Open Food Network is Empowering Community Food Enterprises for a Fair and Regenerative Food System

For those who are truly interested in transforming food systems for the better, Open Food Network Australia (OFN) is a name you should know. Their tale is not an easy one to tell in a world of shortening attention spans and black and white narratives. The work that OFN does is complex and doesn’t fit into neatly defined boxes. But that’s kind of the beauty of it. Let’s dive in.

What does OFN do?

On the face of it, OFN is an open-source e-commerce platform that enables producers and food hubs to sell food online. Think Shopify for farmers and food businesses that want to create positive outcomes for the communities they serve, otherwise known as Community Food Enterprises (CFEs). The platform, which prioritises transparency and a fair price for farmers, also enables wholesalers to collaborate with suppliers, and communities to create their own virtual market featuring local produce. This supports and strengthens local food economies in powerful ways.

Beyond the tech, the organisation’s commitment to creating food systems grounded in social and ecological health goes even further. Built on over 10 years of experience listening and learning from people on the ground, OFN aims to build community capacity by creating resources, sharing case studies and conducting research that supports the needs of CFEs across Australia. Want to start your own community food hub? They’ve got a guide for that. Were you wondering how to set a fair price for the produce you’re selling? OFN has got you covered. Keen to learn from the experience of other CFEs? Head to the Learn section on the organisation’s website and start exploring. OFN is a one-stop shop for all your CFE needs. They are laying the foundation for a more fair and regenerative food system.

Always Innovating

OFN is constantly learning, innovating and adapting. At any one time the team is undertaking several projects to grow knowledge and build capacity in order to better serve the community food sector.  Sustainable Table has funded two OFN projects over the past 18 months that demonstrate the organisation’s unique approach.

Upgrading the Tech Platform for Impact

The first project was an ambitious endeavour to improve the service they offer via the OFN online platform. This involved:

• Community consultation – OFN surveyed 75 CFEs to understand how their tech platform can better meet their needs.
• A report on the findings – The research identified a number of key challenges for CFEs including balancing supply and demand, building a customer base and access to finance. 84% of CFEs also cited difficulties with technology and 57% reported that connectivity between the multiple software platforms they use would be helpful. 
• The development and piloting of API endpoints – Based on the feedback from the survey, OFN developed technology that made it simpler and easier to use their platform, saving CFEs precious time and money.

Assessing the Needs and Value of CFEs

The second project, that Sustainable Table co-funded with the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, tackles a problem that emerged in the wake of the pandemic. After CFEs experienced higher than average sales during the lockdowns in Victoria, the tide turned dramatically. As cost-of-living pressures worsen and extreme weather events become more frequent, the CFE sector has been hard hit. Many have closed their doors while many more are on the brink.

In response to this issue, OFN conducted a rapid needs assessment of Victorian based CFEs. Not only did this research demonstrate consistency in needs across multiple CFEs, it also highlighted the incredible value and public good that CFEs generate - which is often a hard thing to quantify. This research will enable OFN to make a collective bid for necessary government and philanthropic support and funding. The project is an important step in securing local food sovereignty for years to come as CFEs are an integral part of regenerative food and farming systems and play a key role in building climate resilience.

You can read more about the findings of the research in OFN’s Annual Report.

Other Projects in the Works

But wait, there’s more! OFN has also recently commenced work on two additional projects:

• The organisation has been funded by the Macdoch Foundation to build a Regenerative Produce Discovery Portal to increase market demand and access to regenerative produce in Australia. They are doing this in collaboration with a network of regenerative partners, including us,  to provide clarity and assurance in the showcasing of Australian producers participating in regenerative agriculture. The pilot Portal will be launched in April 2024.
• Funded by the William Buckland Foundation and Rebecca Gorman, OFN is co-creating a strategy, informed by stakeholder interviews and research, that will advocate for greater investment in regenerative agriculture practices at the Federal Government level.
• OFN is a recipient of the Citi Foundation's Global Innovation Challenge. Their project builds on a previous project funded by Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation and will establish Australia's first food subsidy fund to be implemented alongside a voucher program to increase access to food for diverse and disadvantaged communities, with the pilot starting in Victoria.

In every project they undertake, OFN demonstrates a humility to listen to those on the ground and the courage to take strategic action for transformational systems change. This is their strength.

How do I get involved?

If you’re a fan of the work OFN is doing, there are a number of ways you can be a part of it.

Growers and CFEs

If you are a grower or a CFE, sign up to their platform and start selling online today. There are no upfront costs and membership fees only kick in once your monthly revenue hits $500. OFN provides extensive customer support so if you are feeling a bit nervous about using their tech, they can help walk you through it.

Conscious Eaters

Use the OFN platform to shop from food businesses in your local area. Be aware that things operate a little differently than what you may be used to as shops are open for orders in cycles. What does this mean? Well, each shop on the platform takes orders over a certain period of time. This allows bakers to bake the bread that is ordered, farmers to harvest what is needed and CFEs to source the produce. It reduces waste and ensures that businesses can be responsive to their customer’s needs. Each shop has a different delivery/pick up system so please keep that in mind when you’re making a purchase.

Funders

OFN is a not-for-profit organisation punching way above its weight in terms of impact. It is an essential part of food system transformation. OFN has many more innovative projects waiting in the wings, ready to activate as soon as they have access to the appropriate funding. For more information please get in touch.

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