Released in early March 2012, FOODmap is a comprehensive comparative analysis of food distribution channels for major categories within the Australian food industry, from food producer to consumer. It summarises the key features of a food industry that continues to undergo change, with significant opportunities and challenges at a category level.
The 2nd Annual National Sustainable Food Summit will discuss how Australia’s food system will tranform to meet the challenge of feeding more people with less over the next century. The inaugural 2011 Summit, attended by over 340 participants from diverse sectors and backgrounds, generated consensus for the need to collaborate and continue the conversations necessary to generate change. The 2nd Annual Summit will progress the discussion from 2011 to begin to examine what new frameworks and emerging solutions will help support a sustainable and resilient food system for Australia now and in the future.
You are invited to attend the 3rd Sustainable Phosphorus Summit hosted by the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney – a founding member of the Global Phosphorus Research Initiative. The Summit will bring together key international science, policy and industry stakeholders from different parts of the food production and consumption chain concerned about the role of phosphorus availability and accessibility in global food security, about protecting the environment, and about supporting rural and urban livelihoods.
International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater – the theme for 2012 is Water and Food Security.
What draws you to creating an edible urban food garden? Is it the taste of fresh garden produce bursting with flavour and health? Those positive feelings you get from knowing you’re helping our environment, or the sense of satisfaction that comes from saying “I grew those veggies myself,” as you serve up a delicious meal to family and friends? The Grow Local Illawarra Edible Garden Guide is designed to share ideas and inspiration for growing food successfully in urban and peri-urban areas.
In August 2011 the Waite Research Institute in Adelaide hosted a debate on food security and what is needed to feed our rapidly growing population. The motion in question was this: Increasing agricultural production is the only sure way to feed 9 billion people by 2050. The affirmative and negative arguments presented are summarised in the COSMOS magazine feature article Food security for 9 billion.
Price swings, upswings in particular, represent a major threat to food security in developing countries. Hardest-hit are the poor. According to the World Bank, in 2010-2011 rising food costs pushed nearly 70 million people into extreme poverty. “Food Prices – From Crisis to Stability” has been chosen as this year’s World Food Day theme to shed some light on this trend and what can be done to mitigate its impact on the most vulnerable.
The observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to 17 October 1987. On that day, over a hundred thousand people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. They proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure that these rights are respected. These convictions are inscribed in a commemorative stone unveiled on this day. Since then, people of all backgrounds, beliefs and social origins have gathered every year on 17 October to renew their commitment and show their solidarity with the poor.