Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.It is anhonor that I stand before you to address one of the most important issues towards achieving vision 2040. Australia is focusing towards achieving food sustainability for the present, and future generation. The government of Australia and other stakeholders have adopted policies that work towards achieving the best agricultural outcomes. Primary producers have started producing sustainable and high-quality food and fiber while focusinginto the future. Thegovernment is also putting into consideration the interest of the people when undergoing long-term strategic decisions and plans. Australia is concerned with the production, processing, trading and consumption of food(Porter,2013). The nation is the home to many communities who have different food cultures(Ryan,2011). Australia’s population supports vibrant restaurants and food markets. However, climate change, population growth, global trends, development pressures, economic realities and concerns about food safety, equity and the environment will continue to impact Australia’s ability to meet its food needs and also send food products to the rest of the world. Australia should, therefore, create a sustainable food safety system that meets the needs of people devoid ofcompromising the capability of the coming generations to meet theirneeds. Australia should be economically, socially, culturally and environmentally sustainable.

A large population of Australia iscommunity-based(Ryan,2011). These communities live in the rural areas of the country and practice traditional farming, which many times do not fulfill their consumption needs. The other population lives in the Australian cities and mostly consume processed and imported foods. In order to achieve vision 2040 with respect to having a sustainable food system in Australia, the people should learn how to consume local foods. As such, the Australian government will import limited amounts of food, and as time goes by, therewould be no importation of food at all. Australian farmers, especially large-scale farmers, have shifted from traditional farming practices to agribusiness production and processing(Altieri & Nicholls, 2005). This is due to advancements in technology and in agronomy thathave led to increased productivity and efficiency. Although this has led to increased yields, it has also rendered the smaller farms economically unviable. Many smaller farmers and those in the communities have been forced to choose between expanding their operations, supplementing theirfarm income with outside employment and stopping farming. This has led to hunger among the local communities. Unless small farmers are encouraged and supported in their farming operations, no matter the size of their farms, Australia will never achieve food sustainability. The government and other agricultural boards shouldsupport traditional farmers and small-scale farmers in terms of fertilizers and also train them on modern farming methods(Altieri & Nicholls, 2005). As such, there would be enough food for the Australians. Currently, Australiansare considered to be passive consumers. Australians should be active in producing rather than passively consuming. If Australians become active in production and governance, there will be a shift in the critical areas of life; that is, energy, water, food, shelter,power, mobility and information(Porter,2013).

Research about Australia’shealthconducted in 2012shows that Australia is a healthy nation. Australians have the highest life expectancies in the world (AIHW, 2012). The Australianhealth sector is striving to minimize illnesses and diseases among the people. However, there are some groups that experience poor health. Torres Islander people and aboriginal Australianshave poor health, and less life expectancy compared to other Australians. Their access to health services is lower. Many health aspects that Australians face are related to differences in lifestyles. In 2008, research showed that at least one Australian among those aged fifteen and above had a health risk factor(AIHW, 2012). Many Australians still suffer from high blood pressure and diseases that arise from lack of eating enough vegetables(Epstein, 2008). Also, among the OECD countries, Australia has one of the highest rates of obesity. The prevalence of diabetes has doubled among Australians. Furthermore, the most commonly used medicines in Australia are those for blood cholesterol reduction, lowing blood pressure, antibiotics and lowering stomach acid(AIHW, 2012). From a close observation, many of these diseases are caused by improper diet and bad consumption choice. Health risk factors among Australians can be minimized if Australianseat responsibly. Less consumption of meat is one of the steps that Australians should consider. Going meatless once in a week can reduce the occurrence of chronicdiseasessuch as, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer(AIHW, 2012). This also reduces the carbon footprint as well as saves resources such as fossil fuel and water. This will be better for the environment. Meatless breakfast, dinners and snacks are important in reducing health problems. Australians should get used to plant-based diets which emphasize on vegetables and fruits, legumes,grains and nuts(AIHW, 2012). People who eat fewer calories and less fat have lower weights and also have a lower risk of heart diseases.

For a sustainable present and future,that is, vision 2040, there is a need for Australians to eat bugs rather than meat. Insects can reduce hunger not only here in Australia, but also all over the world. Insects are high in vitamins and proteins. For example, crickets have high calcium and minerals and contain vitamins. Insect farming is cheaper and easier than livestock farming in that; it requires fewer resources. Australians should get rid of consumer disgust. When livestock and insect farming is compared, livestock farming consumes a lot of space, time, food and water. These commodities should not be wasted. This makes the insects a viable solution to world hunger. Also, for environmental preservation purposes, insects do not produce carbon emissions. As such, they do not contribute to global warming. Those who choose to eat vegetables due to health or environmental problems should, therefore, embrace the sustainable protein that comes from insects. Organic farming is also a solution to food problems in Australia. Organic farming conserves the environment as there are no chemicals used in the farming process(Roberts,2009). Also, organic farming products such as fruits, vegetables, eggs and other single-ingredient foods are important for consumers. Very few farmers in Australia produce organic foods. New farming methods have overcome traditional/organic farming. In order to produce enough organic food, farmers should be sensitized on the importance of such foods. In addition, the government of Australia should lower organic food import tax. This will lead to more organic foods being brought into the country. Eating rightly will lead to conservation of the environment and good health among Australians. Also, food sustainability would be achieved in the future(Roberts,2009).

There is an increasing consumer demand for food that is locally produced and processed. The Australian public is interested in issues such as carbon emissions, food security, food miles and slow food movement. This has led to consumerspaying higher prices to get high-quality food, which is of low environmental impact. 95% of farmbusinesses in Australia are owned and operated by families. Due to fluctuations in global commodity prices, farmers in Australia have experienced unpredictable and variable incomes. Furthermore,the increased importation of cheap food products and the rise of the Australian dollar have led to declining trade terms in agriculture. This is because Australian farmers try to compete with foreign food processors. Less food is consumed locally.Local food is traded and transportedelsewhere as sellable foods or as ingredients (Goetz, 2012). IfAustralians start buying local food products, small and medium sized farmers would deal with the declining trade terms and strengthen the nation’s domestic agricultural sector. The death of chain supermarkets is also a step towards food sustainability. Chain supermarkets deprive people of products since they distributeproducts to their branches where there is a high rate of consumption. Much of the locally produced food in Australia is sold in supermarkets outside the nation. This affects the nation’s food safety. Strong linksshould be established and maintainedwithin the local food supply chain. Local links should also be developed in cultivation, processing, packaging, marketing and transportation of food within the local food systems. There should also be proper labeling of food grown locally. Local farmers and food producers are encouraged to join or form cooperatives, which help in marketing local food. Australia has introduced a program that funds several food cooperatives and increase local food supply to community food hubs. The program has also developed a monthly farmers market.

Each country is self-sustainable in how they can produce their food. Australia is also self-sustainable in terms of food production. The nation can produce its food and import less. When I talk of self-sufficiency, I mean that the nation is capable of feeding its people with less aid from outside. However, the rate offood importation in the country is high. The nation is importing even foods that can be produced here in Australia. This is because imported food is cheaper than the locally produced food. However, if we do not purchase locally produced food, when will we become sustainable? The government encourages local consumption of food and energy. People are encouraged to be full-time farmers in order to produce the right amount of food with the right nutritional content forAustralians.

Australian cities are among the best cities in the world. The question is, are Australian cities functioning well. Cities address the psychological and material needs of the people as well as the needs of the community that is, the broader environment(Kelly,2010). In respect to Australian cities, there are needs that must be provided by cities such as enough food to eat, affordable housing, accesswater and freshair. Cities should ensure safety, and also that people are free from health problems.People in cities work in industries and do not engage in any farming since there are no gardens or plots where they can conductfarming. Australian cities are overcrowded, and food is bought at high prices. Vision 2040 is looking forward to having cities with community gardens where people will be cultivating food for their consumption. Community-gardens will boost food productivity in the country and will make all Australians get involved in farming even while in the city. Passive consumption will be eliminated. In Australian cities, much land is individually owned or owned by organizations and corporations(Kelly,2010). the community is almost unavailable. This needs to be changed. Cities need to be sustainable by having plots and gardens of land where members of the community can executefood production. For many years, the best services and food products have been concentrated in cities’ supermarkets and stores. However, currently there has been decentralization where food products are being distributed to every part of the nation. It is projected that by 2040, food products, energy, fuel and services shall be present in every part of Australia. For example, milk bars shall be established to enhance supply of milk to every part of the nation. Food products shall be distributed from the citycenters and major supermarkets to local shops where community residents can access. Local governments have also started regulating food prices in order to ensure that locally produced food is affordable to every Australian. Another important aspect towards achieving food sustainability in the future is eliminating carbon emissions which cause harm to the environment and also cause global warming(Kelly,2010). farming. Using horses for transportation would lower these carbon emissions and, therefore, a better environment for all.

Australia has several suburbs where a largepercentage of people live. Melbourne suburbs dominate in terms of providing family living. Not all Australiansuburbs have adequate access to retail outlets, schools, universities and medical centers. Kingston is one the best suburbs in Australia. Suburban living is characterized by expensive lifestyles(PMSEIC, 2010). Food prices are usually higher since many people depend on already processed food. Vision 2040 is focusing on ensuring that suburban living is affordable and that food products are available.

Australia’s vision 2040 not only targets on feeding its people, but also the world at large. The question is, how is global population being fed,having in mind that some of the Australians still experience hunger? By 2040, the world will have almost nine billion people. The global community faces a challenge in feeding the world. In Australia, food is available; the problem is distribution. Almost a third of all the food in the nation is thrown away. The wasted food is enough to feed malnourished people in other places. The government is striving to ensure that distribution regulations are revised so that food is distributed to other parts of the world in order to achieve global food sustainability (ABS, 2012). Australia, being the largestexporter of wheat, is ensuring that wheat farming is given priority so that the world can be fed.

Achieving food sustainability in Australia is one of the main aspects of vision 2040. In order to achieve this, every Australian should play an active role in food production, processing, marketing and transportation. People should also start consuming local foods in order to promote local farming. The health of Australians is also of concern given that many diseasesand illnesses originate from improper diet(Epstein, 2008). The government is ensuring that regulations concerning food distribution and prices are revised and implemented. Everyone is part of this vision and therefore, let us work towards achieving it. Thank you.

References

AIHW (2012). Australian’s Health 2012. Media Release, Cat. No. AUS 156; 628pp

http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737422172&tab=3

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2012). Australian Farming and Farmers. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features10Dec+2012

Altieri, M. A. & Nicholls, C.I. (2005). Agro-ecology and the Search for a Truly Sustainable Agriculture (1^sted).Berkeley: University of California

Epstein, J. (2008). A Review of Pollan Michael’s “A New Way to Think about Eating”. New York: The New York Review of Books

Goetz, G. (2012). Food Safety Compromised As Global Trade Expands. Food Safety News

Kelly, J. F. (2010). The Cities we need. Gratian Institute. Retrieved from http://grattan.edu.au/static/files/assets/4d78ccdf/038_the_cities_we_need.pdf

PMSEIC (2010). Australia and Food Security in a Changing World. The Prime Minister’s Science,Engineering and Innovation Council, Canberra, Australia.

Porter, D. (2013). Thinking Locally about Agriculture. AECOM

Roberts, P. (2009). Spoiled: Organic and Local Is So 2008,our industrial food system is rotten to the core. Heirloom arugula won’t save us. Here’swhat will. Mother Jones

Ryan, C. (2011). Characteristics of Thriving and the Importance ofNeighborhoods.Melbourne: VEIL University of Melbourne

Can we feed ourselves and help feed the world in the future?

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