1. Food Security
You know, when I was first asked to write an article on food security, I thought I would be explaining
the intricacies of pantry locks or the finer points of building a vegie patch fence. I came up with a
myriad of witty titles – “Lock Up Your Lettuces”, “The Escape of the Eggplants”, “War and Peas”…
you get the idea. I made jokes about the most vegetables suffering from anxiety and insecurity, and I
commented that the most secure food was that in my belly.
And that’s where the jokes ended. The more I researched the topic, the more apparent it became
that food security is an incredibly important issue, and certainly not one to be taken lightly. It also
occurred to me that there is something that we can all do to make a difference, both in our own
communities, and on a broader scale.
Food Security Defined
So, what exactly is food security? Well, maybe it’s better to describe what it isn’t. Food insecurity is
defined as “irregular access to safe, nutritionally adequate, culturally acceptable food from non-
emergency sources”. In a nutshell, it means people aren’t getting fresh, healthy food in adequate
amounts to maintain personal health and well being, either because it is not available, or, more
commonly nowadays, because it is simply not affordable. The truly frightening thing? This is not
solely a third world issue… it’s happening right here, in our suburbs, in our streets, and in our
communities. And it’s likely to get a lot worse.
I know what you’re thinking – what on earth does this have to do with me – I’m food secure, I can
afford my weekly vegies, I’m eating well, I don’t think this article applies to me. Well, think again.
CSIRO director, Dr Peter Carberry, says the world demand for food and fibre will eclipse climate
change as the world’s next great challenge. And he’s not alone. The United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organisation reckon that global food output (the amount of stuff we grow to consume)
2. needs to increase by 70% by 2050 in order to meet demand. In fact, the Australian Farmers
Federation released a statement to the press last year urging as many Australians as possible to
start growing their own vegies at home, as there are very really concerns that demand for vegies
and fruit will seriously outstrip supply in the coming years. Frightening facts and figures, and, when
coupled with the great unknowns of climate change and economic stability, food security becomes a
very real (and very gnawing) issue.
Ensure a Food Secure Future at Your Place
Now, before you get all gloom and doom on me, let me say this: there are very real differences we
can make and actions we can undertake right now to ensure secure food sources into next week,
next year, next decade and beyond. For a start, there’s the old adage that states “if you give a man a
fish, he will eat for a day. If you teach him how to fish he’ll eat forever”. This is the approach we
need to take with regards to food security. If we, as individuals, can grow the fresh fruit and
vegetables we like to eat, we are no longer as heavily reliant on external sources and producers
growing our food for us. Sure, we may still have to head to the green grocers for a few items, but we
know we can have a fairly good feed by having a forage in the backyard.
What We are Doing About It
So what are SGA going to do towards a food secure future for this great land of ours? We’ve begun
by connecting communities, through our SGA PODS neighbourhood gardening groups program. SGA
POD groups are community based collections of gardeners who share a common interest in
productive, organic, diverse and sustainable gardens, and are making serious inroads into setting up
food security for their communities. By sharing ideas and space, swapping seeds and produce,
meeting, talking, connecting and growing together, SGA PODS are uniting communities through
produce gardening…and doing their bit to ease the burden on our fantastic farmers, and the planet.
What You Can Do
Food security is a term that, like global warming and climate change, we are going to hear a lot of in
2010, and with good reason. But, unlike a lot of earth threatening issues that seem just too big for
an individual to make a real difference, there is so much each and every one of us can do to ensure
food security for our families, our communities and the planet. In 2010, each and every one of us
should endeavour to do the following for food security:
Make an effort to grow at least some of your favourite vegies, herbs and, space permitting, fruit.s
Just about all of us can grow something, so give it a go this year. You’ll save money, and you’ll be
making a difference.
Start or join an SGA POD and connect with others in your community. A connected, food secures
community is a fantastic place to live.
Financially support SGA in our “100 PODS” program. Our aim is to set up 100 SGA PODSs
nationwide by 2011, but we need your financial support (however big or small) to do so. As a not-
for-profit organisation, every little bit you can donate to SGA goes a long way, to supporting our
programs, ensuring future food security and saving the planet.
Donate your excess produce to charity organisations in your community. Food insecurity is a reals
problem already, and some fresh fruit and veg can make a real difference.
3. Our planet needs us, our communities need us, and our families need us to ensure a food secure
future.
