Food system innovation and policy at the local level: A report on six local governments in New South Wales and Victoria

Abstract

Transformative change is required from ‘paddock to fork’ to ensure access to healthy food for all, within finite planetary boundaries. Collaboration and coordination between diverse stakeholders is necessary to achieve this transformation, including all levels of government. However, while state and national governments’ influence over food systems has been the focus of much research and reporting, less is known about the role of Australian local governments (LGs) in addressing these health, sustainability, and equity challenges. This report provides a summary of six case studies of Australian LGs conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney, University of Wollongong, and William Angliss Institute of TAFE (Melbourne). The researchers interviewed staff members from six LGs (3 from NSW, 3 from Victoria) to gather information on these LGs’ food system policies and initiatives, as well as their perceptions of the barriers to and enablers of this work.