CSIRO, the Australian national science agency, has released the first national stocktake of the country's $800 billion food system through the Food System Horizons initiative. This system supports approximately 100 million people, including 27 million Australians, and is sustained by 100,000 farmers. The report suggests a reevaluation of food system management and reporting to address challenges, provide healthy food access, and meet sustainability goals.
The report outlines hidden costs of the Australian food system totaling up to $274 billion, driven by environmental and health impacts, marking these as the highest per capita globally. It highlights the wider system's economic and production aspects, generating more than $800 billion annually, alongside considerable employment, notably in regional areas.
Dr. Michael Robertson, Director of CSIRO Agriculture and Food, emphasized the necessity of regular reporting for understanding Australia's food system challenges and opportunities. He stated, "Our food system is more than just producing and exporting commodities – it's also about providing equitable access to safe, nutritious and healthy food, produced sustainably for all Australians." He further noted the importance of responding to shifts in social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities.
CSIRO Sustainability Research Director Larelle McMillan indicated that Australian food policy is fragmented across various sectors, including agriculture, environment, and urban planning. She stated, "We need to move from analysing specific parts of the food system, to establishing coordinated reporting for important food system attributes and interactions, thus enabling connected action for a national food system that serves all."
The report recommends recognizing the food system as a cohesive entity, rather than sector-specific; sharing responsibility among government, industry, and communities for sustainability, nutrition, and equity goals; and fostering the integration of farming, nutrition, policy, and innovation. A unified reporting structure is proposed to address deficiencies, including the food insecurity experienced by nearly one-third of Australian households annually.
Larelle McMillan noted that coordinated reporting could highlight areas where the food system fails to satisfy all Australians' needs, stating, "This can be used as a focal point to bring together a greater diversity of voice and vision to identify pathways to sustainable, healthy and affordable food for all Australians."
Source: CSIRO