Australia’s federal government has announced the next stage of its bid to devise a “national food plan” to ensure the country has a “sustainable, globally competitive sector”.
Canberra has released a green paper for consultation and is asking for comment from industry stakeholders.
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Its aims include wanting to identify potential “risks” to Australia’s food security and supporting the industry’s competitiveness through research and innovation.
Australian minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry Joe Ludwig said the country’s food industry had “grown from strength to strength”, with a “huge, sustainable and diverse food supply system”.
Ludwig said the country wanted to build its links with markets in Asia, where he claimed demand will “double”.
However, the “path forward is not without its challenges”, he acknowledged. “I know many people are justifiably concerned about a range of issues. Climate change is possibly foremost in our minds, and the attendant impacts of variable rain patterns. Our government, through the introduction of a price on carbon, and ultimately, the start of an emissions trading scheme, is taking these concerns very seriously. The relationship between supermarkets and suppliers also raises concerns for some. Supermarkets are where most Australians buy their food and we need to ensure a fair trading environment for suppliers while keeping prices low for families.
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By GlobalData“We are also tackling other concerns—for example, rising rates of obesity; the challenges of obtaining fresh, healthy food in remote indigenous communities; land use conflicts; foreign investment, which is critical to the ongoing success of our agriculture and food sectors; and job losses in the food processing sector.
“How we navigate these challenges in this surging industry requires careful planning and consideration. That is why we are developing the National Food Plan, working with industry, peak bodies, consumers and other state and territory governments, to make the most of the opportunities.”
