OzHarvest’s Post

"It's a national shame that 7.6 million tonnes of food goes to waste each year while 3.7 million households struggle to put food on the table." Today, we joined Western Australian Senator Dean Smith and our partners in the food relief sector to advocate for change. Senator Smith will introduce a Private Bill next week to unveil the National Food Donation Tax Incentive—a landmark reform aimed at unlocking tonnes of fresh produce to feed those in need. This initiative could potentially provide an extra 100 million meals by 2030, easing the burden on families facing financial strain and helping Australia meet its commitment to halve food waste by 2030. Joined by OzHarvest, Foodbank Australia and SecondBite, Senator Dean Smith said the Bill represented a single, straightforward solution to two problems. “Food relief charities are fighting to meet unprecedented demand, while at the same time an unbelievable amount of food is dumped each year, much of it edible, and often because it’s cheaper than donating it.” “My Private Senator’s Bill – originally shaped by the National Food Donation Tax Incentive and refined through close consultation with the Australian charity sector – is aimed at turning that around and delivering meaningful help to Australians in need.” The proposed tax reform aims to incentivize food businesses across the supply chain to donate surplus food, aligning with recommendations from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture. Similar models in France, Canada, and the United States have proven successful, garnering widespread support from the Australian food industry. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gm4bYjpB

(AUSTRALIA 29.09.24) Unlocking millions of tonnes of wasted food to help those in need the aim of food tax bill [AG: Why Australia's Proposed Food Tax Bill Might Miss the Mark] The article discusses a proposed food tax bill in Australia to reduce food waste and assist those in need. It suggests tax incentives for food manufacturers and farmers to donate surplus food, addressing the 7.6 million tonnes wasted annually while demand for food relief doubles. Businesses could claim deductions for donation-related costs, with small to medium-sized businesses eligible for up to 45 cents per dollar donated, capped at $5 million. Estimated to cost $50-100 million annually, the initiative could provide 100 million meals. Major supermarkets would be excluded from the incentive. If passed, it would last three years amid rising cost-of-living pressures, with food relief organizations viewing it as a crucial step in meeting demand. ----- [AG: The proposed food tax bill in Australia, aimed at reducing food waste and assisting those in need, sounds promising on paper. However, there are several reasons why this well-intentioned initiative might fail to achieve its goals: Misaligned Incentives: The bill provides tax incentives for food donations but fails to address the root causes of food waste. Companies may donate food for tax benefits instead of changing their production and inventory practices to minimize waste. Quality Control Issues: Without strict regulations on eligible donated foods, businesses may offload low-quality or near-expiry products, burdening charities with unusable donations and harming recipients. Logistical Challenges: Many charities lack the infrastructure to handle and distribute large quantities of perishable food, and the bill does not address these logistical needs. Exclusion of Major Players: By excluding major supermarkets from the incentive, the bill misses out on potentially significant contributions from entities with established distribution networks. Short-Term Solution: The three-year incentive suggests it's a temporary measure, while food insecurity and waste are long-term issues needing sustained solutions. Overlooking Systemic Issues: The bill emphasizes food donation instead of tackling underlying causes of food insecurity like poverty and income inequality. Potential for Abuse: Without oversight, businesses may exploit the system for tax benefits without making genuine contributions to food relief. Limited Scope: The bill primarily targets food manufacturers and farmers, potentially overlooking other significant sources of food waste in the supply chain. Although the food tax bill's intent is commendable, its effectiveness may be limited. A comprehensive approach addressing the entire food system is needed to effectively tackle food waste and insecurity in Australia.] ----- https://lnkd.in/gTRQCMpd

Neighbors, Deeply appreciate this sharing! It is shocking to acknowledge the continent (ALKEBULAN),with THE most natural & human resources is NOT able to completely feed itself! Self-Reliant Sovereignty is on the menu, especially with the leveraging of ecosystems (ecological and economic)! “Indigenous Sustainable Blockchain Agribusiness” is absolutely 💯necessary! What does this translate into on-the-ground? Small-scale, organic, regenerative cooperative agribusiness! Let us identify the leadership, who is willing to utilize strategies and techniques for the 21st century global village! Mother Earth Reverence Farms & Ministries (MERF) serves from a womanist perspective, such that we wholistically integrate optimized best practices for overall health and wellbeing! For example, aquaponics is the most efficient, effective, expedient, and most excellent method to grow high quality protein (Tilapia), along with nutrient dense microgreens (FutureFoodsFarms.com)! How do I know? Because I seen it, and I have done it, as the first and only veterinarian to be on-site with the largest aquaponics farm in Southern California, USA!!! 🇺🇸 MERF serves from a an eco-womanist theological perspective, uplifting women and children of color!🌍 #alkebulan

In politics, Shadow Minister for Food, Farming & Fisheries Daniel Zeichner acknowledged the FWD and James Bielby  personally, following our parliamentary reception last month. In his speech yesterday (12 December) Zeichner thanked the FWD for helping him to prepare for his speech in a debate on public sector food procurement and healthy eating in parliament.    This is a reflection of our influence in Westminster and the support extended by the opposition party on this challenge and to the wholesale sector.    The three key points the Shadow Minister raised were:    1. The pricing of public sector food contracts is a serious concern for wholesalers, especially against the backdrop of inflation and the ongoing cost of living crisis.   2. The Government’s recent announcement to increase the funding rate for Universal Infant Free School Meals by 12p per pupil is a welcome first step. However, this increase remains well behind the current rise in food inflation, which for wholesalers is running at 10%.   3. Soaring costs are putting the public sector food industry under considerable strain, forcing conversations to be had about the realities of fulfilling public sector food contracts. Zeichner said: “Sadly the situation at the moment is getting worse. The wholesale sector supplying the public sector has been hard hit by rising costs and inflexible budgets. Many in the sector are struggling to fulfil their public sector food contracts, with some servicing them at a loss. The Government response has been frankly woeful. Their announcement to increase the funding rate for universal infant free school meals by 12p per pupil was a belated token acknowledgment of the problem. That increase remains well behind the current rise in food inflation, which for wholesalers is running at 20%, and fails to consider the range of external factors the food and drink industry currently faces.” We look forward to strengthening these ties and continuing to represent wholesale in parliament in 2024. #wholesale #foodanddrink #policymakers

“We should be pushing political leaders to lay out a bold vision of a fairer, more adaptable food system that works for all people as well as nature.” Is that even possible? I’ve been reading this blog, on the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission website, that thinks it is. https://lnkd.in/e2XdNUn8 Not being a farmer of course, but in buying from the food supply chain, my concern is the continual affordability and improving choice of local and fresh ingredients. This year all Fresha meals will have a carbon rating and I want to be able to offer great options. What’s interesting to me is that the link is made between a resilient food system, that uses regenerative and nature friendly-farming, and diverse produce that provides fresh affordable food for local families. At the same time, the Food, Diet and Obesity Committee in the House of Lords  has been hearing evidence about drivers of poor diets - and why fresh and affordable UK food does not get to retailers to be bought and enjoyed by families. https://lnkd.in/eeT3wH4M The Soil Association looks to the industrialisation and processing of ingredients, warning that the food industry is geared around highly processed foods as there is less profit in fresh ingredients. They also see the importance of good food in school. They call on Ofsted - as i have done - to control the amount of processed food in schools, and ask that the ‘whole school approach’ to food from the 2022 White Paper be rolled out. In this election year food production and how we eat does seem to finally be on the agenda, and there are significant organisations adding pressure for change. Have a read - I’ve certainly not seen anyone calling for the UK food system to stay the same - what change would you like to see? Charlie Taverner #FoodDietandObesityCommittee #wholeschoolapproach

'Britain’s new food security index is a poor excuse for policy' - by Professor Tim Lang And be sure, that we in Wales has to now enable a landscape scale - urban, rural, foundational, entire agroecological food system - where it mitigates climate breakdown, begins to reverse biodiversity loss, and primarily profits the growers and independent businesses that process, market and retail it. Katie Palmer Duncan Fisher Chris Blake Black Mountains College Derek Walker Huw Irranca-Davies Llyr Gruffydd Food shocks are increasingly around any corner. "Fear not, thought Whitehall: the new indicators can suggest a rosier picture. The first indicator, which tracks global food supply, is ticked off as “broadly stable”. But this doesn’t mean that UK consumers are food secure — last month’s Food Standards Agency survey classified 25 per cent of them as food insecure. Nor does the index recognise the collapse of farmer confidence to plant or access waterlogged land. And it insufficiently unpacks the impact of climate change, geopolitics and poor diets on healthcare costs. Shaken by the 2007-2008 oil price crisis’ impact on food, the last Labour government eventually got a grip on food security strategy by 2010, only to fall at the election. No administration since has taken a serious interest in the subject, despite independent reviewers urging it to do so. So we shouldn’t be surprised that today the UK is again in denial about threats to the food system. As I’m finding in a review of civil food resilience, Whitehall tends not to even think about consumers, only supply. Must we wait for another world war before its approach to food security becomes more holistic and government gets a grip?" https://lnkd.in/euSbgiyc

NIGERIA'S INFLATION CRISIS AND THE IMPACT ON FOOD SECURITY/LIVELIHOOD. Nigeria's recent minimum wage increase has brought mixed reactions across the nation. While it aims to provide some relief to workers, it is overshadowed by a grim economic landscape. The government continues to subsidize fuel consumption with trillions of Naira, yet food prices keep soaring. This combination of factors suggests that inflation and the declining quality of life for the average Nigerian are likely here to stay. In a bid to address food security, the government has removed taxes on the importation of staple foods. This move is commendable, indicating an acknowledgement of the nation's food crisis. However, it also subtly admits that true food security is not on the immediate horizon. If all goes well, food availability might improve in four months, ease within a year, and perhaps Nigeria could become a food-sufficient nation in three years. Yet, the country's history of non-proactiveness casts doubt on these optimistic projections. As a farmer myself, I've observed a decline in farming activities, particularly in Western Nigeria, where the costs of inputs are becoming unbearable. In the North, the situation is exacerbated by insecurity due to bandits and the persistent threat of herdsmen destroying farms. These issues are compounded by corruption, as many government initiatives fail to reach the intended beneficiaries, siphoned off into private pockets. It gives me no pleasure to report that almost all initiatives never gets to farmers. The States and local governments, coupled with a mindset fixated on "national cake sharing," aggravate food insecurity. With the population growing and farm produce expected to dwindle next year, Nigeria faces a dire food shortage. This is particularly shameful for a country with abundant land and an idle workforce. Animal husbandry is not faring any better. Production costs have quadrupled, forcing many out of operations. This could lead to a resurgence in hunting for animal protein, with potential health risks from consuming wild game. It is not too early to advise the government to prepare health centres for potential outbreaks of food-borne diseases. The current trajectory is alarming, and immediate, effective actions are needed to avert a full-blown crisis. Nigeria has the resources and potential to overcome these challenges, but only with decisive and corruption-free governance can the nation hope to secure its food future and improve the livelihoods of its people. The consequences of inaction will be severe, with potential long-term effects on the nation's health, economy, and social stability. The government must prioritize food security and livelihood improvement, addressing the root causes of inflation, corruption, and insecurity. This requires a multifaceted approach, involving stakeholders from agriculture, animal husbandry, and healthcare, as well as civil society organizations and local communities.

Ensuring the Future of Food Security The current global food crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and now also threatened by the conflict in Ukraine and Middle East is a huge challenge that has affected countries around the world at very different rates. If we want to avoid the rolling back of developmental gains painfully won over the last century, avoid further mass impoverishment and global famine, we need to step up sustained international political commitment. Crucial steps to ensure food security across the world will need to include a more effective distribution of food supplies and a drastic change in the food system as we know it. We can no longer produce food for economic profit. Our goal should be making sure no one goes hungry by decreasing demand in wealthier nations while increasing supply in developing countries. We also need to invest in more sustainable agricultural practices and new technologies and educate societies on the repercussions of food waste. On a policy level, interventions such as better options for handling resource allocation, land use patterns, food trade, and the regulation of food prices, are urgently needed. The European Union recently proposed a €1.5 billion (USD$1.65 billion) funding package to shore up food security as a response to the sudden increase in food prices following the invasion of Ukraine. The money would be used to finance farmers and operations to free up 4 million hectares of fallow land for crops. While this proposal offers hope that global food security can be restored before it is too late, we must look ahead and focus on strategies to prevent shortages in the first place. This, however, requires a drastic shift in our approach to food production and consumption. together with x minister of transport of 🇲🇾 Malaysia.

Extensive coverage of our submission to the Legal and Social Issues Committee (Parliament of Victoria Legislative Council) - currently conducting an inquiry into #foodpoverty, #foodinsecurity and affordable access to good food. "As the cost-of-living crisis plunges more Australians into food insecurity, pressure is mounting on state and federal governments to take action. About a third of almost 180 submissions to a Victorian inquiry into food security came from struggling families, Sustain: The Australian Food Network executive director Nick Rose said. "The overwhelming message from those individuals is they're struggling, cutting back on food, cutting back on the quality of food, having to choose between buying medication and feeding themselves," Dr Rose told AAP. "Also a lot of anger at the supermarkets - that was another really clear theme that came through." "Given our status as a net food exporter, combined with our wealth, it is an indictment of our food system that food insecurity is so high despite such abundant production," Dr Rose said. "Sustain has made some 30 recommendations to the inquiry, including to launch a statewide food systems and security strategy and to appoint a minister to oversee it." "It also wants to see the creation of a $250 million to be funded through an extension of the existing payroll tax surcharge on big business." "That financing mechanism already exists, and we see a clear and compelling case for a modest extension to effectively support community members and community organisations are already at the coalface of this crisis," Dr Rose said. https://lnkd.in/guMvz7wb Sarah Mansfield Hugh Simpson Molly Fairweather Kelly Donati Katherine Utry Linda Glucina Ebony Yin Dr Sandro Demaio Tara Heneghan Veronica Nunez Veronica Graham Dr Rebecca Lindberg Liza Barbour Sophie Jamieson Lee Tozzi

78% of Australians support reforming best-before and use-by labelling – and we agree!   Household food waste is one of the biggest contributors to the 7.6 million tonnes of food that is wasted every year in Australia. And it’s something that is largely preventable.   Today 7NEWS Australia featured new consumer insights on food date labelling released by End Food Waste Australia which highlights the pressing need for reform in food labelling. Confusion over food labels means perfectly edible food is often thrown out by households when it can still be used. We support the report recommendations and are calling on the federal government to shake up the food labelling system and end consumer confusion over best-before and use-by dates.   With the national goal to halve Australia’s food waste by 2030 fast looming, we need urgent action and change at all levels of society. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gCHvfuGx