Sunshine Coast to shape Australia’s “National Food Plan”

RDA Sunshine Coast has welcomed the announcement of a formal consultation on the National Food Plan Green Paper to be held on the Sunshine Coast on 13 September, following the success of last week’s Food Futures Symposium.

Next month’s public consultation meeting will focus on the Federal Government’s National Food Plan and provide structured discussion of possible options included in the green paper.

RDA Sunshine Coast Chair Prof Max Standage said next month’s meeting will give stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback on the green paper and help shape the government’s approach to food policy.

“The Federal Government’s national food plan will set the overarching policy direction, but when the three levels of government cooperate with industry in initiatives such as this event, it leads to positive outcomes for our region,” he said.

Senator Claire Moore outlined the National Food Plan during her keynote address at the Food Futures Symposium, held in partnership with RDA Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Council, University of the Sunshine Coast and Seasons of the Sun.

She said the green paper identified the importance of research, development and innovation to sustainable food production in Australia, and the need to seize new market opportunities and contribute to the economic prosperity of rural and regional Australia.

“Next month’s formal consultation is a successful result of the Food Futures Symposium which highlighted the importance of collaboration among key stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes for the region’s food industry,” said Prof Standage.

Almost 100 industry and government stakeholders attended last week’s Southern Queensland Food Futures Symposium to hear the latest results of research into consumer preferences and behaviours and discuss opportunities for enhanced value chain collaboration.  An additional 80 people participated online during the livestreamed event.