Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 5:20:00 to 5:24:29
Discussion on the drafting of the National Food Security Strategy and efforts to address food waste across the supply chain.
Topics: Food security, Agricultural research and levies
Speakers: Matt Lowe, Senator Ross Cadell, Unknown Speaker, Miss Victoria Anderson, Paul Denny
food security.
>> Okay. Um [snorts] you mentioned defense looking at the bigger picture on defense that I'm sure there on a very small note I think our rat packs and ration packs are now made in New Zealand. Is that correct? Do you know that?
>> Uh I don't. Sorry Senator.
>> Okay. >> they are don't know don't know if they've improved since my time. I hope to get more more than two sheets of toilet paper in each pack nowadays but anyway we'll go from there. Um so but you would look at it as French shoring or we looking a this is Australia specific or will you look at French shoring on shoring? How are we looking
>> Um obviously we're primarily concerned with Australia's food security. Um one of the things that um we we [clears throat] are focused on and thinking about is I guess the role that Australia plays in the region as well. Um so in thinking about that maybe um the Middle East is um crisis is an instructive example in this regard where um our neighbors um had um ura supplies um where as we talked earlier which was globally short and their interest was in making that ura available to us obviously on commercial terms. um and recognizing that that ura supported food production that went to our near neighbors as well. So thinking about I guess how those sort of dependencies um can be mutually reinforcing and support Australia's food security as a whole.
Okay. Since May specifically when last estimates were what sort of progress has been made? Are we closer to a draft at all? Is it will a draft be released or
>> Yeah. I we've so there's been um multiple meetings of the the food security council. There's been um I think was a number I'm not sure the number but um a number of consultations and co-design sessions that have happened. And to answer your question specifically, yes, we are in the process of drafting um the strategy as it currently stands.
>> And will it be public or will it be for government government use only or will it be a public?
>> The intention is for it to be public. Yes.
>> Yeah. Um I'm not sure if you mean the draft or the final. The final will certainly be public. >> Yeah, the the draft it's subject to government decision um at the moment. So we'll we'll wait and see what the plan is for the draft.
do we are we looking at food waste in
>> Yes. Yes, we are. That has been something that's been raised as part of the um through the consultation process. It's also been something that's been raised um through the inter interdep departmental process as well.
>> How deep do you go on I'm asking how the sausage is made just a bit so you can tell me to start off but >> how deep do we go cuz when we're doing the supermarket inquiry we noticed one of the scopes of fresh food was the scoping and detail around this the classification and the like they plowing 20 to 30% of crop that was edible just not looking the right way back into fields and things like that. How far do you go at this food waste? Both post post packaging or post sale or pre-sale stuff like that? How far are we going?
>> Um we're looking at um that whole supply chain to be honest. Um both kind of what food food food waste that happens as a result of specifications on farm but also food waste that can happen as a result of kind of um I guess labeling requirements and um particularly due date requirements as well. They're all things that have been raised with us um as things that are worthy of consideration that we're looking at.
>> Is there a food waste section in Abeck's report culture report?
>> No, there's no specific food waste.
>> Was there some talk about doing a food waste unit in there or funding one? Like I'm either remembering stuff or thinking about something.
>> Um there was >> Okay. Um I'm wondering if you might be minded to be thinking of DQ and their circular economy area.
>> It might be.
>> Yeah.
>> Where's the waste
>> um CRC
>> and ah and Mr. Denny, why don't you?
>> Yeah, there's a food waste CRC that's been um operating for some time um not not part of DAT. >> Yep. Um but doing research uh into food