AEGN

Sustainable food systems

In Australia, agriculture covers more than half our land and is responsible for around 13 per cent of carbon emissions.  Food production is also a significant cause of biodiversity loss.  Restoring and strengthening ecological systems will help to protect biodiversity, prevent erosion, and enable food producers and consumers to determine what food they produce and eat, and how.

What’s been happening?
  • The Climate Change Authority released its Sector Pathways Review, setting out emissions reduction pathways in key sectors, including agriculture (read our summary)
  • The Joint Committee on Northern Australia is conducting an inquiry into Energy, Food and Water Security issues
  • The latest Great Barrier Reef Scientific Consensus Statement confirms that land management practices in Reef catchments continue to degrade water quality and exacerbate climate impacts. The statement calls for more investment in research and monitoring, and collaborating with farmers and First Nations owners on locally-effective solutions
  • ACF released The Future of Food, assessing how 20 of Australia’s largest food companies manage their impacts on nature. In response to a campaign for major supermarkets to stop purchasing beef from farmers engaged in unlawful land clearing, Woolworths has committed to only stock ‘deforestation-free’ beef from 2025
  • The NSW Local Land Services is seeking feedback from land managers on how data is collected, used and presented on issues like biosecurity, cultural heritage protections, native vegetation and species management.
  • The ANAO released its review of the National Soil Strategy, finding the design and implementation of the strategy has not been effective and recommending clear implementation and monitoring plans for the National Soil Action Plan
  • The Federal Minister requested a delay in applying new EU laws that would ban beef imports from areas with land clearing
  • The Clean Energy Regulator released Soil Carbon guidelines
  • The Federal government released its draft Agriculture and Land Sector decarbonisation plan, with a final plan expected by late 2024.
  • The Federal government released the National Biosecurity Strategy and is consulting on development of a National Action Plan to implement the Strategy.  Consultation has been done on biosecurity culture and partnerships, and is ongoing for workforce development, risk management, sustainable investment and R&D
  • A Senate Committee released its report into the management for biosecurity risks around red imported fire ants, recommending stronger action and funding to implement the national eradication plan.
  • The water trigger in the EPBC Act (which requires large fossil fuel projects impacting on water resources to seek federal environmental approval) was expanded to include all unconventional gas (not just CSG). This will increase the level of assessment for many gas projects on farming land.  
  • The Queensland govt is proposing to remove requirements for CSG projects to assess subsidence risks, a move strongly opposed by farmers

What is the AEGN doing?
  • Ensuring sustainable food and waste practices at all AEGN events
  • Connecting members and experts interested in sustainable food production and distribution
  • Keeping members updated on policy changes and advocacy opportunities

What can AEGN members do?

Become a member

It’s been exciting to see the growth in sophistication of how the AEGN operates. For the benefit of all.

Hayley Morris, Morris Family Foundation