Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Joe Ludwig yesterday released the National Food Plan green paper for public consultation. This paper’s key outcome is to ensure Australia has:
a sustainable, globally competitive, resilient food supply, supporting access to nutritious and affordable food.
To achieve this outcome the Australian Government intends to focus its efforts on seven objectives:
- Support the global competitiveness and productivity growth of the food supply chain, including through research, science and innovation.
- Reduce barriers food businesses face in accessing international and domestic
markets. - Contribute to economic prosperity, employment and community wellbeing in
regional Australia. - Identify and mitigate potential risks to Australia’s food security.
- Maintain and improve the natural resource base underpinning food production in
Australia. - Reduce barriers to a safe and nutritious food supply that responds to the evolving
preferences and needs of all Australians and supports population health. - Contribute to global food security.
The government is seeking public feedback on options to further improve innovation across the food supply chain, which could include:
- increasing public funding of rural R&D over the next 10 years
- improving the rural R&D model to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency
- increasing innovation in the food manufacturing sector through improved collaboration
- developing a national strategy on modern biotechnology in agriculture (including genetically modified crops)
View the green paper PDF or visit their website for more information.
