Sustainability in the Australian Food System

The terms paddock to plate or farm to fork refer to food’s journey from when it is planted or born to when it is consumed. These terms are often used to describe the food system. While the farm-to-fork concept seems relatively simple, Australia’s food system is significantly complicated.
 
The food system comprises the following areas:
 
1. primary production;
2. processing and packaging;
3. distribution and access;
4. media and marketing;
5. consumption; and
6. waste management of food.
 

Primary Production
 
Primary production involves crops being grown and harvested and animals being raised and slaughtered. It also includes any basic manufacturing processes required to make whole foods ready for consumption, sale, or further processing. Enough food is produced in Australia to feed 50 million people. The main food crops grown in Australia include barley, canola, fruit, vegetables, and wheat. Australia produces a significant amount of beef and lamb.
 
Processing and Packaging
 
Processing is often referred to as secondary processing. This involves changing the state of foods produced during primary production into other products. Australia’s food processing and manufacturing employ over 300,000 people; it has an annual turnover of over $50 billion.
 
Distribution and Access
 
Distribution involves the transportation, storage, and sales of food. Food must be transported in a way that keeps it safe. In Australia, food may need to travel long distances across the country to reach its destination and therefore it is important that people transporting food minimise the risk of contamination during this stage. Depending on the type of food item, it may be the producer or a distributor that transports products to retail facilities and consumers. The producer may sell their food items in smaller settings, such as at a farmers’ market, directly from their farm, or online. A food distributor is a company that sells a high volume of products to commercial environments, such as restaurants, cafeterias, large-scale caterers, hospitals, and schools.
 
Media and Marketing
 
Food marketing occurs when someone promotes the sale of food products or food services. Food marketing in the media is regulated under a complex range of regulations and codes in Australia.
 
Consumption
 
Consumption refers to the act of eating food. Consumption of food can occur anywhere and everywhere. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that between 2020 and 2021, Australians consumed less than the recommended amounts of the five food groups. Yet, they increased their consumption of discretionary foods.
 
Waste Management
 
Food waste management involves reducing waste produced during production, processing, distribution, and consumption. When food and packaging are lost or wasted, all the resources used to make food, including water, land, energy, and labour, also go to waste.
 
Approximately 312 kg per person is wasted across Australia’s supply and consumption chain. This is equivalent to $2000 to $2500 per household annually. In 2022, the Australian Government set a goal to halve the food wasted in Australia by 2030. Food waste in Australia contributes to approximately 3% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Australia’s food system is dynamic – meaning it’s constantly changing. Consumer demand for different food products is one factor responsible for causing this change. When consumers find something they want to try or think is beneficial, the demand for this product increases. Food manufacturers and retailers need to meet these consumer needs if they wish to remain profitable. A widespread change in food preference that is long-lasting is referred to as a food trend.

Food security and food sovereignty are concepts that influence trends in our current food system. There is a growing number of people in Australia that are wanting a food system that promotes food security and food sovereignty.
 
Food Security
 
Global food security exists ‘When all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.’ (Australia and Food Security in a Changing World, The Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, 2010, Canberra, p.1).
 
Food Sovereignty
 
Food sovereignty occurs when people have access to a food system that provides culturally appropriate and nutritious food, where ethics and the environment have been considered at each stage of the food system and where individuals and farmers have greater control over what they choose to eat. It occurs when people have developed or are developing a food system that focuses on ecology and sustainability and enables them to choose the food they want to eat, where it comes from, and how it is grown.

A current major issue and influence on trends in the food industry is sustainability. Sustainability involves meeting the needs of people, now and in the future.
 
There are three sustainability dimensions:
 
1. Environmental sustainability;
2. Economic sustainability; and
3. Social sustainability.
 
These three sustainability dimensions impact food security and food sovereignty.
 

More and more Australians want to purchase sustainable products, including food. A recent survey conducted in Australia found that around 78% of Australian shoppers are more willing to pay an increased price for a sustainable product. When food is sustainable, the production and distribution of the food item are done in a way that uses little energy and has little impact on the environment.

Organic Food
 
Organic food is considered a sustainable alternative to conventional produce. This is because organic food is produced without synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilisers and pesticides. If not applied safely, fertilisers and pesticides can contaminate our water supplies and contribute to poor soil quality. The misuse of fertilisers and pesticides can not only harm our land, but their production also contributes significantly to gas emissions and global warming.
 
The production of organic produce addresses this environmental issue. The organic food industry is the fastest-growing food category in Australia; it has more than doubled in the past decade. Australia has more certified organic land than any other country in the world. While organic farming is a method of sustainable food production, there is concern that less food is produced using this system compared to conventional agriculture and therefore causes a reduction in food security.
 
Local Food
 
A study by Mintel found that in 2019, 44% of Australians wanted to buy locally grown food. Some people may prefer to buy produce locally because they think it is fresher and better quality than produce purchased at a supermarket. Another reason may be that the food is likely to have travelled less distance. Some people have also reported feeling more connected and positive about their food choices when they buy it locally. It is possible that the production of locally grown foods may provide long-term food security for communities.
 
Plant-Based Meats and Fake Meat
 
While meat products remain popular in Australia, plant-based alternatives to animal products are increasing in popularity. A study by the Institute for Sustainable Futures found that about 80% of Australians knew about plant-based meats, and nearly half of them have tasted them at some time.
One reason why people may buy plant-based animal products is that they think they are more sustainable compared to animal products. Producing plant-based animal products is considered as a viable way to improve food security because it requires less agricultural land and water, and emits less greenhouse gases during its production.

Economic sustainability involves the efficient use of resources which ensures that economic growth continues over time. This refers to the contribution of food industries to the Australian and global economies, the creation of employment opportunities, and the ability of individuals and families to access affordable food that is nutritious and culturally appropriate (VCE Food Studies, Study Design, 2023, page 11).
 
The food industry is an integral part of keeping Australia financially secure. It accounts for around 20% of domestic manufacturing sales and service income. Australia also has a reputation internationally as a modern, safe, reliable, and sustainable food producer. The overwhelming majority of food sold in Australia is grown and supplied by Australian farmers. We export around 70% of our agricultural produce. More than 90% of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, milk, and eggs sold in supermarkets are domestically produced. However, economic growth in Australia, employment opportunities, and the ability of individuals and families to access affordable food that is nutritious and culturally appropriate in Australia can be impacted by a range of factors.
 
Conflict and War
 
Conflict and war between countries can impact food supplies and economic sustainability. The destruction that war causes can damage crops, food storage facilities, homes, roads, and supermarkets. Farmers may leave their farms to become soldiers or to avoid harm. Conflict can interrupt the production, transport, and distribution of food in the supply chain and cause food shortages.
 
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 2022 significantly impacted the supply and cost of fertiliser, fuel, oil, wheat, and vegetable oil worldwide. Ukraine could not grow and export the amount of food and oil it once supplied. This increased global food prices by one-third, fertiliser by half, and oil prices by two-thirds. While Australia could provide food to Australians, the food still needed to be transported and farmers had to pay an increased price for fertiliser. This increase in the cost of fertiliser and fuel were two factors that contributed to higher food prices at this time.
 
Natural Disasters
 
Natural disasters can also impact the cost of food. Natural disasters can destroy crops and farm buildings, equipment, and fences. Animals used for food or labour on farms can be injured or die. Road infrastructure can also be destroyed, making farmers unable to transport their produce. The increased cost of food in 2022 was also attributed to a series of floods in major growing areas. These floods destroyed crops and the infrastructure required to store and transport produce. The cost of food increased as less food was available.
 
Shortage of Workers
 
It has been reported that Victoria will face a shortage of around 400,000 workers in 2025. In 2022, many farmers did not plant crops because they could not hire the workforce to tend and harvest them. It is considered that this worker shortage occurred because of changes to the federal government and Pacific Island seasonal worker schemes, and border closures related to COVID19. This worker shortage may drive up the cost of groceries as suppliers may not be able to meet demand. For some, this may result in not having adequate access to food.

The social dimension of sustainability is about ensuring that future generations have access to social resources that impact health and wellbeing. These social resources include connections with communities, education, and human rights, and equal opportunities for all.

Community Enterprises and Organisations
 
Programs that connect people and focus on providing healthy and sustainable food systems in communities promote social sustainability. An example of this is The Community Grocer. This not-for-profit group runs fresh produce markets and programs to improve people’s social, economic, and physical access to nutritious food. The group works to support people in low-income areas to access healthy food at an affordable price and connect with others at the same time.

Education and Skills Training Programs
 
Providing education and skills training programs that help people understand the types of foods that are nutritious and how to source healthy foods at an affordable price is likely to address issues relating to food insecurity. Providing people with not only the knowledge and skills to grow their own food but also the location in which to do so promotes food sovereignty.

The program featured in the video below addresses food security and food sovereignty for refugees in Australia. Not only does the program promote community connections, but it also addresses issues of inequality.
 
Human Rights and Equal Opportunities
 
The concept of human rights is that all people are entitled to the same basic rights and freedoms regardless of who they are, when, or where they were born. This means that everyone must be able to access a food system that provides enough nutritious and culturally appropriate sustainable food that meets their needs at an affordable price and is easily accessible. It means that all workers, regardless of age, cultural background, education, or gender, have access to fair wages and work conditions that enable them to access affordable and nutritious foods that meet their nutritional needs and preferences.

Please contact Carolyn Mittra if you are a teacher and require access to the following teacher-only resources:
 
1. Exam Preparation Answers;
2. Starter Activities; and
3. Explore and Learn Package.
 
Email: customerservice@foodedassist.com.au
 
Mobile: 0438 245 909
 

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