The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed the Albanese government’s election commitment to deliver a national food strategy and establish a National Food Council, and says any plan must deliver food systems that work for people, nature and the climate.
“A national food strategy is needed so future generations of Australians have access to food that is affordable and nutritious, that keeps family farms viable and operates within nature’s limits,” said ACF’s business and nature lead Nathaniel Pelle.
“Any national strategy should prioritise ways to properly reward famers who protect and restore nature on their farms while producing food,” Mr Pelle said.
ACF said a Food Council should include scientists’ and community stakeholder perspectives and must consider how agriculture and nature can work together.
“Protecting nature on farmland is good for the environment and farmers’ hip pockets,” Mr Pelle said.
“Farmers manage more than half of the Australian land mass, meaning no sector has a bigger opportunity than producers to contribute to the mission to halt and reverse biodiversity destruction.
“Every sector of the economy is dependent on nature to varying degrees and in different ways, but no industry is more dependent on nature being in good health than agriculture.
“Successive State of the Environment reports have documented the decline of nature in Australia on almost every measure, which is bad news for farmers. It also found industrial agriculture has been a major contributor to nature’s decline.
“Most farmers recognise the value of nature to the success of their farms, but the state of agriculture in Australia is not sustainable.
“The CSIRO has found Australia will need to transform its farming systems if it is to be sustainable – stay within nature’s limits – productive and profitable.”