Alternative proteins think tank Food Frontier has released a new report urging the Australian government to overhaul its food systems for economic, health, and environmental benefits.
The Alternative proteins and Australian food systems transformation report provides detailed justifications for overhauling the country’s food production, distribution, and consumption systems to Australia’s federal and state and territory governments. It also underscores the potential repercussions of inaction such as missing out on global economic opportunities.
The recommendations to the federal government and state governments include establishing a National Food Plan as well as appointing both national and state-level Food Ministers. The Ministers would oversee the plan’s implementation along with a National Food Council made up of industry and community experts.
Both initiatives were previously recommended in 2023 by a federal committee responsible for an inquiry into food security in Australia.
The report also calls on all Australia governments to take a series of initiatives including: co-invest with industry in scaling-up infrastructure, proactively build Australia’s alternative proteins skilled workforce; pursue health strategies that encourage adoption of plant-centric diets in institutional settings such as aged care; and generate investor attraction reports on new protein industries.
Food Frontier CEO Dr Simon Eassom highlighted how governments across the world are installing climate change mitigation into their policies and that Australia must implement similar support mechanisms for sustainable foods to achieve the nation’s climate targets.
“This report is not about pointing fingers; it’s about recognising the need for a coordinated approach across all protein industries,” Dr Eassom said. “We hope decision-makers will find it useful and implement its suggested actions.”
Eassom added that Australia has people and businesses with the skills and will to develop alternative protein supplies but that they require support.
Food Frontier noted that beyond governments, the report is also useful to climate change organisations working with decision makers and who need information about food systems.
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