The issue has been “taken for granted” and must be elevated to the same strategic importance as national defence according to the research paper, released by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute on April 7.
“It is now a critical national concern, requiring proactive and strategic actions to address systemic vulnerabilities,” the report said.
“If national security and defence organisations are preparing for potential conflict, then Australia’s agriculture sector and food system stakeholders should also be preparing for this period of strategic uncertainty.”
The paper, written by strategic policy specialist Andrew Henderson and ASPI’s John Coyne, calls for a co-ordinated, whole-of-government and industry-led approach to strengthening resilience and securing Australia’s food future.
“Food is a cornerstone of a stable and prosperous society ... but its security is taken for granted,” Mr Henderson said.
Australia must ensure it has what it needs to address risks and threats to the food system and maintain access to food in times of calm and crisis, he said.
“Without a profound national commitment to addressing these risks and threats, Australia’s food security will become increasingly exposed,” Mr Henderson said.
While the nation produces enough food to feed more than 70 million people, the agriculture sector and food system face chronic challenges.
The risks include supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, climate-related shocks, deteriorating water security and rapid advances in technology.
The National Farmers’ Federation welcomed the report as a timely and vital call to action.
“This report underscores what farmers have been saying for years — food security is national security,” NFF president David Jochinke said.
“Australia is home to a world class food system, but that doesn’t mean we’re immune to shocks and disruptions.
“Our food supply chain faces growing risks from geopolitical tensions, climate change, and supply chain vulnerabilities that demand urgent attention.
“What we have now is a strong foundation for whoever forms government to hit the ground running and act decisively on these findings.”
The report said more than 30 per cent of households experienced moderate to severe food insecurity in 2024, and a system-wide approach was needed to address inefficiencies in the food supply chain, particularly food loss and waste mitigation.
“If not addressed, such challenges will lead to more hunger, particularly at times when natural disasters or other crises are affecting a city or state,” the report said.
The nation is dependent on transport infrastructure to move imported agricultural inputs to where they’re needed and to distribute food to domestic and overseas markets, the report noted.
With 30 per cent of food production consumed locally and 70 per cent destined for export, “any disruption to those transport corridors risks undermining both national food security and Australia’s standing as a reliable global supplier”.
The report recommends designating the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as the lead agency responsible for the food system and food security preparedness, as well as conducting a biennial intelligence assessment of the threats to Australia’s food security ecosystem.
It also examines three case studies of critical inputs to the food security ecosystem — phosphate (fertiliser), glyphosate (herbicide) and digital connectivity — to demonstrate the urgent need to mitigate risks and threats.
– with AAP.
How will we feed a growing population?
How are we going to provide a surging population with clean, green Australian-grown food if we continue with government policy that restricts our farmers growing food?
That is the question being asked by the Speak Up Campaign, amid the group’s increasing concern that city-based politicians lack an understanding of food security and how we need to promote food production, not impede it.
“We have a population that is forecast to reach 40 million in just 20 years at current growth rates,” Speak Up deputy chair David Farley said.
“There is plenty of discussion around how we are going to house so many people, and other obvious infrastructure requirements.
“But how are we going to securely feed them? How will we provide affordable, locally grown food if we keep strangling farmers with poor water policy?”
Mr Farley said current water policy was the most striking example of a failure by government to understand that the future needs of the nation rely on intelligent decisions today.
He criticised Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek’s “insatiable appetite for water buybacks, because she sees them as a vote winner in important marginal seats”.
Mr Farley said there was a huge tranche of evidence to show buybacks are the worst form of water recovery.
He said they reduce water for food production, increase environmental water in dams which leads to unnecessary flood risk, are devastating for the socio-economic health of regional communities and will lead to excessive volumes of environmental water in storage which cannot effectively be used in a timely manner for food production if required during droughts.
“Additionally, instead of protecting our rivers we are wrecking them with over-watering.
“The stark reality is that every megalitre of water buyback is hurting a regional community, while at the same time forcing food price inflation on all Australians and reducing our nation’s food security, especially during periods of sustained droughts.
“We need leaders who are prepared to invest in water storage infrastructure and deliver forward focused policy that allows agriculture to grow with assured and certain policy the food we need for our growing population.
“If we do not change from the current trajectory, we’re not establishing the foundations to securely feed future generations.”
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