Agriculture

70% of the Mornington Peninsula is designated in the planning scheme as Green Wedge and this land supports a rich and varied Agriculture industry with perennial horticulture, annual horticulture, grazing, poultry, cropping and artisan food products all significant contributors to the $1.3B sector. 

Council’s Green Wedge Management Plan sets out a vision for the Green Wedge that it is “a place where the critical role of sustainable agriculture is recognised, protected and supported as a key land use and the productive capacity of land is conserved and enhanced for the future”.

On 20th December 2022 Council adopted a 6 year Food Economy and Agroecology Strategy which sets out a range of industry lead priority actions under five ambitious pillars to support a thriving and resilient farming, food and beverage economy which actively regenerates the soils and resources on which our community depends. 

Food Economy and Agroecology Strategy

The Food Economy and Agroecology Strategy was commissioned to drive sustainable growth in the agriculture, food and beverage sector whilst preserving and enhancing the regions ecology and biodiversity through agroecological approaches to farming and production. It strongly aligns with Council’s Climate Emergency Response and positions the Mornington Peninsula as an exemplar of future food economies underpinned by sustainable production and resilience to future climate or supply shocks. It also aligns with Council’s Green Wedge Management Plan which provides much of the planning framework for land use planning in the Green Wedge (Mornington Peninsula Green Wedge Management Plan, 2019).

The strategy recommends a number of key initiatives including:

1. Establish a Taskforce to help Council drive transformation of agricultural production and a new food economy.
2. Reinvigorate and expand the Mornington Peninsula Produce brand to become the driving promotional mechanism for sustainable food production on the Peninsula.
3. Engage primary and secondary producers to ensure skills and capacity to participate in the new food economy. The Strategy establishes the Mornington Peninsula's Food Economy as an exemplar region for economic, environmental and social sustainability through collaboration, coordination and cooperation.

This Strategy will position the Mornington Peninsula at the forefront of change by transforming the way food is produced. It is informed by scientific research, Council’s own policies and engagement with producers, industry stakeholders and the community. 

The Strategy recognises the huge importance of the food economy on the Peninsula but also recognises the immense opportunity for Mornington Peninsula to develop a reputation for verifiable clean, green production systems that guarantee product quality, ensure food safety and build natural capital on farms.

The targets and actions provided though the five pillars of the strategy aim to provide mechanisms and pathways to shift the Mornington Peninsula’s food economy to one that is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.

Food Economy and Agroecology Strategy 2022-2028 (PDF, 4MB)

The Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network has developed a brochure for landholders on rural land called the “Small Rural Property Guide” (A resource for common land management issues on small rural properties)

Sustainable Food Economy and Regenerative Agriculture Taskforce

The Sustainable Food Economy and Regenerative Agriculture Taskforce is a key pillar of the Food Economy and Agroecology Strategy, enabling collective action towards a shared set of goals.

The taskforce will be established in 2023.

Farm gates

The Shire is committed to supporting our Farm Gates, Community Gardens and food security programs as part of a recognition that people's access to fresh, local, affordable food is essential to good health.

Regenerative Agriculture

The Food Economy and Agroecology Strategy identifies the transition of farming and land management to more regenerative practices as a key pillar. Application of agroecological / regenerative principles on the Mornington Peninsula focuses on resource use efficiency (fertilisers, energy inputs, waste management), system resilience (biodiversity, responding to climate change, carbon sequestration), and social equity (access to quality food, skill development, and land). These principles have a strong focus on soil management but recognise the importance of biodiversity and the need for integration of all parts of the production system.

Mornington Peninsula Shire, in collaboration with the Westernport Catchment Landcare Network, Bass Coast Landcare and South Gippsland Landcare produced a short video series on the key principles of Regenerative Agriculture.

Regular training and learning opportunities are available to landholders in the region. Email us for more information.

Resources and links

If you have a business or are thinking of purchasing a property to run a business, here’s some links that will help you in the process: