Case Studies
Ramingining Food Ladder

Design Feature

Type of project
Landowner Strategy
State
Northern Territory
Location
Remote
Ramingining community is a remote town situated approximately 557 kilometres east of Darwin. Due to its location and arid climate, the town has limited access to fresh and nutrient dense produce. To overcome this issue, and improve food security in the area, the Ramingining Food Ladder has been established. 

The Food Ladder system operates as a self-sustaining social enterprise and training hub, providing local jobs and a training centre for agriculture technology. The system itself is a large enclosed and climatically controlled growing environment, incorporating high-tech commercial agriculture technology tailored specifically to the unique conditions of the local environment. 
Reimagining food access in Ramingining
Previously, all food in Ramingining was shipped in at great expense, and fresh produce would travel for up to three weeks across 3,000 kilometres, limiting it to a two-day shelf life once it arrived in the community. It was for this reason that a local retailer who runs the only store in the community, ALPA, collaborated with Food Ladder in 2016-2017 to improve access to fresh nutrient dense food.

The concept phase occurred over three months, including community consultation with local leaders and with the board members of three aboriginal corporations that collectively own and operate the system. Through this process, community approval of the project’s vision, mission and method of implementation was obtained. 
The project then moved into the development phase where a formal business plan was created that outlined logistics, timelines for build and quotes for costs. In addition, permits for power and water connection were sought, approval from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics acquired and funding was obtained. This process occurred over nine months.
Following this was the execution phase of the project build. The manufacture of the system, shipping of materials, and bookings for travel of build team were organised in two months. The build itself took three weeks, and the first harvest was of spinach three weeks after build completion.
With the build complete, system operation and training of the local staff on the ground are the ongoing priorities. Food Ladder’s model is to build solid robust partnerships with a local motivated partner organisation who own the life-supporting infrastructure. To achieve this, Food Ladder supports the partner organisation with training and mentoring until they are able to operate their business independently. This usually takes two years.

In the six-months following installation of the Food Ladder, Ramingining saw a 5% increase in fruit and vegetable consumption.
Project team
  • The Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA)
  • Dinybulu Regional Services
  • Rulku Enterprises Ltd
  • ALPA retail
  • ALPA Remote School Attendance Strategy (RSAS)
  • ALPA Community Development Program (CDP) Food Ladder
  • Commonwealth Government Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) 
  • Ramingining School. 

Project cost
N/A
Health value
  • Supports nutritional food consumption through the provision of high quality, nutrient dense, locally grown produce.
  • Supports the health and educational benefits associated with good nutrition.
  • Offers meaningful jobs and training in a therapeutic environment.
  • Helps individuals to escape stress and overcome emotional difficulties.
  • Provides opportunities to families and the community to access nourishing food and has facilitated a deep sense of pride and feelings of self-worth.

Economic value
  • Increases educational and training opportunities for adults and children via the national curriculum aligned STEM resources and teaching package for school children.
  • Increases food security by providing sustainable access to fresh produce.
  • Creates jobs via the introduction of primary industry in Ramingining
  • Provides new training opportunities such as a Cert II in Rural Operations through Charles Darwin University which has been delivered to the Food Ladder operations crew as well as Community Development Program participants.

Environmental value
  • Use of sustainable materials to build the project, including solar energy, water-wise initiatives and use of greenery.
  • Reduces the carbon footprint of food supply by reducing food miles.

Social value
  • Builds resilience and the capacity to overcome issues surrounding food insecurity.
  • Provides opportunities to build social capital via social connection/engagement through the Food Ladder system which operates as a “healthy hub”.
  • Builds empowerment, pride and food sovereignty for the community via the Food Ladder model of community ownership in all phases of the project.

Use value
  • Provides a facility that can host community, cultural or special events.
  • Engages at-risk or vulnerable groups with the opportunity to engage with the community.
  • Provides self-sustaining, vital commercial infrastructure that stimulates new business while operating ethically, promoting health and supporting food security for the community.
  • Partnership with the local store in Ramingining has provided a unique opportunity to track vegetable sales.

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