode profile page.

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The Food Forward Podcast was created by Dr Sarina Kilham and produced with a knowledge exchange grant from the City of Sydney (2021-2023). Food Forward is part of a broad research project titled Mapping Social Innovation in Sydney's Food Systems. The ⁠project website⁠ has a free, downloadable ⁠Food-SCAN Tool ⁠that you can use to capture stories of social innovation in your local urban food systems, and additional in-depth multi-media Food Innovator Stories.

This research was developed with funding and support from the City of Sydney, The Australian Sociological Association and Charles Sturt University (CRICOS 00005F).

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Food Forward was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and we acknowledge their ongoing connection and care of Country. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands, skies and waters across Australia and pay our respect to elders past and present. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

---

Host & Creator: Dr Sarina Kilham

Co-Creator: Dr Tania Leimbach

Recording Studio: ⁠The Brain Studios⁠

In this episode, we dive into the role of social innovation in creating a thriving and sustainable urban food system. We explore how understanding the social aspects of how we eat, and the lives of the people who drive food innovation, can unlock new possibilities in the way we nourish ourselves.

We hear from Mariah, the executive officer of UTS Student Association, who shares how they run a food service that feeds two to three thousand students per week with local, organic, and nutritious food. We also hear from Cris, a chef and small food business entrepreneur, who shares her experience with running a sustainable food business and how she strives to educate her customers about where their food is coming from. We meet Danielle from the Organic Buyers Hub explain how she started a growing movement from her lounge-room that links fresh organic produce, social networks and community organising. Finally, Dr Sophia Lin explains how policy impacts on food innovation.

These food innovator stories highlight the role of social networks, education and engagement, progressive food policies, and funding opportunities in enabling food system innovation.

Subscribe to discover the innovators who are working outside of traditional approaches to create a more sustainable, equitable food system.

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Some of the audio in this episode was recorded in Sydney Food Innovator Workshop held in April 2022.

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The Food Forward Podcast was created by Dr Sarina Kilham and produced with a knowledge exchange grant from the City of Sydney (2021-2023). Food Forward is part of a broad research project titled Mapping Social Innovation in Sydney's Food Systems. The project website has a free, downloadable Food-SCAN Tool that you can use to capture stories of social innovation in your local urban food systems, and additional in-depth multi-media Food Innovator Stories.

This research was developed with funding and support from the City of Sydney, The Australian Sociological Association and Charles Sturt University (CRICOS 00005F).

---

Food Forward was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and we acknowledge their ongoing connection and care of Country. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands, skies and waters across Australia and pay our respect to elders past and present. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

---

Host & Creator: Dr Sarina Kilham

Co-Creater: Dr Tania Leimbach

Recording Studio: The Brain Studios