Preface - Australia’s food security under threat?

The newly-established National Food Council has raised serious concern among public health, sustainability and food-systems experts, and for good reason.

Membership spans large food business executives, processors, retail associations and other corporate supply-chain actors. Civil society, small producers, First Nations, food-sovereignty interests and other community-based actors are under-represented - raising concerns about legitimacy, diversity of perspective, and democratic governance of food systems.

The dominance of industry foreshadows a policy agenda favouring corporate interests (profit, supply-chain efficiencies, export focus) rather than public health, nutrition, rights, equity, climate change and environmental sustainability. A focus on national sovereign food interests, in the interests of food security for citizens in households, neighbourhoods and communities - is also missing.

Background reading

Australia’s new National Food Council: lots of industry reps, at the cost of health and environment. Rachel Carey, The Conversation

Australian diet set to worsen as national food policy is drawn up by profit-driven industry, experts warn. Melissa Davey and Natasha May, The Guardian

New National Food Council is Captured by Corporate Interests, Agroecology & Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA).

Who Decides Food - a “new campaign to ensure the National Food Council puts people, communities and the environment at the heart of a fairer food future.”

 

Lancet Series on Ultra-processed Foods – including how industry-dominated governance favours corporate profitability over nutrition, public health and sustainability.

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Open Letter – a Call to Action

For all individuals, communities, organisations who care about the future of Australia’s food system – please read the below, and e sign-on if you agree.

Dear Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, and Members of Parliament,

We, the undersigned, welcome the Albanese Government’s commitment to strengthen Australia’s food security through the development of the National Food Security Strategy, Feeding Australia, and the establishment of the National Food Council (NFC).

A robust, inclusive and forward-looking food system is essential to the health, wellbeing and resilience of Australians, their communities, the environment, and our economy. An effective food system is one that is sustainable, equitable and driven by the fundamental human right to healthy food.

However, we have serious concerns about the composition of the recently announced NFC, and the resulting policy and food security strategy. These concerns demand urgent attention, because the decisions made now will shape the food system, our environment, and the health, safety and wellbeing of people living in Australia for decades to come.

Our primary concerns are as follows:

  1. Representation and balance. While food-supply chain actors are represented on the NFC, other essential voices are excluded. The NFC must include more diverse voices, including smaller producers, local food systems organisations, First Nations communities and organisations, food sovereignty organisations, public-health scientists and nutrition experts and advocates, experts in climate change and the environment, civil society organisations and vulnerable communities. The current imbalance privileges large-scale corporate interests over these voices.
  2. Commercial influence. There is extensive evidence that commercial actors in the food system engage in political, regulatory and policy-shaping activities that advantage business interests over public-health or social-equity outcomes, undermining the right to food. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food recently reported on how growing corporate power violates human rights. Unless strong safeguards are in place, the NFC is vulnerable to those influences.
  3. Narrow focus of food security. The focus of the strategy on supply-chain resilience, exports, productivity and industrial production is important, but insufficient. True food security also requires access, affordability, diet quality, community agency over food, reduced waste, sustainable and localised production, and strong integration of nutrition and health outcomes. The lack of focus on equity does not align with the Australian Attorney General’s advice to federal policy makers on the right to an adequate standard of living, including the right to adequate food.
  4. Transparency and governance. Existing titles and disclosures of NFC members’ affiliations, funding sources, conflicts of interests are lacking, with many members not listing their affiliations with corporate entities on the government homepage. Transparency over decision-making processes and clarity over the influence of conflicts of interests is necessary for good governance. Public reporting against targets, interest holder engagement mechanisms, and a map of system actors (commercial vs non-commercial) must be published.
  5. Addressing structural power and market concentration. Food systems are shaped not just by production but by retail, processing, distribution, marketing and consumption. Concentrated power (for example, large supermarket chains) distorts competition, suppliers and farmer returns, waste and access. The strategy must remedy those structural imbalances rather than reinforce them.

Our asks:
To ensure the national food strategy and the NFC truly serve the public interest, we call on you to commit to the following actions:

  • Add at least four conflict-of-interest-free (non-industry) members: who can represent public health nutrition; independent community food system organisations, producers and distributors; environmental sustainability; and health equity. Reviewing shortlisted applicants with this expertise from the original call for experts would minimise procedural burden. Addressing this will enable the government to meet their own remit of diverse representation on the Council.
  • Establish and publish a robust transparency framework: full disclosure of interests, affiliations, funding, lobbying and reporting of decisions/meetings. This includes a publicly published communication log, such as is used for the Australian Dietary Guidelines Committee.
  • Embed the internationally recognised definition of food security in the final strategy: one that includes diet quality, health outcomes, local food systems, ecological sustainability, affordability and access, not only supply-chain and production resilience.
  • Set measurable targets (and publish them publicly and timely) in the strategy for nutrition equity, food access for priority populations, household food insecurity, reduction of ultra-processed food dependence, and minimisation of food waste, and not just metrics of production and exports.
  • Commit to monitoring and addressing power imbalances in the food system: for example, examining supermarket concentration, unfair trading practices, inclusion of small-scale producers, supply-chain transparency and fair contracts.

Why this matters:
Our food system is much more than an economic asset or a chain of production. It is the foundation of our health, culture, environment and society. A food system dominated by large corporate interests risks sacrificing nutrition, equity, community resilience, ecological sustainability and public wellbeing.

Indeed, that has been the trajectory of the Australian food system for decades, with disastrous consequences now clearly visible. If the national strategy is to be credible, trusted and effective, it must be co-designed with communities, grounded in public-interest values, and free from dominant commercial interests.

We invite all concerned Australians to sign on to this letter and join us in calling for a food council that serves all Australians, and not just the powerful few.

Signed,

  1. Dr Phillip Baker, School of Public Health and Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
  2. Dr Kim Anastasiou, School of Public Health and Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney; Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia; Healthy Food Systems Australia
  3. Dr Kiah Smith, Centre for Policy Futures, The University of Queensland
  4. Dr Kate Sievert, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University
  5. Professor Karen Charlton, School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong
  6. Leah Galvin, CF, Leah Galvin Consulting
  7. Antoine Lenique, Agroecology & Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) National Committee.
  8. Dr Rob Arcidicaono, AFSA National Committee, and Australasian Voice to the Coordination Committee for the Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples Mechanism (CSIPM)  
  9. Dr Rebecca Lindberg, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
  10. Dr Christina Zorbas, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University
  11. Dr Stephanie Godrich, Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University.
  12. Magriet Raxworthy, CEO, Dietitians Australia
  13. Dr Amy Carrad, Australian Research Centre for Health Equity, School of Regulation and Global Governance, Australian National University
  14. Ellen Johnson, Leeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics and Data, The University of Sydney
  15. Dr Tammi Jonas, Agroecology & Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA), Jonai Farms & Meatsmiths
  16. Dr Liesel Spencer, Associate Professor of Law, Western Sydney University
  17. Dr Miriam Williams, Geography and Planning, Macquarie University
  18. Dr Penny Farrell, School of Public Health and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney
  19. Dr Katherine Kent, School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong
  20. Dr Nick Rose, Co-founder and Executive Director, Sustain: the Australian Food Network; Senior Lecturer, Bachelor of Food Studies; William Angliss Institute; Churchill Fellow (2013)
  21. Prof Mark Lawrence, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
  22. Dr Benjamin Wood, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University
  23. Chelsea Hunnisett, Laureate PhD Candidate and Government Relations Specialist, Planetary Health Equity Hothouse, Australian National University
  24. Dr Dori Patay, Leeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics and Data, University of Sydney
  25. Scott Slater, PhD Candidate Deakin University; Research Associate School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
  26. Professor Sharon Friel, Director, Planetary Health Equity Hothouse, Australian National University, Director, Australian Research Centre for Health Equity, Australian National University
  27. Emmanuela Prigioni, Coordinator, Farm It Forward Inc, PhD Candidate, University of Technology Sydney School of Design & Society.
  28. Dr Anja Bless, Faculty of Design & Society, University of Technology Sydney
  29. Sandra Murray, Food Security Researcher, School of Health Science, University of Tasmania
  30. Kimberley White, Food Security Program Coordinator, Tasmanian University Student Association
  31. Professor Christina Pollard, Director Public Health Advocacy Institute, Curtin University Western
  32. Associate Professor Alexandra Jones, Program Lead, Food Governance, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW, Sydney
  33. Associate Professor Kristy Bolton, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
  34. Professor Fran Baum, AO, Director, Stretton Health Equity, University of Adelaide & People’s Health Movement-Australia
  35. Dr Erica Reeve, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University
  36. Emma-Kate Rose, Executive Director, Food Connect Foundation
  37. Dr Tolassa Ushula, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
  38. Dr Claire Pulker, Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University
  39. Robert Pekin, Director - Food Connect Shed, Director - Food Connect Foundation
  40. Dr Clare Whitton, Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University
  41. Dheepa Jeyapalan, Lead Convenor- Food Systems, Regen Melbourne
  42. Dr Grace Arnot, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University
  43. A/Prof Katherine Cullerton, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland
  44. Professor Gina Trapp, Food Environments Team, Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University
  45. Gina Absalom, School of Allied Health, Charles Darwin University
  46. Amanda Hayes, Stretton Health Equity, School of Social Sciences, University of Adelaide
  47. Prof Jacqui Webster, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Technology, Sydney
  48. Dr Sabrina Chakori, Leeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics and Data, University of Sydney
  49. Dr Meron Lewis, School of Human Movement & Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland
  50. Frith Klug, Food Environments Team, Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University
  51. Kathryn Backholer, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University
  52. Naomi Hull, PhD Candidate, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
  53. Associate Professor Paige van der Pligt, Swinburne University of Technology, School of Health Sciences.
  54. Dr Kate Wingrove, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University
  55. Genevieve James-Martin, PhD Candidate, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University
  56. Berk Eker, PhD Candidate, University of Sydney
  57. Laura Bathie, Research Assistant, Food Policy, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW, Sydney
  58. Emeritus Professor Amanda Lee, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland
  59. Jasmine Chan, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University
  60. Margaret Rozman, APD, Nutrition and Health Leader
  61. Kirsty Grierson, Executive Officer, School Food Matters, Tasmania
  62. Laureate Professor Clare Collins AO, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle
  63. Dr Antonia Thodis, APD, Research Fellow, Food Policy, Nutrition Science, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW, Sydney
  64. Dr Jeffrey So, APD, School of Health, University of Sunshine Coast.
  65. Professor Karleen Gribble, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University
  66. Nadine Ghammachi, MPH, Research associate, Food Policy, Nutrition Science, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW, Sydney
  67. Molly Fairweather, Research Officer- Public Health Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University
  68. Professor Nenad Naumovski, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra; Food Chemical and Biotechnology Cluster, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore
  69. Dr Agnivo Sengupta, PhD Candidate, Food Policy, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW, Sydney
  70. Dr Liza Barbour, Senior Lecturer and Advanced Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University
  71. Ms Lisa Brassington, Strategic and Sustainability Food Systems consultant, AGperiurban AGRIbusiness. AgriFutures Rural Women's Award Alumni. MPIA.
  72. Suzy Pickles, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong
  73. Dr Annika Molenaar, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University
  74. Associate Professor Julie Woods, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University
  75. Jacob Birch CF, PhD Candidate, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland
  76. Julie Brimblecombe, Professor of Public Health Nutrition, Department of Nutrition Dietetics and Food, Monash University
  77. Kristy Law, PhD Candidate and Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Food Policy, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney
  78. Jane Del Rosso, Founder My Other Kitchen Pty Ltd est. 2009, Incubation Consultant The Business of Food
  79. Kim Bell-Anderson, Associate Professor of Nutritional Biology, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney
  80. Professor Danielle Gallegos, Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Centre for Childhood Nutrition Research, Brisbane
  81. Tara Diversi, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Sophus Health & Launch Y(E)P, Cairns,
  82. Chez Orchard, Tasmania’s Social Wholesaler - Project Manager, Loaves and Fishes Tasmania
  83. Lina Breik, Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Board Director, Dietitians Australia
  84. Dr Shy Vishnumohan, Food Scientist and Accredited Practising Dietitian, Founder - Pregnancy Dietitian, Perth, Western Australia.
  85. Dr Fiona Willer, Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, President of Dietitians Australia
  86. Dr Julia McCartan, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Senior Lecturer, Monash University Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food
  87. Dr Rosie Welch, Senior Lecturer in Health Education, Faculty of Education, Monash University
  88. Dr Navoda Liyana Pathirana, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University
  89. Dr Shaan Naughton, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University
  90. Isabelle Chiera, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University
  91. Larissa Raymond, PhD candidate, The Centre for Regenerating Futures, Deakin University, Member of the Australian Food Network.
  92. Associate Professor Melinda Hutchesson, Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle.
  93. Kathy Ehmann, Executive Director, SEE Change Inc
  94. Sarah Comben, Final year Bachelor of Food Studies student, William Angliss Institute
  95. Wendy Armstrong, Project Coordinator, Fat Beets Food Hub, Nubeena, Tasmania
  96. Felicity Lochhead, Project Manager, Disaster Risk Reduction, Carers NSW
  97. Monica Venosa, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
  98. Dr Rebecca Russell, Lecturer, Nutrition & Dietetics, Curtin University
  99. Louise Tran, Head of OzHarvest Ventures
  100. Dr Sue Kleve, Course Director of the Master of Nutrition and Dietetics, Senior Lecturer and Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University
  101. SHARE - Collaboration, Solutions supporting Household Food Security in Australia through Research and Evidence. SHARE Collaboration is a group of food security researchers from Universities across Australia. Convenor Dr Sue Kleve, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University.
  102. Dr Rosemary Stanton OAM, Senior Visiting Fellow, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales and Industry/Professional Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney
  103. Dr Louise van Herwerden, Assistant Professor, Community and Public Health Domain Lead, Master of Nutrition and Dietetic Practice Program, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast.
  104. Rob Rees MBE DL, CEO Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation
  105. Dr Luke Williams, School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, Faculty of Science, University of Queensland
  106. Naomi Lacey, Director, Community Gardens Australia. Churchill Fellow 2019
  107. Dr Eden Barrett, Senior Research Fellow, Food Policy, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney
  108. Dr Sarah Dickie,  Research Fellow, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University
  109. Amy Tacey, Co-Founder, Just Food Collective Australia
  110. Persia Hethorn Faulkner, Co-Founder, Just Food Collective Australia
  111. Thomas Li, Researcher & Urban Agricultural Project Coordinator, University of Melbourne. Committee member of Just Food Collective Australia.
  112. Associate Professor Toby Freeman, Stretton Health Equity, University of Adelaide
  113. Kylie Flament, CEO, Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT
  114. Thuch Ajak, CEO, Sprout Connect Inc
  115. Linda Martin-Chew, Director, The Rural Planner Pty Ltd. MPIA
  116. Dr Alexandra Chung, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University
  117. Caley Callope, Deakin University - Murnong Health Research Team & PHD Candidate - First Nations Focal point at the Agroecology and Food Sovereignty Alliance.
  118. Monique Boatwright, PhD Candidate, School of Public Health and Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
  119. Dr Helen Addison-Smith, Senior Project Lead, Senior Coordinator, Student Food Security Program, RMIT University.
  120. Rebecca Stonor, CEO, Doctors For Nutrition
  121. Dr Emily Burch, Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Diabetes Educator.
  122. Eloise Telford, LIFE Social Supermarket Steering Committee Member
  123. Michelle McIntosh, Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University
  124. Gabrielle Anand, Marketing Coordinator, Council of Ambulance Authorities, Public Health Intern, Still Aware, Master of Public Health, Flinders University
  125. Dr Simone Sherriff, Senior Research Fellow, Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, University of Sydney
  126. Tarah McShea, Health Promotion Practitioner, The Healthy Collective Co
  127. Dr John Troughton. MAgSc, PhD, DSc. Consultant. Guntonia Investments
  128. Dr Elizabeth J. Cook, Research Associate, Food Environments Team, Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University.
  129. Dr Justine Coneybeer, Research Fellow, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University
  130. Rodney Spinks, Director, Launceston Independent Food Enterprise Inc
  131. Dr Kiran Kashyap, Mission Steward, Regen Sydney
  132. Kate Fitzgerald, Co-Founder,  Elemental Aim
  133. Dr Connie Musolino, Stretton Health Equity, University of Adelaide
  134. Kay Richardson, Founder and Executive Director, Food Education Australia
  135. Tara Behen, PhD Candidate - Food Systems Governance, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne
  136. Kerry Beake, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Care Nutrition and Counselling
  137. Professor Daniel Tan, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney        
  138. Dr Rachel Boak, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Honorary clinical lecturer University of Melbourne.
  139. Prof Simone Pettigrew, Director, Food Policy, The George Institute for Global Health and University of New South Wales
  140. Prof Jason Wu, Professor and Head of Nutrition Science, The George Institute for Global Health and School of Population Health, University of New South Wales
  141. Tazman Davies, PhD Candidate and Research Associate, The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales
  142. Associate Professor Stephanie Partridge, Charles Perkins Centre and Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
  143. Caroline Deen, PhD candidate and research associate, POCHE Centre for Indigenous research, University of Sydney
  144. Deanne McMullen, Prevention Leader, Public Health Nutritionist, Queensland
  145. Dr Juliet Bennett, Research Fellow, Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney
  146. Dr Ali Khoddami, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney
  147. Dr Christopher McElwain, Teaching Fellow, Faculty of Law & Justice, University of New South Wales
  148. Dr Seema Mihrshahi, Hon. Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney
  149. Kristen Beck, Registered Nutritionist, Master of Human Nutrition, Deakin University, Juris Doctor Candidate RMIT University
  150. Dr Priscila Machado, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
  151. Dr Briar McKenzie, Senior Research Fellow and Accredited Practicing Dietitian, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW
  152. Lauren Burton, university qualified Nutritionist and primary school teacher
  153. Dr Christopher Mayes, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University
  154. Prof Michael J Dibley, Global Public Health Nutrition, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney
  155. Inez Rojas, Research Assistant, Food Policy, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW, Sydney
  156. Samadhi Hemachandra, PhD Candidate, Food Policy, The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales
  157. Professor Bruce Neal, Executive Director, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
  158. Dr Astrid Poelman, Senior Research Fellow, Food Policy, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
  159. Dr. Angie Sassano, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Monash University
  160. Dr Kathy Trieu, Program Lead, Nutrition Implementation Research, Food Policy, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
  161. Professor David Guest AM, Chair of Horticulture and Professor of Plant Pathology, The University of Sydney
  162. Ms Jane Martin, Executive Manager, Food for Health Alliance.
  163. Marina Padovan, Research Assistant, Food Policy, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW, Sydney
  164. Madison Roland-Evans, Board of Directors, Young Farmers Connect
  165. Mylene Turban, Convenor - Food Futures, Regen Sydney
  166. Dr Megan Gow, Senior Research Fellow, Food Policy and Women’s Health, The George Institute for Global Health
  167. Shadia Djakovic, Senior Dietitian Research Specialist, Charles Perkins Centre, SLHD, University of Sydney
  168. Beatrice Ferrante, Food Policy MSc-City St George’s, University of London; Australian Food Network member
  169. Dr Alison Spence, AdvAPD, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
  170. Andrea Henning, Prevention Leader, Public Health Nutritionist, Queensland.
  171. Glenys Oogjes, CEO, Animals Australia
  172. Sophie O’Connor, PhD Candidate, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne
  173. Dr Andini Pramono, Research Fellow, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University
  174. Hannah Brumm, Public Health Professional, Queensland
  175. Public Health Association of Australia
  176. Dr Matt Fisher, Senior Research Fellow, Stretton Health Equity, School of Public Health, Adelaide University.
  177. Carolyn Suggate, Executive Director or ORICoop (Organic Producers Cooperative)
  178. Dr Heleen Haitjema MD, Co-Founder and Board Chair of Doctors For Nutrition
  179. Roisin Ahern, concerned citizen
  180. Tess Carrad, food consumer
  181. Julie Dunbabin, Churchill Fellow 2018 - School Lunch Programs, Founder and Ambassador School Lunch Program Tasmania. 2026 Senior Australian of the Year for Tasmania  
  182. Jennifer Robinson, CEO Sprout Tasmania
  183. Emma van Burgel, Research Officer in Public Health Nutrition, Department of Nutrition Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Victoria
  184. Trent Dean, Chief Executive Officer, Gateway Health
  185. Dr Stefanie Carino, Climate and Health Alliance
  186. Serenity Hill, CEO, Open Food Network Australia
  187. Rachel Thatcher, Sustainability Officer - Local Government
  188. Dianne Haggerty co-founder Natural Intelligence Farming Food/fibre/beverage producer.   2025 Australian of the year WA
  189. Bob Philipson, President Our Sustainable Goulburn Mulwaree
  190. Dr Ioanna Katiforis, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University
  191. Greg Paynter, Director, ORICoop
  192. Dr. YiZhong Zhuang, Senior Consultant Neurologist
  193. Professor Alana Mann, Head of School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tasmania.
  194. Dr Jennifer Alden. Growing Change. Black Cicada Farm. Adjunct Senior Research Fellow La Trobe University.
  195. Mark Duncan, Agricultural Extension Officer - NSW Local Government
  196. Mitchell Beulke, Agronomist / Small Farm, Victoria
  197. Naomi Richardson, community gardener and eater
  198. Emily Johnston, Communications Manager - Sustain: the Australian Food Network
  199. Katrina Boldt, Registered Nurse
  200. Mitchell Walker, Local Government
  201. Sibilla Foxton, General Manager, Sustain: The Australian Food Network
  202. Cathie Gillan, Public Health Professional, Queensland
  203. Associate Professor Belinda Reeve, The University of Sydney Law School, and co-founder of the Food Governance Node at the University’s Charles Perkins Centre
  204. Peter Dowson, Director, Digital Storytellers
  205. Elke Johnson, Project Officer, Sustain: The Australian Food Network
  206. Nerida Turrise CEO Eating for Wellness Inc
  207. Dr Rebecca Cross, School of Geosciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney
  208. Jennifer Ringbauer, concerned citizen, Secretary of the Australian Institute of Ecological Agriculture
  209. Leela Cross, School of Geosciences, Faculty of Science (Masters student), University of Sydney
  210. Matthew Taylor, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science (PhD Candidate), University of New South Wales
  211. Ruth Cross, concerned citizen
  212. Helen Ford, concerned citizen
  213. Helena Norberg-Hodge, Director, Local Futures; author, Bringing the Food Economy Home
  214. Beth Bolte Vice President Eating for Wellness Inc
  215. Rebecca Voisin, PhD candidate, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia
  216. A/Prof Gabriella Heruc, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University
  217. Australian Conservation Foundation
  218. Dr Katharine Brown, Principal Soil Scientist, GroundEd Land Management and Education
  219. Dr Kelly Donati, Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow, RMIT University, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences
  220. Prof Louise A Baur AM, PresAHMS, Sydney Medical School and Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
  221. Nick Ritar, Sustainability Educator and Managing Director, Milkwood  
  222. Emily Munday, Project Officer Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
  223. Megan Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer, Foodcor Nutrition Services Inc.
  224. Professor Jayashree Arcot, Food and Health, School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW Sydney
  225. Professor Christine Parker, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne
  226. Kathy Ride, PhD Candidate, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Western Australia
  227. Fiona Buining, Urban Farmer, educator and consultant. Churchill Fellow 2020.
  228. Zoe de Castro, PhD Candidate, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney
  229. Dr Penny Newson, CEO, central Coast Community Council.
  230. Susan Zgraja, Cook and Vegetable Grower, Ourimbah
  231. Dr Josephine Mckenzie, Lecturer, University of South Australia, School of Business.
  232. Dr Sharonna Mossenson, Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University
  233. Dr Dianne Volker, concerned retired dietitian, Hunter Region.
  234. Dr Rachelle Ward, Independent agrifood and public health advocate
  235. Peta Christensen, CEO, Open Table
  236. Veronica Nash, solicitor.
  237. Prudence Rothwell, concerned citizen, consultant and extension officer, RMCG
  238. Associate Professor Hope Johnson, School of Law, Queensland University of Technology
  239. Katherine Keane, Lecturer, School of Law, Queensland University of Technology
  240. Sarah Reid, coordinator of Electrify Canberra and member of ACF Community Canberra.
  241. Oscar Ivan Ruiz Fonseca, Research Assistant, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University
  242. Dr Ethan Gordon, President of the Australian Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Visiting Scholar at the Centre for Regenerating Futures, Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University.    
  243. Deakin Distinguished Professor Felice Jacka OAM, Director of the Food & Mood Centre, IMPACT, Deakin University
  244. Associate Professor Hanabeth Luke, Sustainability & Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth.
  245. Carrie Taylor, Sustainable Agriculture Program Coordinator, RegenWA
  246. Dr Peter J Batt. Principal consultant. Peter J Batt and Associates. International food and agribusiness consultant. Honorary Research Fellow. University of WA.
  247. Craig Pensini, Sustainable Agricultural Project Coordinator, Perth NRM
  248. Tibby Tuckett, Program Manager, RegenWA Ltd.
  249. Dr. Christie Lam, Lecturer in Sustainability, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
  250. Helen Miller, PhD Candidate, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute
  251. Monica Wellington, PhD Candidate, Victoria University
  252. Kim Hewit, consumer
  253. Carin Clegg, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Bright Diets
  254. Pennie Scott, Naturopath, Mother, Director ORICoop, futurist, ethicist.
  255. Aisling Dempsey, Program Manager, National Nutrition Foundation
  256. Jennifer Browne, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University
  257. Dr Laura Marchese, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University
  258. Dr Fiona Cochrane, OAM, General Practitioner.
  259. Food Integrity Group Co-operative Limited, Central Coast NSW
  260. Suzie Erbacher, concerned citizen
  261. Carolin Siedler, healthy food supporter, NSW
  262. Dr Carolina Venegas Hargous, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University
  263. Patricia Ribeiro de Melo, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University
  264. Ana Renker-Darby, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University
  265. Dr Emily Denniss, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
  266. Katie Booth, Public Health Dietitian APD
  267. Ruth Gaha-Morris, Southern NSW Harvest Cooperative
  268. Heather Gale, Endorsed Midwife;IBCLC; National Secretary World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative, Australia.
  269. Dr Libby Salmon, Research Officer, School of Regulation and Global Governance, Australian National University.
  270. Maree Daniels, concerned Australian, Director - Revolutionise
  271. Susanne Peet, Independent Resilience Strategist and Syntropic Agroforester, Australia
  272. Kerri Gill, PhD Candidate - food policy, School of Public Health, University of Queensland
  273. Dr Anita Peerson - Public Health Professional, ACT
  274. Christina Silva - Diabetes Educator. Queensland Health.
  275. Meg Pethybridge - Co-Convenor, Goulburn Valley Permaculture, VIC
  276. Jill McMahon - concerned consumer & small business owner
  277. Vandana Gulati - Senior Lecturer, Nutrition and Health Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW
  278. Associate Professor Margaret Miller, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA