S3 | Episode SevenApril 16th 2024
Topic 3: From Farm to Fork
In Conversation With: Serenity Hill
Co-Founder: The Open Food Network
CLICK to scroll to video version
I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Serenity Hill about building an alternative, fairer and more resilient path within our food systems.
Serenity is the co-founder of The Open Food Network.
She comes from a long line of farmers on both sides of her family and has grown up with a keen awareness of the challenges and contradictions of balancing the needs of nature and the needs of farmers within a centralised food system that does a poor job of supporting either.
We talk about the motivations that led to the creation of The Open Food Network alongside the ongoing ambitions and evolution of this now expansive enterprise.
For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below, and use the references section to find links out to more from the Open Food Network.Â
Click for References
The Open Food Network now has activities in over 20 countries, each with their own website. The above link will take you to the main site.
This page will help you to find the content more specific to your location.
—–
Inspiration from The Open Food Network in Canada:
Click for Timestamps
A breakdown of the discussion:
00:00 – Intro
02:51 – Motivation & background to start the OFN
08:40 – Farming with nature – influences from both parents
13:42 – Challenges faced by farmers in current food system
17:07 – What is a social enterprise?
18:50 – What is the Open Food Network?
24:00 – Input from Nick Weir (Open Food Network UK)
27:54 – Shared learning, resource & investment
30:21 – OFN success stories and uses
36:00 – Evolving the investment and subsidy schemes for greater food access for all
39:39 – ‘The Power of Food’- valuing food beyond a basic commodity
44:25 – Serenity and Kirsten’s farm
46:11 – Learning more
<- Previous Episode
In Conversation With Daniel Deniaud-Powell [Biodiversity Gardening]
Next Episode ->
Coming soon
More From the Podcast
