Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins announced the plan alongside NFF CEO Troy Williams and ASPI senior fellow Andrew Henderson on the sidelines of the ABARES Outlook 2025 event. Photo: Julie Collins

GRAINS industry groups and companies have come out in support of Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins recent announcement that a re-elected Labor Government would develop a new national food security strategy.

Ms Collin said the strategy, named Feeding Australia, would identify opportunities to improve supply chain resilience and feature a plan to better deal with future trends, trade with other nations, and the consequences of natural disasters and global shocks.

She said the Government would commit $3.5 million to develop Feeding Australia as well as establish a National Food Council, comprising industry and community experts, to advise on the development and implementation of the strategy.

She said this work would also include a strategic examination of the potential to grow a biofuels feedstock industry to support Australia’s transition to net zero.

“Australia has an impressive record in agriculture, feeding millions of people both here and abroad, but we can’t afford to be complacent,” Ms Collins said.

“I’m excited to see the final strategy and work towards a stronger and more robust and resilient food system.”

Industry groups, Grain Producers Australia and GrainGrowers, welcomed the announcement and committed to working with government to support the resilience of the grains supply chain.

“The grains industry plays a crucial role in Australia’s food security and that of our trading partners who depend on our exports,” GrainGrowers chief executive officer Shona Gawel said.

“Collaboration across all sectors is essential to build resilience, and we are committed to working with the government to meet these challenges and ensure we can continue providing food, regardless of the challenges ahead.”

GPA chair Barry Large said the strategic policy planning commitment represented multiple challenges and opportunities for all Australian grain producers.

“Pragmatic outcomes, which recognise and incentivise what grain producers already do very well on-farm, and other initiatives to ensure we can continue growing more high-quality grains, are vital to the strategy’s future success and implementation – and for our trading partners,” Mr Large said.

GPA chief executive Colin Bettles said the Labor Government’s plans to examine the potential for domestic biofuels feedstock industry, in the announced food security strategy, presented good opportunities for grain producers and industry.

“We look forward to contributing to future collaborations, on this important strategic policy development process, working with whoever is in government, after the next election,” Mr Bettles said.

Agribusiness GrainCorp said it looked forward to contributing to the development of a new national food security strategy.

GrainCorp CEO Robert Spurway said the company supported the government’s efforts to reinforce food security, and that continued focus on supply chains and industry collaboration will be critical to maintaining Australia’s leadership in agricultural production.

“Food security goes hand in hand with energy security, and a coordinated national approach will help future-proof Australia’s supply chains and ensure we remain a global leader in sustainable agricultural production,” Mr Spurway said.

“By strengthening our supply chains and examining the potential of new markets, including the biofuels feedstock industry, this initiative has the potential to create jobs, drive investment and unlock further economic opportunities for regional Australia.”

Opposition criticises policy delays

Shadow Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud has called the announcement a “hollow promise to deliver a food security plan” and questioned why the Federal Government had not actioned work on a strategy sooner.

“These were key recommendations in the Agriculture Standing Committee’s Feeding the Nation and beyond report from November, 2023 – almost 18 months ago,” Mr Littleproud said.

“The industry-led Food Alliance has also called on Labor for this action since 2022.”

He said the Coalition supported the concept of an end-to-end supply chain food security plan, but believed the announcement failed to include key factors that impacted food production and the supply chain.

“Labor has created issues all along the supply chain.

“In just three years, Labor has shut down the live sheep trade, scrapped the Agriculture Visa, announced new taxes on farmers and their superannuation, cut roads funding, messed with the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) worker scheme and implemented crippling IR reforms.”

Source: Federal Government, GrainGrowers, GPA, GrainCorp, The Nationals