Nutritional sufficiency of the national food production system: Phase 2

Summary

Australia is a food trading nation with a diverse food supply, making possible healthy diets and a wide range of food options. However, the food system is noted to be changing with food imports rising and food exports in a declining trend. The Australian population is also growing, projected to reach 37.5 million inhabitants around 2050. These and other factors suggest that the food system could change significantly in coming years. Given the importance of the food system, especially in relation to rural industries and also to public health, analysis of the future national food demand relative to food production capability is critical to inform agricultural and food policies. This project will provide an updated analysis of the Australian food system with projections for nutritional food sufficiency to 2050 based on the 2011/2012 National Nutrition Survey.

Program

National Rural Issues

Research Organisation

CSIRO

Objective Summary

The objectives of the project are: Revise nutritional sufficiency projections to 2050 based on the 2011/2012 National Nutrition Survey Evaluate changes in the Australian food system by comparison of 1995 and 2012 data sets (e.g. food waste and protein preferences) Provide an update to the Australian Nutritional Production Sufficiency Index Provide insights into future Australian agricultural export potential and food import dependence, as well as implications for government policies related to domestic and international food security and matters affecting agricultural and food industry productivity, profitability and expansion.