Australia and Food Security in a Changing World

Food security refers to the availability of sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for all people at all times. It is a major global issue, with close to one billion people, or 16% of the world population, suffering from undernourishment. Australia also faces challenges in ensuring food security due to factors such as climate change, changing consumption patterns, and population growth. Australia has strengths in agriculture, research and development (R&D), climate change research, and human health and nutrition research that can contribute to global solutions. To address food security challenges, a national approach is needed, which includes coordination of government policy and programs, data collection, a research strategy to improve food production and processing, a national land use planning framework, and streamlined regulations. Increasing investment in agricultural R&D is also crucial to boost productivity growth and address issues such as water use, soil nutrition, and sustainable management. Building human capacity, raising awareness of the importance of food, and engaging the community are also important in addressing food security challenges.