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West Australian
04-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Australia's first national stocktake of $800 billion food system recommends reporting system
A national stocktake of Australia's $800 billion food system by CSIRO and the University of Queensland has suggested a consolidated reporting system could address sustainability and economic gaps. Released on June 2, the report — titled Towards A State Of The Food System Report for Australia — highlighted the need for a public authority to balance ongoing economic goals with sustainability, equity, and health goals, describing the system as 'fragmented'. It revealed those gaps, regarding environmental and health impacts, could amount to $274 billion in hidden costs for Australia. 'Food policy needs to be supported by the consolidated reporting and accountability arrangements provided to other systems, such as the health, social welfare, and criminal justice system,' the report reads. The report states the Australia is stuck in a 'siloed, sectoral view' of the food system. It recommends the implementation of a national food strategy, a Commonwealth ministerial portfolio, and a national food council, as per the recommendations of the 2023 Parliamentary inquiry into food security. CSIRO agriculture and food director Dr Michael Robertson said the Australian food system extends beyond producing and exporting commodities, providing equitable access to sustainably produced healthy food. 'We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously,' he said. 'This national stock take provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift. 'While Australia's wider food system is an economic and production success, generating more than $800 billion annually and providing significant employment particularly in regional areas, the intersection of our food system with other critical goals calls for a more comprehensive way to evaluate its performance.' According to the report climate change will causing profit losses to farms ranging between two and 50 per cent, and volatility in the production of food. The Australian Conservation Foundation welcomed the release of the report, with business and nature lead Nathaniel Pelle saying the report makes it 'clear' the current food system does not work for farmers, consumers, or nature. 'No activity has shaped the Australian landscape more profoundly than agriculture, while no industry has more to lose from environmental decline,' he said. 'We should not expect that growing food will have no impact on nature, but those impacts need to be managed so that they do not erode the capacity of the natural world to continue supporting future generations' right to food security and a healthy environment.' CSIRO sustainability research director Larelle McMillan said a reporting system would offer valuable insights into where the Australian food system is falling short. 'We need to move from analysing specific parts of the food system, to establishing co-ordinated reporting for important food system attributes and interactions, thus enabling connected up action for a national food system that serves all,' she said. 'This can be used as a focal point to bring together a great diversity of voice and vision to identify pathways to sustainable, health and affordable food for all Australians.'
The Advertiser
02-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Food system's billions of 'hidden costs' a sick outlook
Millions of Australians are being let down by a national food system that is cultivating insufficient fresh produce, contributing to high obesity rates and diet-related diseases, a first-of-its-kind report has found. The CSIRO report, released on Monday, found such "hidden costs" could be as much as $274 billion - the highest of any equivalent system worldwide. The agency's research examined Australia's network of food production, processing, transport, distribution, marketing and consumption to strengthen it against sustainability challenges and boost the delivery of healthy food. Among key issues in the $800 billion system - underpinned by 100,000 farmers - was a scarcity of fresh produce ending up on the tables of Australian consumers. "Australia's food system does not produce enough vegetables to meet recommended daily intakes," the report by the nation's science agency said. "The promotion of convenient, highly processed foods is costing the Australian economy billions (of dollars) in lost productivity from the impact of preventable, diet-related diseases." There was a "significant opportunity for communities, governments and businesses to work together to create future food environments that are healthier, more sustainable and more equitable". Australia's "industrialised food system" included many high-quality and safe items, but was also associated with obesity and diet-related diseases at epidemic levels. This was linked to the poor diet of the average Australian, who ate too few fruit and vegetables and too many nutrient-poor "discretionary foods". "Displacement of healthy foods with discretionary foods means that many Australians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies despite the relative abundance of food," the report said. There was also uneven access to grocery stores for healthy diet choices, room for improvement on food safety, and widespread food insecurity across the country, according to the report. About 3.4 million households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, while 31 per cent of remote Indigenous people experienced food insecurity, it said. In addition to impacts on human health, hidden costs include animal welfare, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and air, soil and water degradation, and food waste. "This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift," CSIRO agriculture and food director Michael Robertson said. "We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously." Foodbank chief operating officer Sarah Pennell said the findings confirmed the charity's observations from operations around the country. "Too many Australians are struggling to afford and access nutritious food," Ms Pennell said in a statement. "It's especially concerning that fresh fruit and vegetables, essential for good health, are among the first things to be cut from household budgets when money is tight. "Good nutrition is a basic right, not a luxury, and this report reinforces the urgency of addressing Australia's growing food insecurity crisis." Millions of Australians are being let down by a national food system that is cultivating insufficient fresh produce, contributing to high obesity rates and diet-related diseases, a first-of-its-kind report has found. The CSIRO report, released on Monday, found such "hidden costs" could be as much as $274 billion - the highest of any equivalent system worldwide. The agency's research examined Australia's network of food production, processing, transport, distribution, marketing and consumption to strengthen it against sustainability challenges and boost the delivery of healthy food. Among key issues in the $800 billion system - underpinned by 100,000 farmers - was a scarcity of fresh produce ending up on the tables of Australian consumers. "Australia's food system does not produce enough vegetables to meet recommended daily intakes," the report by the nation's science agency said. "The promotion of convenient, highly processed foods is costing the Australian economy billions (of dollars) in lost productivity from the impact of preventable, diet-related diseases." There was a "significant opportunity for communities, governments and businesses to work together to create future food environments that are healthier, more sustainable and more equitable". Australia's "industrialised food system" included many high-quality and safe items, but was also associated with obesity and diet-related diseases at epidemic levels. This was linked to the poor diet of the average Australian, who ate too few fruit and vegetables and too many nutrient-poor "discretionary foods". "Displacement of healthy foods with discretionary foods means that many Australians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies despite the relative abundance of food," the report said. There was also uneven access to grocery stores for healthy diet choices, room for improvement on food safety, and widespread food insecurity across the country, according to the report. About 3.4 million households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, while 31 per cent of remote Indigenous people experienced food insecurity, it said. In addition to impacts on human health, hidden costs include animal welfare, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and air, soil and water degradation, and food waste. "This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift," CSIRO agriculture and food director Michael Robertson said. "We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously." Foodbank chief operating officer Sarah Pennell said the findings confirmed the charity's observations from operations around the country. "Too many Australians are struggling to afford and access nutritious food," Ms Pennell said in a statement. "It's especially concerning that fresh fruit and vegetables, essential for good health, are among the first things to be cut from household budgets when money is tight. "Good nutrition is a basic right, not a luxury, and this report reinforces the urgency of addressing Australia's growing food insecurity crisis." Millions of Australians are being let down by a national food system that is cultivating insufficient fresh produce, contributing to high obesity rates and diet-related diseases, a first-of-its-kind report has found. The CSIRO report, released on Monday, found such "hidden costs" could be as much as $274 billion - the highest of any equivalent system worldwide. The agency's research examined Australia's network of food production, processing, transport, distribution, marketing and consumption to strengthen it against sustainability challenges and boost the delivery of healthy food. Among key issues in the $800 billion system - underpinned by 100,000 farmers - was a scarcity of fresh produce ending up on the tables of Australian consumers. "Australia's food system does not produce enough vegetables to meet recommended daily intakes," the report by the nation's science agency said. "The promotion of convenient, highly processed foods is costing the Australian economy billions (of dollars) in lost productivity from the impact of preventable, diet-related diseases." There was a "significant opportunity for communities, governments and businesses to work together to create future food environments that are healthier, more sustainable and more equitable". Australia's "industrialised food system" included many high-quality and safe items, but was also associated with obesity and diet-related diseases at epidemic levels. This was linked to the poor diet of the average Australian, who ate too few fruit and vegetables and too many nutrient-poor "discretionary foods". "Displacement of healthy foods with discretionary foods means that many Australians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies despite the relative abundance of food," the report said. There was also uneven access to grocery stores for healthy diet choices, room for improvement on food safety, and widespread food insecurity across the country, according to the report. About 3.4 million households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, while 31 per cent of remote Indigenous people experienced food insecurity, it said. In addition to impacts on human health, hidden costs include animal welfare, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and air, soil and water degradation, and food waste. "This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift," CSIRO agriculture and food director Michael Robertson said. "We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously." Foodbank chief operating officer Sarah Pennell said the findings confirmed the charity's observations from operations around the country. "Too many Australians are struggling to afford and access nutritious food," Ms Pennell said in a statement. "It's especially concerning that fresh fruit and vegetables, essential for good health, are among the first things to be cut from household budgets when money is tight. "Good nutrition is a basic right, not a luxury, and this report reinforces the urgency of addressing Australia's growing food insecurity crisis." Millions of Australians are being let down by a national food system that is cultivating insufficient fresh produce, contributing to high obesity rates and diet-related diseases, a first-of-its-kind report has found. The CSIRO report, released on Monday, found such "hidden costs" could be as much as $274 billion - the highest of any equivalent system worldwide. The agency's research examined Australia's network of food production, processing, transport, distribution, marketing and consumption to strengthen it against sustainability challenges and boost the delivery of healthy food. Among key issues in the $800 billion system - underpinned by 100,000 farmers - was a scarcity of fresh produce ending up on the tables of Australian consumers. "Australia's food system does not produce enough vegetables to meet recommended daily intakes," the report by the nation's science agency said. "The promotion of convenient, highly processed foods is costing the Australian economy billions (of dollars) in lost productivity from the impact of preventable, diet-related diseases." There was a "significant opportunity for communities, governments and businesses to work together to create future food environments that are healthier, more sustainable and more equitable". Australia's "industrialised food system" included many high-quality and safe items, but was also associated with obesity and diet-related diseases at epidemic levels. This was linked to the poor diet of the average Australian, who ate too few fruit and vegetables and too many nutrient-poor "discretionary foods". "Displacement of healthy foods with discretionary foods means that many Australians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies despite the relative abundance of food," the report said. There was also uneven access to grocery stores for healthy diet choices, room for improvement on food safety, and widespread food insecurity across the country, according to the report. About 3.4 million households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, while 31 per cent of remote Indigenous people experienced food insecurity, it said. In addition to impacts on human health, hidden costs include animal welfare, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and air, soil and water degradation, and food waste. "This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift," CSIRO agriculture and food director Michael Robertson said. "We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously." Foodbank chief operating officer Sarah Pennell said the findings confirmed the charity's observations from operations around the country. "Too many Australians are struggling to afford and access nutritious food," Ms Pennell said in a statement. "It's especially concerning that fresh fruit and vegetables, essential for good health, are among the first things to be cut from household budgets when money is tight. "Good nutrition is a basic right, not a luxury, and this report reinforces the urgency of addressing Australia's growing food insecurity crisis."
West Australian
02-06-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Food system's billions of 'hidden costs' a sick outlook
Millions of Australians are being let down by a national food system that is cultivating insufficient fresh produce, contributing to high obesity rates and diet-related diseases, a first-of-its-kind report has found. The CSIRO report, released on Monday, found such "hidden costs" could be as much as $274 billion - the highest of any equivalent system worldwide. The agency's research examined Australia's network of food production, processing, transport, distribution, marketing and consumption to strengthen it against sustainability challenges and boost the delivery of healthy food. Among key issues in the $800 billion system - underpinned by 100,000 farmers - was a scarcity of fresh produce ending up on the tables of Australian consumers. "Australia's food system does not produce enough vegetables to meet recommended daily intakes," the report by the nation's science agency said. "The promotion of convenient, highly processed foods is costing the Australian economy billions (of dollars) in lost productivity from the impact of preventable, diet-related diseases." There was a "significant opportunity for communities, governments and businesses to work together to create future food environments that are healthier, more sustainable and more equitable". Australia's "industrialised food system" included many high-quality and safe items, but was also associated with obesity and diet-related diseases at epidemic levels. This was linked to the poor diet of the average Australian, who ate too few fruit and vegetables and too many nutrient-poor "discretionary foods". "Displacement of healthy foods with discretionary foods means that many Australians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies despite the relative abundance of food," the report said. There was also uneven access to grocery stores for healthy diet choices, room for improvement on food safety, and widespread food insecurity across the country, according to the report. About 3.4 million households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, while 31 per cent of remote Indigenous people experienced food insecurity, it said. In addition to impacts on human health, hidden costs include animal welfare, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and air, soil and water degradation, and food waste. "This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift," CSIRO agriculture and food director Michael Robertson said. "We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously." Foodbank chief operating officer Sarah Pennell said the findings confirmed the charity's observations from operations around the country. "Too many Australians are struggling to afford and access nutritious food," Ms Pennell said in a statement. "It's especially concerning that fresh fruit and vegetables, essential for good health, are among the first things to be cut from household budgets when money is tight. "Good nutrition is a basic right, not a luxury, and this report reinforces the urgency of addressing Australia's growing food insecurity crisis."
Perth Now
02-06-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Food system's billions of 'hidden costs' a sick outlook
Millions of Australians are being let down by a national food system that is cultivating insufficient fresh produce, contributing to high obesity rates and diet-related diseases, a first-of-its-kind report has found. The CSIRO report, released on Monday, found such "hidden costs" could be as much as $274 billion - the highest of any equivalent system worldwide. The agency's research examined Australia's network of food production, processing, transport, distribution, marketing and consumption to strengthen it against sustainability challenges and boost the delivery of healthy food. Among key issues in the $800 billion system - underpinned by 100,000 farmers - was a scarcity of fresh produce ending up on the tables of Australian consumers. "Australia's food system does not produce enough vegetables to meet recommended daily intakes," the report by the nation's science agency said. "The promotion of convenient, highly processed foods is costing the Australian economy billions (of dollars) in lost productivity from the impact of preventable, diet-related diseases." There was a "significant opportunity for communities, governments and businesses to work together to create future food environments that are healthier, more sustainable and more equitable". Australia's "industrialised food system" included many high-quality and safe items, but was also associated with obesity and diet-related diseases at epidemic levels. This was linked to the poor diet of the average Australian, who ate too few fruit and vegetables and too many nutrient-poor "discretionary foods". "Displacement of healthy foods with discretionary foods means that many Australians suffer from micronutrient deficiencies despite the relative abundance of food," the report said. There was also uneven access to grocery stores for healthy diet choices, room for improvement on food safety, and widespread food insecurity across the country, according to the report. About 3.4 million households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, while 31 per cent of remote Indigenous people experienced food insecurity, it said. In addition to impacts on human health, hidden costs include animal welfare, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and air, soil and water degradation, and food waste. "This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental, and economic priorities shift," CSIRO agriculture and food director Michael Robertson said. "We have an intergenerational responsibility to pursue these goals vigorously." Foodbank chief operating officer Sarah Pennell said the findings confirmed the charity's observations from operations around the country. "Too many Australians are struggling to afford and access nutritious food," Ms Pennell said in a statement. "It's especially concerning that fresh fruit and vegetables, essential for good health, are among the first things to be cut from household budgets when money is tight. "Good nutrition is a basic right, not a luxury, and this report reinforces the urgency of addressing Australia's growing food insecurity crisis."
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Broadband internet outage affects thousands in New Zealand; causes and explained
Contact Energy broadband users faced a major internet disruption. The outage impacted users in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Devoli, the network provider, traced the problem to a route reflector in Sydney. Devices in Auckland and Wellington were restarted to fix the issue. Contact Energy confirmed that services are now restored. The company is investigating the cause of the outage. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in International 1. Gary Lineker leaves BBC after controversial "rat" post depicting antisemitic insult Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Residents across New Zealand faced internet outage between 7 and 8:30 PM on Tuesday (May 20, resulting in a large portion of online work coming to a halt. Contact Energy broadband customers across New Zealand, including those in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, experienced the outage, which was attributed to a route reflector issue in Sydney, according to network service provider outage continued for a couple of hours before Contact Energy reports services were restored. The broadband service provider is investigating the cause of the outage."Due to slow response we have restarted devices in Auckland and Wellington," Devoli wrote. "Investigation ongoing."The company later stated that services were being progressively restored while engineers actively monitored the chief retail officer Michael Robertson confirmed that the company's broadband service was back up and running. 'We are working to find out why and how this happened.'Contact Energy has advised customers still experiencing problems to turn their modem off and back on. More than a 100,000 people in New Zealand use Contact broadband media users shared their experiences of the outage. A post on the Vic Deals Facebook page asking about internet loss received 139 comments from users across Wellington person commented: 'Sitting round the table for dinner for once cos there isn't any wifi'.Another said, 'All I want to do is watch some YouTube videos for background noise until I fall asleep'.Gorilla Technology chief executive Paul Spain explained that outages can stem from various issues. These include misconfiguration, equipment failure, or even cyber attacks.'The resolution will depend ultimately on the cause,' he said. 'Appropriately there is redundancy built in to Internet providers networks to reduce the risk of large-scale outages - and these same redundant mechanisms can also be helpful when there is a significant failure.'Spain clarified the role of a route reflector. He said it is critical equipment that helps networks determine the best path for data transmission.'For instance when you want to stream a movie, your Smart TV, phone or computer needs to connect and retrieve the video data across the internet from an appropriate streaming server.'Chorus reported fixing vandalism that took hundreds of Aucklanders offline a few days prior to this event.
