AusFoodtech welcomes first National Food Plan

AusFoodtech, AusBiotech’s program for functional foods and nutraceuticals, has welcomed the release of Australia’s first National Food Plan - a road map for Australia’s food businesses and consumers.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Joe Ludwig, launched the plan in Brisbane on the weekend, with initiatives that “will create new opportunities and steer the way for the future of our food from paddock to plate”.

Minister Ludwig said that Australia’s “food supply chain has a strong foundation, with high levels of food security and hard-working producers. Like others around the world, there are challenges including climate change, population growth, diet-related health issues and competition for resources. There are also enormous opportunities, including the rise of Asia.”

The Acting CEO of AusBiotech, Glenn Cross, said: “As an advocate for biotechnologies in the production of food, we welcome Australia’s first National Food Plan and its related initiatives. In particular, we are pleased to see the inclusion of a specific section on biotechnology.

“The plan will support Australian companies working in food technology and agricultural biotechnology to take advantage of the opportunities in global markets, especially Asia, and maximise our contribution to feeding the world’s growing population.”

The biotechnology section of the plan (section 4.1.3) outlines that an “immediate step will be working with industry and state and territory governments to develop a national strategy for biotechnology in agriculture” with consultations to be held during 2013-14 “to identify the constraints farmers face in adopting new technologies”.

The National Food Plan includes 16 goals and is supported by new initiatives, including:

• $28.5 million for an Asian Food Markets Research Fund to help our agriculture and food industries to capitalise on opportunities offered by growing Asian markets.
• Strengthening our trade ties in the Asian region by investing an additional $5.6 million to give our agriculture industries a stronger, government-endorsed voice in key overseas markets.
• $2 million to develop Australia’s own trusted and recognised food brand, to ensure our trading partners continue to associate Australia with quality, innovative, safe and sustainable food.
• A ‘What Asia Wants’ study to identify food needs and preferences in the region and identify long-term risks and opportunities for the Australian food industry.
• A ‘Moving Food’ study which will analyse food industry trends to help business and governments plan infrastructure to support a growing industry to 2025.
• $1.5 million for a Community Food Grants program to help boost our communities’ connection with food.
• $1.5 million to build on our work to grow our young people’s knowledge of food and agriculture and the rewarding career opportunities in the sector by better supporting teachers and career advisers.
• A Productivity Commission review to identify priority areas for reforming food supply chain regulations.
• The establishment of an Australian Council on Food to engage with industry and community leaders on food.
• Five-yearly ‘State of the Food System’ reports to monitor the food system and analyse trends.

Minister Ludwig said the National Food Plan was a Labor commitment of the 2010 election and seeks to align food policies with the opportunities of the Asian Century.

For more information on the National Food Plan, visit http://daff.gov.au/nationalfoodplan.

For more information on AusFoodtech, contact Alina Tooley at atooley@ausbiotech.org or 03 9828 1400.