From Commodity to Security: Building Our First National Food Security Strategy

It has slipped under the radar for years, but food security is in a perilous state. An Australian Bureau of Statistics survey found 1.3 million people (more than 13% of households) are struggling to afford enough healthy food. And in keeping with similar patterns in related areas of water security, chronic illness and biodiversity loss, the trajectory is worsening, and already costing billions in each area.  As a result, governments have been responding with food security strategies around the world, and governments in Australia are now doing the same.  Dr Nick Rose, co-founder and ED of Sustain: The Australian Food Network, based in Naarm/Melbourne, has been one of the key forces in this area for decades. And in the last year or so Sustain has been convening community forums nationally (including Launceston and Melbourne to date) to feed into the country’s first National Food Security Strategy, called Feeding Australia. We met up in Perth/Boorloo last week, between a host of events and meetings with State MPs, First Nations, industry and community groups, in the lead up to the WA Food Policy Forum. That will take place on November 30, and you’re all invited (generous paid subscribers to this podcast, a 25% discount code has been sent your way).  Joining Nick and I to talk about all this, are a couple of women familiar to longer-term listeners - Noongar and Thin-Mah Warriyangka woman, new CEO of Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation, Heidi Mippy; and Natural Intelligence farmer and 2025 West Australian of the Year, Di Haggerty. This one’s loaded with inspiring updates, and some of Nick’s amazing personal story, as a moment presents for much-needed systemic change. More shout outs and listener mail feature at the end too. If you’d like to go straight to a particular part of this episode, essentially viewing a table of contents, you can navigate via the chapter markers & transcript. Recorded 16 October 2026. Title image with thanks to Bec Hamersley (part of the Haggerty farm team, and cherished paid subscriber). You are also invited to the Noongar Cultural Celebration at the Noongar Land Enterprise Group near Northam WA on 1 December 2026. It’s free, with food provided.  Hope to see you at both these neighbouring events. And our next live audience podcast, with special guests Stacey Curcio and Terry McCosker. Listen to the story of Miller & Baker in North Perth, one of the bakeries the Haggerty family supplies too locally (in episode 69).  Thanks for listening. Music:  Spy Fiction, by Young Rich Pixies (from Artlist). Regeneration, by Amelia Barden. Send us a voicemail Support the show Please share this episode or the trailer with a friend, follow the podcast, and subscribe if you can. The RegenNarration is independent and ad-free, with hundreds of episodes freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. If you're enjoying the podcast, I hope you'll consider becoming a paid subscriber, from as little as around $1 a week, to gain access to a great community, subscriber events and giveaways, and to help keep the show going, on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find some writing, photography and tunes too). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event soon, even the shop. Thanks so much for your support!