Australia is a major contributor to global food security. It exports large amounts of agricultural goods, with wheat and beef being the highest categories. Recent droughts would negatively impact wheat exports. Most Australians purchase their food from supermarkets and grocery stores, though restaurant and takeaway meals may be increasing. Australia uses strategies like sustainable agricultural practices and exporting surplus food to improve global food security. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed some vulnerabilities in Australia's domestic food system around supply chain disruptions and equity issues, though overall supply is adequate.

1. AUSTRALIA’S CONTRIBUTION
TO GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY
Sustainable Biomes – Topic 1

2. Skills Drill – Pie Graph Interpretation-5min
◻Use the Infographic
to identify…
1. What is the highest category item
that we export?
2. How would the recent droughts
impact this?
3. Where is the main place Australians
purchase their food?
4. These figures are the most recently
published but are almost ten years
old. Do you think we have been
getting more restaurant/takeaway
meals? Why/why not?
Figure 1: Value chain for food in Australia, 2010-11
Source: Australian Food Statistics 2010-11, Australian Department of
Agriculture water and the Environment.

3. AUSTRALIA’S CONTRIBUTION TO GLOBAL
FOOD SECURITY
Learning Goals
◻ To understand Australia’s food security position
◻ To understand ways that Australia can contribute to global
food security.
Success Criteria
1. I can describe TWO strategies that Australia uses to improve
food security.
2. I can explain HOW these strategies contribute to improving
food security around the world.

4. Food Security and Australia- 10-15 min
Watch the ABC video on Australia’s food production and
consumption and answer the questions on the worksheet.
You may wish to watch it a few times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxj2APMuuJw

5. Other barriers to food security in Australia-
5 min
Watch the video ‘Does Australia have food security?’ produced by
Fairfax Media (The Age and SMH) and UNSW and answer the
questions on the worksheet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWp5OAdqzxY

6. Activity- city farming- 5-10min
View Melbourne Sky farm and answer the worksheet questions
https://www.melbourneskyfarm.com.au/
Extension- digging deep: Design a vertical or rooftop farm for a new
office building in Sydney
OR
Explore how you could set up an aquaponic or hydroponic vegetable
growing system at home.

7. Pandemic food security 2020
We are in a unique situation at the moment with being able to
examine what is happening right now with food security in Australia.
You have no doubt seen pictures or for yourselves empty
supermarket shelves yet in the media we are being assured we are
fine. Let’s investigate this.
Read the SBS and Uni of Melbourne articlesand answer the
worksheet questions https://www.sbs.com.au/news/coronavirus-
crisis-food-supplies-in-australia-adequate-but-warnings-of-longer-
term-supply-impacts
https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/our-food-supply-has-
problems-with-equity-not-quantity

8. Recap & exit tickets
Success Criteria
1. I can describe TWO strategies that Australia uses to improve
food security.
2. I understand how we have food and why some foods may
become limited during the pandemic.
Exit Ticket
Answer the question below on your class discussion board for your
teacher!
Do you think Australia is responding well to food insecurity?