Australia has a vast agricultural sector, diverse agroecological zones, a multicultural population and strong regional partnerships. It must treat sustainable food security as both a domestic imperative and a strategic priority.
Food security was recognised as a critical element of national security in the 2022–2023 federal inquiry into food security in Australia. The inquiry report referenced six pillars essential to achieving food security. The four traditional pillars—availability, access, utilisation and stability—each have significant implications for Australia’s national resilience, social cohesion and regional standing.
Availability, or the presence of sufficient food supplies, has historically not been a concern for Australia. However, as climate change worsens, we are increasingly vulnerable to more frequent and intense climate-related shocks, including droughts, bushfires and floods.
We must also rethink our agricultural sector’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels and consider how we can address the challenges of liquid fuel supply-chain disruptions. For example, Farmers for Climate Action have called for the use of on-farm batteries. Supporting this initiative would increase local energy security and lower electricity costs in the medium-term. The declining number of family farmers, who possess vital local knowledge and production expertise, will further challenge the sector.
Access to food in Australia remains relatively high overall, but significant economic disparities persist. Rural, remote and Indigenous communities, along with economically disadvantaged households, too often face barriers to accessing food. These inequalities, if unaddressed, pose risks to social stability and Australia’s internal security.
Utilisation, which refers to food’s nutritional value and its health outcomes, is an increasingly serious issue. More than 60 percent of Australian adults are classified as overweight or obese, conditions which are often linked with micronutrient deficiencies and heightened vulnerability to diseases. Poor nutrition drives up public health costs and lowers workforce productivity and can also compromise the operational readiness of emergency services and defence personnel.
Stability—the consistent reliability of the pillars over time—is under threat from both global and domestic factors. Supply chain disruptions—whether due to geopolitical conflicts such as the war in Ukraine or global events such as the Covid-19 pandemic—have exposed Australia’s increasing reliance on imported food items and agricultural inputs including fertilisers and animal health products. Domestically, climate events, transport disruptions and global trade volatility have caused sharp increases in food prices, which have disproportionately affected vulnerable households, eroding public trust in governance.
Two emerging pillars are gaining global recognition: agency and sustainability. Agency refers to the social and political systems that ensure inclusive governance and empower individuals and communities to shape their food environments. Sustainability involves food system practices that regenerate natural, social and economic resources, meeting current nutritional needs without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same.
These pillars must also be central to Australia’s proposed Feeding Australia national food security strategy.
Encouragingly, international research shows that regenerative agriculture supports environmental resilience and produces food with higher nutrient density. A future-focused strategy should enable updates to key national resources such as the Australian Food Composition Database and the Australian Dietary Guidelines, incorporating data on nutrient-rich, affordable and underutilised foods that are produced in significant quantities but not widely consumed, such as mutton and liver.
The global shift to consider food and nutrition security, rather than a narrow focus on food security alone, reflects a deeper understanding of what it means for people to be truly nourished. Simply having enough food is not sufficient; it must also be nutritious. Australians may meet caloric needs but still suffer from hidden hunger—deficiencies in essential nutrients such as iron, calcium and vitamin C. As recognised by the United Nations and many national governments, food policy must address quality, not just quantity. Hidden hunger presents significant consequences, especially for individual and community health.
Achieving a resilient and nutrient-dense food system for Australia and regional export markets requires a holistic national approach: one that fosters cross-sector collaboration between education, agriculture, human health and the broader food system. It must also acknowledge local agroecological contexts and incentivise the production and distribution of safe, nutrient-dense, and sustainable food. It is time to reframe the national agenda—from Feeding Australia to Nourishing Australia.