---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Open Food Network Australia <[email protected]> Date: Wed, Aug 28, 2019 at 7:44 AM Subject: A faster Open Food Network platform, Olivier De Schutter joins Open Food Network, and a resource for funding sustainable food systems To: <[email protected]> Open Food Network updates and opportunities View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/openfoodnetwork/a-faster-open-food-network-platform-olivier-de-schutter-joins-open-food-network-and-a-resource-for-funding-sustainable-food-systems?e=84860b0e46> Hi there! It's almost spring, and here at Open Food Network Australia it feels like it - we have new projects and exciting developments popping up all over the place! Scroll to read more about a major upgrade to the Open Food Network platform, our newest ambassador, a briefing which helps community food enterprises make the case for funding, and more. *A faster, more efficient Open Food Network* Over the years we’ve been running Open Food Network we’ve been working tirelessly to build the tools that food enterprises need to succeed. With our tiny, part time development team working remotely in the UK, Australia, Catalonia, Portugal, Philippines and France, and with people running food enterprises all around the world, we’re working together to build common infrastructure to power our food sovereignty! For much of this time we’ve focussed on features like subscriptions, and product import. But the time came for us to spend some time focussing on some of the underlying infrastructure. We've just finished a major upgrade to the performance of Open Food Network and we can now start to reap the rewards, with massive speed improvements: [image: The shops page is 92% faster, The maps page is 98% faster, The Admin-Order Cycle page is 70% faster] Along with improved performance, the release of this upgrade includes some user experience improvements, and a security update. You can read more about the upgrade on our site <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=94d7f5d611&e=84860b0e46>, along with the news of what the next exciting features in the pipeline are. *Our new Australian website* <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=2fff8904ab&e=84860b0e46> We recently did a major overhaul of our information website that sits alongside our platform. You can still find the platform at openfoodnetwork.org.au <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=b9b218d53d&e=84860b0e46> but you can also see all of our other resources and Open Food Network Australia work at *about.openfoodnetwork.org.au* <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=404a7141a9&e=84860b0e46> *Our new global website* <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=dac9bb4d85&e=84860b0e46> We have also completed an overhaul of our global *Open Food Network website <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=9a54dd8a80&e=84860b0e46>*. Check it out to read more about how the Open Food Network is used around the world, and how our global teams work together to create the shared infrastructure needed to power a new food system. Check it out at *openfoodnetwork.org <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=0a4f979293&e=84860b0e46>* *Welcome, Olivier De Schutter* <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=1eb687d83e&e=84860b0e46> We are thrilled to welcome Olivier De Schutter, former Special Rapporteur on the right to food, as our newest Open Food Network ambassador. He says: “I am very proud to be an Open Food Network Ambassador. For me, the Open Food Network is an essential tool because it enables the different eaters of a given territory or community, to connect and build initiatives together. It helps connect these eaters directly with local producers, enabling them to support the emergence of local agrifood systems. This virtual highway is a common resource, using the potential of digital media to connect these communities of eaters and farmers – working together for food sovereignty. It’s absolutely essential for these alternative systems to develop. This tool enables everyone to contribute to fill in information, that can be used to grow this virtual community, gathering connections and strength until finally it is the new mainstream agri-food system." Watch the interview with Olivier <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=daac4069dc&e=84860b0e46> to hear the three rules he uses to guide his food choices, and why he thinks the Open Food Network is so important to building a better food system. *Helping food enterprises operate efficiently* We recently spent a day at the Harcourt Organic Farming Co-op helping them design systems that work for them, and setting up a whole host of solutions to help get their software systems talking to each other, and enabling collaboration with all of the producers in their group. We'll report back soon with what we created, but if you're interested in doing something similar, get in touch <[email protected]>. *Sustainable food systems briefing* Open Food Network's food systems consultancy <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=282a8c63b6&e=84860b0e46> has undertaken a range of research projects this year, including developing the Sustainable Food Systems Philanthropic Briefing for the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network. Read more and download the briefing on our website. <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=1a889b9ef1&e=84860b0e46> The briefing is part of our commitment to sector development, and helps grant-givers understand the complexities of sustainable food systems, and where philanthropy can make a difference. It can also be used as evidence by those applying for funding, and gives a handy summary of mechanisms for change. *Research about Open Food Network* We build open source tools and resources that are part of a global commons - with people contributing to that work from all around the world. Our successes in developing new ways of working for a new, fairer economy have triggered interest from numerous researchers. Currently we have two PhD students focusing on Open Food Network: Genevieve Shanahan <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=2c75fc0fbe&e=84860b0e46> studies alternative organisations at the Grenoble Ecole de Management. Her PhD thesis focuses on "how radically democratic organising might mobilise the affordances of technology to establish a sustainable and ethical alternative to the current economic system, specifically the global food system." According to Gen, Open Food Network offers an invaluable key case study in this regard. Adam Moore <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=92af4f15eb&e=84860b0e46> is a cultural geographer at the University of Melbourne. Adam’s research seeks to understand the complexities of how those involved with the Open Food Network work together to develop and care for its software, resources and ways of working. In doing so, the research will contribute to a broader public discussion about the potential for achieving more progressive labour politics through digital platform cooperatives. We're thrilled to have their insights contributing to our work and broader conversations. *Thanks for reading! * As always, get in touch <[email protected]> if you'd like to learn more about the Open Food Network, or work together on a project. Cheers, The Open Food Network Australia team <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=88c32cefbc&e=84860b0e46> <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=87517ac3c5&e=84860b0e46> <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=30313410c4&e=84860b0e46> <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=6ac987ce48&e=84860b0e46> <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=6bfb2561f8&e=84860b0e46> <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=25fad691d7&e=84860b0e46> <[email protected]> <https://openfoodnetwork.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6752bbf142dc0ebe3b69c4473&id=b998a4554f&e=84860b0e46> *Copyright © 2019 Open Food Network, All rights reserved.* Want to change how you receive these emails? 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