The federal government is investing $3.5 million to start development of a “comprehensive” national food security strategy, dubbed Feeding Australia. With plans in place to collaborate with farmers and stakeholders, the strategy will aim to increase security and supply chain resilience of Australian agriculture and food production systems.
While Australia produces enough food to feed more than twice its own population, it is exposed to global supply and demand pressures, climate change and other risks. The government said the strategy would identify opportunities to improve supply chain resilience, with the goal of minimising price volatility and costs at the checkout.
A comprehensive National Food Plan has been a priority across the industry since the 2013 Plan was pushed aside almost immediately after release, following a change of government.
It should be noted that the 2013 National Food Plan was not considered comprehensive by many stakeholders, noticeably lacking actionable goals and quantitative targets, with a 2015 paper, published in Public Health Nutrition, stating it failed to deliver an integrated food policy for Australia.
“The development of the plan was influenced by powerful industry groups, and stakeholder engagement by the lead ministry favoured the involvement of actors representing the food and agriculture industries,” stated the paper.
“Nutrition and sustainability were effectively sidelined due to the focus on global food production and positioning Australia as a food ‘superpower’ that could take advantage of the anticipated ‘dining boom’ as incomes rose in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Industry pushes for action
There have been increased calls over the past few years for a renewed and comprehensive plan, more than a decade on from the last attempt. In December 2023, the House Standing Committee on Agriculture inquiry into food security recommended a national food plan, the appointment of a Minister for Food, and the establishment of a national food council as first steps in stabilising and supporting the industry.
After a year of no progress in the area, Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) stated in its Future of Food paper that a federal Minister for Food and a national food plan are necessary if the food industry is to meet the challenges of supply, nutrition, access, and climate impacts to its food system.
Another inquiry, undertaken by the House Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources, was released just two weeks ago, with the first of its 23 recommendations reiterating earlier inquiries that called for a comprehensive national food plan.
Today’s (4 March) announcement that the government will commit $3.5 million to develop Feeding Australia was met with support from industry, but suggests a lack of urgency in meeting the recommendations the food sector has been pushing for.
The release stated the government would establish a National Food Council, comprising industry and community experts, to advise on the development and implementation of the strategy – a key recommendation from the 2023 inquiry that had consulted extensively with stakeholders across the country’s food value chain. It also stated it would “strategically examine the potential” to grow a biofuels feedstock industry to support Australia’s transition to net zero.
It did not however, offer a timeline for the establishment of the council, planned development time for the Feeding Australia strategy, or suggest any plans for the appointment of a Minister for Food.
Considering certain sectors felt unrepresented in the 2013 National Food Plan, a collaborative approach aiming to give all stakeholders the opportunity to address underlying challenges facing the food system, is an important goal – but also takes time.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, said Australia has an impressive record in agriculture, but can’t afford to be complacent.
“The Albanese Labor Government will protect and strengthen Australia's food security for the benefit of our farmers and all Australians, as well as the trading partners that rely on our produce,” said Collins.
“When our food and supply chains are secure, it reduces financial strain on households, helping all Australians. I’m excited to see the final strategy and work towards a stronger and more robust and resilient food system.”
The release stated Feeding Australia will have comprehensive plans to deal with future trends, trade with other nations, and the consequences of natural disasters and global shocks.
Crossroads fast approaching
As cost-of-living skyrockets, geopolitical tensions rise, and the effects of climate change compound, how long can the food sector wait for solutions?
The latest survey results from AUSVEG showed that a third of vegetable growers are considering leaving the industry within the next year, driven by an ongoing cost-of-production crisis and lack of farm profitability – with nearly 50 per cent of respondents indicating they were experiencing workplace shortages in all roles, compared to 33 per cent in mid-2024.
In its response to the government release, the organisation highlighted how Australian vegetable growers provide 98 per cent of the fresh vegetables bought and consumed in the country, an indication of how critical the sector is to national food security.
“In recent years, questions have increasingly been raised about the longer-term supply of fresh Australian vegetables, as challenging business conditions, a cost-of-production crisis, compliance burden, workforce shortages, over-reliance on imported farm inputs and unsustainable returns continue leading one in three vegetable growers to consider leaving the industry in the next year,” AUSVEG stated.
“A commitment to a National Food Security Strategy is an important acknowledgment of the central role Australia’s vegetable industry must play in Australia’s future food security.”
The Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC) told F&DB in December that the industry is squeezed between rising costs, tight margins, and evolving regulations on one side and fast-changing consumer patterns that require investment in new and improved products on the other end.
“If the situation hits breaking point, the case for Australian manufacturers to shift overseas builds quickly, creating a dangerous dependency on imports,” AFGC said.
“(Australian) food and grocery manufacturing generates $163 billion in sales and supports over 280,000 jobs. It cannot be taken for granted.”
Today’s release stated “greater food supply, stronger food security and sustainable agriculture will mean better outcomes for our farmers and greater certainty for consumers”.
As the National Food Council is established and the Feeding Australia strategy is developed, it will be critical to consider not just the future of the food industry, but the position it is in right now.
