Our Impact for 2024

2024 has been another transformative year for Sustainable Table. As we continue to diversify our funding and financing strategies, we’ve remained steadfast in our mission to regenerate Australia’s food and farming systems. From innovative partnerships to community-driven initiatives, we’ve worked tirelessly to foster collaboration, amplify voices, and create tangible change. Here’s a closer look at the milestones we’ve achieved this year.

Good Grain Takes Root

In May 2024, we launched Good Grain in partnership with Stone & Wood Brewing Co., a revolutionary initiative aimed at transforming Australian beer and gin supply chains through regenerative agriculture. This collaboration brought together farmers, maltsters, brewers, and distillers to unite diverse stakeholders under a common mission: to regenerate Australia’s agricultural landscapes and promote sustainability. In its inaugural year, Good Grain granted a total of $60,000 to four projects that focused on the important development of grain research and infrastructure. These projects will help lay the groundwork for more sustainable grain supply chains.

As part of this initiative, we launched the Good Grain Guide, a resource that highlights the potential of regenerative grains. The guide explores how farmers, brewers, bakers, and consumers can work together to cultivate and process grains in ways that benefit the land, the people, and the planet. This year’s successes mark just the beginning of a long-term commitment to reshaping grain production and building a more resilient agricultural landscape.

Atherton Tablelands Collaboration: Phase 2

Our work in Far North Queensland continued to flourish through Phase 2 of the Atherton Tablelands Integrated Collaboration (ATIC). This phase focuses on creating tangible outcomes while strengthening regional relationships and initiatives. With the Sustainable Table FNQ team at the helm, we’ve achieved several significant milestones in 2024:

• Hosted multiple community events, including a screening of Common Ground, to raise awareness about regenerative agriculture and the importance of local food systems in the region.
• Launched a local food subscription pilot with Tablelands to Tabletop, connecting producers with consumers in innovative ways.
• Designed a Bush Tukka Garden in Cairns, a project supporting a local First Nations enterprise and deepening connections to the land.
• Created a peer-to-peer soil health course to be piloted in 2025, that enables farmers and land managers to share knowledge, build community connections, and implement regenerative practices to enhance soil vitality and resilience.

The $3 million Atherton Tablelands Integrated Collaboration (ATIC) is jointly funded through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program and Sustainable Table. By weaving together the skills and expertise of diverse stakeholders, we’re building a foundation for long-term regional change that is deeply rooted in community and collaboration.

Follow along on Instagram or Facebook to stay in the loop and follow the progress Sustainable FNQ is making.

Pioneering Financial Access with Steward: A Collaborative Effort

In 2024, Sustainable Table collaborated with Steward, a USA-based private lending platform dedicated to supporting regenerative farms, fisheries, and local food producers. Recognising the financial challenges faced by many regenerative producers, Sustainable Table played a pivotal role in identifying needs within the Australian food and farming sector, connecting producers to Steward’s tailored financing solutions.

This year, in collaboration with Wedegtail and Sprout Tasmania, Steward raised $350,000 for Mike Layfield and Lauren Byrne of Felds Farm in Tasmania. Former chefs with a passion for flavour and nutrition, Mike and Lauren have earned a reputation for restoring soil and producing high-quality vegetables for Tasmanian customers and restaurants.

The loan will enable Felds Farm to purchase 100 acres of land in Forcett in North East Tasmania—land that is in need of rehabilitation. This expansion will allow Mike and Lauren to consolidate their operations into a single productive farm, close to Hobart, while continuing their work as stewards of the land. Through this collaborative effort, we are closing the financial gap for regenerative producers and strengthening Australia’s local food systems.

Scratch Partnership: Funding Pet Food Proteins

This year, as an environmental partner with 1% for the Planet, we collaborated with Scratch, an Australian BCorp pet food brand, to support regenerative agriculture and ethical food practices. Scratch contributed $60,000 as part of a multi-year commitment, which was granted to Kerrupjmara Meats, an artisan butchery in northeast Victoria.

Led by Gunditjmara man Luke Brock, Kerrupjmara Meats sources meat from local regenerative farmers with a strong focus on supporting Indigenous communities. The butchery bridges the gap between farmers and the public by promoting transparency, ethical food practices, and community connection. This initiative equips Indigenous youth in the Northern Territory with butchery skills through its Bush Butcher program, fostering both practical expertise and cultural empowerment.

Using the funding from Scratch, Kerrupjmara Meats will launch Victoria’s first mobile butcher shop. This state-of-the-art trailer will sell fresh, locally sourced cuts of regeneratively grown meat directly at farmers' markets and in towns lacking butcher shops. The mobile butcher will enhance the regional supply chain, provide provenance-based labelling for greater transparency, and integrate a retail component into the Bush Butcher training program, giving trainees hands-on experience in customer service and sales.

With shared values and a commitment to building trust and long-term relationships, this partnership highlights how businesses can actively support regenerative agriculture in ways that align with their mission and products. Scratch will also amplify these efforts, starting in January, by creating content including videos and in-depth interviews to inspire greater support for sustainable practices.

Mapping Regenerative Change

Our Australian Regenerative Food and Farming Map continues to expand, showcasing 189 change-makers from across the country and attracting over 13,000 visitors in 2024. The map serves as a valuable tool for funders, policymakers, consumers, and the industry, enhancing visibility for regenerative producers.

Additionally, we’ve become an eligibility partner for Open Food Network’s Regenerative Produce Discovery Portal, enabling farmers to connect with new markets and increase their sales. Together, these platforms are fostering a deeper understanding of regenerative practices and their benefits.

Launching the Seed to Table Podcast

This year saw the launch of the Seed to Table podcast, hosted by our CEO and seasoned podcaster Jade Miles. The podcast provides a storytelling platform to bridge the gap between grassroots efforts and broader awareness of food system regeneration.

In its first series, Seed to Table spotlighted the people behind the Good Grain initiative and the projects it funded. Each episode dives into the lives, challenges, and triumphs of farmers, food producers, and advocates working to restore balance to the land. These stories inspire listeners to become active participants in building a sustainable and connected food future. Whether you’re a farmer, a consumer, or simply a food enthusiast, the podcast underscores the power of collaboration and the potential for meaningful impact.

Growing Our Audience

Education and awareness are at the heart of what we do. This year, our digital content reached a wider audience than ever before:

• Over 72,000 visitors explored our website in 2024.
• Our social media content reached 120,000 people across Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, with posts about local, regenerative food systems resonating most.
• We amassed 35,000 followers across our social media platforms.

This growing engagement reflects a widespread appetite for systemic change and a deepening support for our mission.

Leading Regeneratively

In 2024, the Sustainable Table team completed the second phase of The Regenerative Leader: Inner Work for Outer Action. Facilitated by Lucy Richards and Marike Knight, the course provided a framework for translating our personal growth into organisational impact. This work has strengthened our ability to navigate complexity and lead with purpose in the face of systemic challenges.

The team’s feedback and experience then went on to shape the program that has now been offered to 16 CEOs of not-for-profit organisations with Sustainable Table operating as the auspice partner to support this fantastic work.

Looking Ahead

From launching Good Grain to growing our impact through partnerships, education, and community initiatives, 2024 has been a year of collaboration and innovation. As we look to the future, we remain committed to regenerating Australia’s food and farming systems, proving that change is not only possible—it’s already underway. Together, we’re sowing the seeds for a healthier, more resilient future.

If you would like to support the work we do at Sustainable Table, please donate or get in touch to learn more.