Food equity

Summary

The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”. The ‘food security’ challenge in Australia is to correct the situation in which some people in rural and remote areas (particularly a number of Indigenous people) do not having ready access to nutritious food necessary to maintain good health. This situation is inequitable, avoidable and inimical to good health. The project will refer to 'food equity' so as not to confuse it with the global issue of 'food security' which relates to gross international imbalances in food caused by geopolitical, security, demographic, climatic, agricultural and economic factors. Initial work will include a scoping study or an overview of the issue in relation to domestic food security in Australia. There is ample evidence that poor health and disease incidence in Australia occur at much higher levels in rural and remote areas and a major contributor to this is poor nutrition and unequal access to food.

Program

National Rural Issues

Research Organisation

National Rural Health Alliance

Objective Summary

1 To estimate, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the incidence of food insecurity in Australia, particularly in more remote areas and including among Indigenous populations. 2 To provide preliminary estimates of the contribution made by this food insecurity to population health status and the viability of rural communities. 3 To investigate the linkages between food (in)security and the productivity and sustainability of rural communities including (if appropriate) with reference to occupational health and safety. 4 To provide preliminary proposals for the means through which rural food security could be improved, including through the joint actions of governments, communities, NGOs and the private sector. 5 To lay the basis for greater public understanding of these matters.