Abstract

Macro and micro policies shape decision-making processes for government and industry across the food system.  Economic cost/benefit measuring of food policy is no longer sufficient due to new broader health, social and environmental drivers.  In the complex governance structures today policy development is required both horizontally and vertically (Barling et al. 2002: 557). Currently, policies are developed across a broad number of government departments and regulatory authorities in a silo approach, which severely restricts their effectiveness.  Due to this fragmented approach inconsistencies, overlap and gaps are highly probable (DAFF 2011a: vi).  This report contributes to the understanding of the relationships between food policies, food security and climate change. It focuses on six main food security areas that may be significantly impacted by climate change in Australia: agricultural production; biodiversity and ecosystems; land use; resilience to natural disasters; water scarcity; and biosecurity (Garnaut 2011).  Food policies need to consider the impacts of climate change through a triple-bottom-line lens. Current regulatory systems need to be simplified through the unbundling of bureaucratic layers and would benefit from a consistent and integrated food policy approach and a diverse food system approach which includes regional and local scales.

Please cite this report as:
Slade, C & Wardell-Johnson, A 2013, Creating a climate for food security: Governance and policy in Australia, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, 34 pp. 

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