Our awareness of food waste is increasing all the time, yet we continue to throw away vast amounts of produce even when we don’t need to. We are getting tired of being lectured on our habits so its time…
A couple of these and a nice chianti.
Severin Tchibozo
Protein is a shrinking part of the diets of humans and animals. The deficiency is spreading rapidly across the world, but is particularly pronounced in Africa, even though many sources of protein can be…
Wheat-free: fields full of quick-growing miscanthus grass, an energy-rich biofuel.
Andrew Parsons/PA
Critics of the conversion of plants into biofuel have long argued that it is an issue of food versus fuel, and a recent UN report gives some weight to their argument. Since the amount of maize needed…
Is “fresh, farm-raised” a modern oxymoron?
Natalie Maynor/Flickr
Kenny Black, Scottish Association for Marine Science
The amount of aquaculture produce worldwide - including farmed fish and shellfish - has now overtaken global beef production, by 64m tonnes to 57m tonnes. Perhaps more remarkably, we are on course to harvest…
We’re talking, yet again, about how lovely it is up north.
Flickr/skittledog
The romantic idea of developing northern Australia has once more been thrust into the light, this time by the Coalition’s 2030 Plan for Developing Northern Australia. As I look at coverage of the plan…
To meet global demand, grain production needs to double by 2050. It’s not going to make it.
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Since the time of Malthus, humanity has worried whether there would be enough food to feed the growing population. Such fears were always overcome and doomsayers all proven wrong: there was always more…
Australia’s status as a major wheat exporter means we have a special role in helping the rest of the world eat. But with a changing climate, and so much of the world’s wheat being used as animal feeds…
Science suggests poor soils, water availability and harsh climatic conditions should dull visions for a northern Australia food bowl.
Wakx/Flickr
With the recently leaked discussion paper by the Coalition reigniting old passions for a northern irrigated food bowl, Australia must again contemplate its vision for the north. Is this our chance to learn…
More and longer heat waves are coming, so researchers are making sure our crops are ready.
Amy Mergard
Australia broke its “hottest day” record this week, and heat waves are becoming more common in Australia. Heat waves are projected to increase in duration and intensity with global warming and climate…
The food Australia produces - including wheat - contributes to the diets of 60 million people.
Jim Champion
Peter Langridge, Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics and Simon Prasad, Office of the Chief Scientist
Food production in Australia is challenging. Why? Because our soils are largely ancient and infertile, and our climate is variable and frequently harsh. Many food producing regions are degraded through…
Community gardens are becoming a viable urban source of food.
stc4blues/Flickr
Food safety, availability and affordability are now global issues. Rapid urbanisation has increased demand for food in cities, where most people now live. Growing demand for food has been met by growth…
Christmas is a time of plenty - but to ensure we keep eating well in the future, it’s time to rethink the way we buy and produce food.
Barbeque image from www.shutterstock.com
As we gather to share a meal with friends and family this festive season, it is the ideal time to reflect on our relationship with food, including our dependence on those who grow it for us. Australians…
Australia is not starving, but we do have major food distribution issues (and diet-driven health problems).
N Sawyer/Flickr
Last week saw national and international media attention on events unfolding in Parliament House. But another function in that magnificent building was arguably of much greater long-term importance — the…
When we’re thinking about food security, it’s not enough to just think about subsistence; we also need creativity and participation.
Alicia Rosello Gene
Although Australia is a food exporting country, about 5% of Australian families suffer food insecurity - inadequate access to or supply of food, or inadequate food preparation. Many suffer diet-related…
Market share: Two companies in Australia control more than half of the country’s bread and bakery business.
Flickr/looseends
The Federal Government’s current national food plan process is heavily dominated by business interests. It is built on flawed assumptions that the market can provide the solutions that our broken food…
Malaysia’s biofuel policies — which will be delivered by large multinational corporations — are contributing to a global food crisis.
Rainforest Action Network/Flikr
According to their 2005 Energy Policy Act, the US was supposed to have reached a 7.5% target for renewable fuel by 2012. While this may be good for the environment, there is growing concern that national…
Sensible Australian farmers don’t object when foreign investors want to buy their problematic assets.
AAP Image/Cubbie Group
Controversy surrounding the recent sale of Cubbie Station in Queensland near the New South Wales border to (mainly) Chinese interests is not unexpected. Fears about foreign ownership in Australia are long-standing…
The United Nations estimates the world must increase food production by 75% by 2050 to cope with a projected population of 10 billion people.
p3anut/Flickr
Welcome to The Conversation’s series on megatrends. What are the compelling economic, social, environmental, political and technological changes Australia must grapple with over the coming decades? In…
Time to get our eyes back on the prize: the pragmatic, results-focused, multi-sector research effort of recent decades has stalled.
Welcome to Part Two of Professor Andrew Campbell’s special report on the troubling plight of irrigation research and development in Australia. In part one, Professor Campbell argued that despite an unprecedented…