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Equitable, Profitable and Sustainable Food Systems?
Sustainability Leadership Forum
Hosted by:
Jan Fitzgerald
Nina Christesen
April 26, 2023 @ 7:15 pm - 8:30 pm
FreeSustainable agriculture, resilient supply chains and the availability of healthy food requires trade-offs among food systems, water availability, energy, land, climate, economic productivity and agribusiness investments.
Do you really know where your food comes from? Does the maxim: ‘you are what you eat’ shape Australia’s food practices? What are the impacts of our consumer choices and preferences?
Less waste (both production and consumption), greater security and reduction of the carbon footprint is critical as food moves from the farm, fishery or factory to fork including the use of plastics in packaging.
More efficient and effective food systems rely on improved agricultural productivity, diversification and resilience. “If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.” (BCG)
Currently, in Australia there is no cohesive federal policy on food security or agriculture. “In Australia, food security is not measured at a population level regularly or consistently. However, estimates suggest that between 4% and 13% of the general population are food insecure; and 22% to 32% of the Indigenous population, depending on location.” (Australian Institute of Family Studies)
Given expected changes in temperatures, precipitation and pests associated with climate change, increased investment in research, development and technologies will be important to improve the sustainability of food systems.
The issues to consider to ensure equitable, profitable and sustainable food systems include: Sustainable agriculture, Loss and waste, Food supply chains, Packaging, Food Security and Nutrition, Food Traceability, Alternative Proteins, Land Degradation and Healthy Soils, Water Supply, Genetics, New Technologies and Robotics, Vertical Farming, Agri-food Innovation processes, Agri-business Investments, Crop and Livestock Yields, Value-chain analyses, Farming systems design, Emissions management plans, Animal health interventions.
The MF Sustainability Leadership Forum brings together those interested in sharing perspectives and exploring key issues with fellow members about sustainability and ESG (environmental, social, and governance). The intimacy of the experience is enhanced when everyone who attends gets to comment and exchange ideas. The hosts are members whose role is to gently guide the group’s conversation
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