Food systems
The production and supply of food affects food availability and the way people access it.
There are many systems involved in the production and supply of food, including agriculture, imports and exports, retail and food service. These all affect food accessibility in different ways, which in turn have a range of health implications.
VicHealth recognises three broad determinants of healthy eating:
- secure and sufficient supply of healthy foods
- access to healthy foods
- a culture that supports healthy food consumption.
It is important to understand how these determinants operate and to work with others to ensure that all these are addressed. VicHealth is working with a range of partners to ensure that food systems support all members of the community to access affordable, nutritious food.
Food Alliance
VicHealth funds the Food Alliance to improve local and state-level food systems. The Food Alliance works to promote policy initiatives to achieve a food system that ensures sustainable food supply and healthy eating for the Victorian population.
Victorian Eco Innovation Lab (VEIL) research
VicHealth worked with the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL) at the University of Melbourne to conduct research into Victoria’s food systems. A report released by VEIL in 2011, Victorian Food Supply Scenarios, investigated future food systems. This research aims to understand how food supply systems and government strategies will affect the availability of nutritious diets.
The information from the research project will be used to assist policy makers, as well as the food and agricultural sectors in considering future planning options regarding food supply.
The VEIL researchers factored in exports, imports, climate change, food production practices, fuel and water use, waste, environmental awareness, population growth and economic growth into the scenarios. The results of this research emphasise that careful planning is needed now to avoid shortages of nutritious food in the coming decades.
Food-sensitive Planning and Urban Design (FSPUD)
VicHealth partnered with VEIL and the Heart Foundation to research the connections between public health, planning and urban design, and environmental sustainability. The resulting framework, Food-sensitive Planning and Urban Design (FSPUD) outlines the approaches and interventions required to shift to a more sustainable and resilient food system and ensure people can meet their food needs into the future.