Food security

The term ‘food security’ can conjure up images of people with shady motives going around and sabotaging or blowing up food supplies. In this scenario the forces of good band together to keep our food secure from the bad guys. I think the expression that accompanies this view of food security is “Be alert but not alarmed!”

The traditional use of the phrase ‘food security’ refers to the ability of people in an area to access fresh, nutritious and culturally appropriate food like fruits, vegetables, grains etc. Hence, there has been important work done in facilitating access to such food for people in cultural minority and/or lower socioeconomic groups.

In recent times, doubts about medium term supplies of fossils fuels like oil and the impact of climate change on agriculture have seen the food security debate broaden to focus on how regional areas can be largely self-sufficient in fresh food. A pertinent Australian example of this has been the recent report, Sustainable and Secure Food Systems for Victoria, which considers these issues in detail. In addition, the Australian Senate has begun an inquiry into food security. A major focus of this investigation is upon climate change and food production. Senator Heffernan, who is chairing the inquiry, commented that its task is to work out how we can produce enough food in a sustainable way.

One of Food Connect’s aims is to help our region be more food secure. Your food choices are keeping many small family farms in business and thus contributing to food security in South-East Queensland.