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INNOVATION IN PRACTICE
biosecurity threats, and supply-chain disruptions present mounting risks. However, the forthcoming strategy must go be- yond productivity and export competitiveness. It must place household purchasing power, afford- ability, and equitable access at the centre of its framework. A nation cannot be food secure if its people cannot afford to eat well. Knowledge, Innovation, and Local Empowerment Food sovereignty also depends on knowledge and innovation that serve people where they live. Aus- tralia's universities and research institutions al- ready lead globally in food science, biotechnology, and agricultural engineering, yet these capabilities are fragmented and under-deployed. Research must translate into tangible community outcomes - boosting local economies, improving household incomes, and reinforcing purchasing power. A National Lighthouse Initiative for Deployable Food Research can serve this goal by connecting science to society. Anchored in partnerships among major universities, the CSIRO and regional research centres, the initiative could demonstrate scalable solutions for regenerative farming, sus- tainable food manufacturing and packaging, al- ternative proteins, and circular economy models for food waste. This would make innovation vis- ible and relatable, showing how scientific progress strengthens both environmental health and eco- nomic security. Education and local empowerment are equally essential. Embedding food and nutrition educa- tion into the national curriculum, together with school meal programs and community food initia- tives, not only reduces hunger but fosters food lit- eracy and long-term resilience. Universities play a vital role in strengthening local purchasing power. Research from the Regional Universities Network shows that regional universities raise local wages and drive employ- ment through staff, students and construction
food for Australian households is as critical to na- tional sovereignty as energy independence or de- fence capability. At the same time, Australia can strengthen its sovereignty by harnessing under-used techno- logical and ecological tools - chief among them regenerative agriculture. Regenerative practices restore soil health, improve biodiversity, and in- crease resilience to climate stress. Techniques like multi-species cover cropping, rotational grazing, and soil-carbon management not only boost yields and water retention but also reduce emissions and dependence on synthetic inputs. Regenerative agriculture is more than an en- vironmental solution; it is an economic one. It can stabilise farm income, create new markets for car- bon and natural capital, and reduce vulnerability to global supply shocks (4) . Yet its full potential remains unrealised because policy and finance have not kept pace with innova- tion. Farmers need long-term incentives, research partnerships, and public investment to scale these practices nationally. A strong food system is not defined by output alone, but by its ability to sus- tain both ecosystems and livelihoods, to balance productivity with equitable prosperity. A National Framework in Transition The Australian Government has recognised the urgency of reform and is now developing a Na- tional Food Security Strategy - the first of its kind in decades. The Department of Agriculture, Fish- eries and Forestry has committed AUD $3.5 million to this initiative to consult widely across the food system and establish a National Food Council to guide its design and implementation. A discussion paper has been released, and the final strategy is expected by 2026-27. This is a welcome step, signalling a long-over- due commitment to whole-of-system planning. The strategy acknowledges that while Australia remains broadly food secure, climate change,
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