Creating healthy food environments...12% of NSW ag. production on 1% of the state’s ag. land...

Creating healthy food environments

Sydney Food Fairness Alliance

Set up in 2005

Working for access to food for all and sustainable food systems

Carry out research, education, networking,

advocacy

Members include: • health and welfare workers • primary producers • environmentalists • faith based and rights groups • educators • council staff • students • individuals

Aim

• To promote food security for all and sustainable food systems

• Advocating for an integrated NSW food policy

• Held a NSW Food Summit in Oct 2009

• Working in partnership on Food Security Conference October 2014

What is food security?

The ability of individuals, households

and communities to acquire

appropriate and nutritious food on a

regular and reliable basis, and using

socially acceptable means

“Hidden Hunger”

• National Food Plan 2013 2%

• NSW Population Health Survey 2009 -2010, for SWSLHD 4.7%

• National estimates vary 5-10% (1m – 2m)

• 3 low income suburbs SWSydney 22%

• Refugees from Burundi 87%

Why worry about food environments

• Low income areas have 2.5 x density of fast food outlets per person *

• Obesity in school –age children is significantly higher in low SES #

• * Reidpath et al. An ecological study of the relationship between

social and environmental determinants of obesity. Health & Place 2002

• # SPANS 2010. Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey

Shopping in Warwick Farm

A chance to grow your own food

Stocking up in community market

Growing rosella in Villawood

Tharawal Aboriginal Medical Service, Airds: starting a garden

Tharawal

School-community garden Fairfield High School

Mini-farm at Fairfield High School

Mamre Farm (Penrith)

Healthy food at school

Cabbages in Hyde Park!

Vanishing resources

• Australia’s agricultural production will decline by up to 27% by 2080 if climate change is left unchecked

• The peak in global oil and gas production within 10-15 years will have a major impact on food systems

• Current long distance freighting of food relies on cheap fuel

• 97% world’s ammonia-based fertilizer derives from natural gas

• Peak phosphorus production is close

• Systematic land assessments and zoning are needed to protect and support agricultural production

• 8000 ha arable land estimated to provide for 50% Sydney’s vegetable needs (DPI 2006)

• Sydney’s market gardens and farms produce

12% of NSW ag. production on 1% of the state’s ag. land

• High quality ag. Land and veg farms on urban fringes are under threat from urban expansion

• Average house size in NSW is 3x that of UK & largest in world

• Projected population growth has not considered food needs

Avenues for advocacy

Submissions to:

• Save Chinese market gardens

• National Food Plan

• Our City Our Future – infrastructure plan

• City of Sydney 2020

• Sydney Metropolitan Strategy

Finding champions

Creating council champions

Taking it to Parliament

Bringing Parliament to us

Supporting farmers vs mining and CSG

• www.sydneyfoodfairness.org.au

• 0410 145 473