A DESIRE to ensure Hawkesbury plays a strong part in providing food security for the Sydney basin is what prompted our federal member to hold a meeting with farmers on Monday, April 3.
Her office invited an array of local producers including winery operators, orchardists, cider producers and all those affiliated with Hawkesbury Harvest.
Called ‘The Challenges faced by producers in the Hawkesbury’, the meeting at the EarthCare Centre at Western Sydney University’s Richmond campus included Shadow Minister for Agriculture Joel Fitzgibbon.
“Regions like ours have an important role to play in providing food security for Sydney and I want to make sure our contribution and the potential we have is not overlooked,” Ms Templeman said of the reason for holding the meeting.
She said more than 20 local producers were there on the day, despite heavy rain. Biosecurity was brought up at the meeting with regard to the importing of cheap apples from overseas.
"As a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, which examines every treaty Australia signs, the meeting is a reminder to me about how vigilant we need to be in ensuring biosecurity is top of mind for trade agreements,” Ms Templeman said.
“Over the last seven years, I've regularly had either the Minister for Agriculture or the Shadow Minister come to the Hawkesbury so that they understand the importance of the agricultural industry we have in our peri-urban environment.
"For instance, the damage done to the food production industry in Queensland and northern NSW is already predicted to impact food prices next month.”
The EarthCare Centre’s Eric Brocken said attendees included not just farmers, but also researchers and academics from the university, Local Land Service officers, amateur beekeepers and environmentalists.
Mr Fitzgibbon was impressed by the work going on at the centre, and listened to the farmers’ concerns, “not only about food security and 'nutrient density' but also the importance of the allied issues of tourism, the threat of cheap apple imports and the threat to production because of the lack of pollination from bees,” Mr Brocken said.
Mr Fitzgibbon said the meeting was a great opportunity to hear from an important group. "I'm grateful to Susan for facilitating meetings with so many people who are dedicated to sustainable farming practices and who understand the importance of strong biosecurity arrangement,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
Mr Brocke said the meeting also highlighted the opportunities with food-based tourism and maintaining open space as important productive 'green' zones to protect the city from damage caused by climate extremes.
“There is also the enormous potential of the circular economy of turning food and green waste into compost for food production locally,” he said.
Ms Templeman said afterwards "I think the key issues that came out of the day were around sustainable but profitable production as the best way to protect agricultural lands, with a need for a strong focus on biosecurity.
"The research of Hawkesbury Earthcare, in collaboration with the university but also amongst member groups, means really practical work on soil and production is being done there,” she said.
“And discussions with Hawkesbury Harvest producers highlight the need to encourage diversity behind the farm gate.
“The Hawkesbury has amazing potential to become a real tourist hub. People can come and pick their own fresh fruit, children and school groups can learn about where their food comes from and couples can have a romantic weekend away; all just an hour drive from the chaos of the city.
“We need to continue the discussion as a community on how we can ensure our local producers are supported.”
