Meryl Swanson MP

AN inquiry into food security has been launched by the Australian Parliament’s Agriculture Committee and it wants to hear how farmers are adapting to climate change.

The committee is calling for submissions from interested stakeholders up to a deadline of 9 December 2022.

Committee chair, Meryl Swanson, said food security is a growing issue nationally and internationally, with population growth, war, weather and climate all posing risks to the availability and accessibility of food.

‘While Australia was one of the most food secure nations in the world, recent events such as the pandemic and widespread floods have shown that we cannot take anything for granted.

“Input shortages and disruptions to the global supply chains that Australian producers depend on are likely to have a significant impact on the productivity and profitability of the sector,” she said.

“More importantly, these factors will have a direct impact on the cost of living for all Australians.”

The committee will examine ways to strengthen and safeguard food security in Australia. In particular, it will focus on local food production and the impact of supply chain distribution on the cost and availability of food.

The committee is also interested in exploring the impact of climate change on food production in Australia.

Ms Swanson said while climate change poses a continual risk to farmers, the committee is keen to see how agricultural producers are adapting and innovating in response to these climate challenges.

Further information, including the inquiry’s terms of reference, can be found on the committee’s website.