04/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/14/2024 18:52
The National Farmers' Federation will host a series of roundtables across April and May to confirm support for the broad characteristics and principles that must be used in defining Indigenous agricultural products.
The roundtables are the next phase in consultation in the Indigenous Agricultural Product Framework Project, being led by the NFF and jointly funded by the Australia Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC).
NFF President David Jochinke said it was essential the widest range of voices were heard at this stage to ensure project's objectives are achieved, including delivering ongoing prosperity to Indigenous peoples and business by being able to demonstrate authenticity and verifying claims about their products.
"The first and most important step is to reach agreement among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander producers about what characteristics must define an Indigenous agricultural product," Mr Jochinke said.
"We are calling all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people involved in agriculture, as well as non-Indigenous people interested in promoting Indigenous prosperity through agriculture, to participate in one of the roundtables."
Initial consultations with a range of key stakeholders has identified five characteristics as being critical to the definition of an Indigenous Agricultural Product:
The roundtables will be focused on:
Six (6) virtual roundtables will be held at the following times.
Parties interested in registering for a roundtable, or requiring further information on the roundtables or the project can visit https://nff.org.au/programs/indigenous-agricultural-product-framework-project/.
Those unable to participate in a roundtable session but interested in contributing to this important phase in consultation are encouraged to complete a short survey, also available at the above webpage.