Australia’s food security is increasingly vulnerable, built on fragile foundations that rely heavily on imported fuel, fertilisers, and agricultural chemicals. Australia’s grains sector faces strategic risks that threaten both food and national security.
With 91% of liquid fuel imported and no domestic urea supply until 2027, the sector is exposed to global disruptions beyond its control. Climate volatility, degraded infrastructure, and competing land uses further compound these risks.
To ensure long-term resilience, the government must adopt a comprehensive National Food Security Strategy that integrates six foundational pillars: input sovereignty, supply chain resilience, land use protection, trade access, biosecurity, and climate adaptation. Immediate action, particularly on low-carbon liquid fuel production, can deliver dual dividends for food and national security.
The following nine recommendations outline the strategic reforms required to safeguard Australia’s agricultural future and ensure a stable, sovereign food system. With these strategic actions, Australia can forge a resilient, sovereign food system—one that secures our future and strengthens the nation from paddock to port.
- Recommendation 1: Develop a National Feedstock Strategy to ensure Australia is able to provide a sustainable, consistent supply of raw materials necessary for producing low-carbon fuels.
- Recommendation 2: A dedicated $900 million per year in targeted funding for key regional freight corridors to improve the long-term resilience of freight networks.
- Recommendation 3: Develop a national land use trend database to inform land use planning and to monitor impacts on agricultural land where decisions are made to change land use or allow co-use. This will require additional funding for ABARES or another appropriate government department to measure and baseline land use.
- Recommendation 4: Establish nationally consistent classifications for prime agricultural land to enable identification and protection of critical agricultural assets by all levels of government, placing them on par with the strategic importance given to other critical national infrastructure.
- Recommendation 5: Ensure sustainable long-term funding for the Agricultural Counsellor network.
- Recommendation 6: Ensure there is transparency in the funding and performance of Australia’s biosecurity system and its capacity to detect, eradicate and manage pests and diseases, ensuring growers have the confidence to engage with the system.
- Recommendation 7: Align the National Food Security Strategy to the National Climate Risk Assessment and the National Adaptation Plan.
- Recommendation 8: Commit to developing comprehensive sector plans under the National Adaptation Plan, including for agriculture and transport.
- Recommendation 9: Invest in strengthening Australia's sovereign scientific capability and resources to support the adaptation of the grain industry, including regionally specific, high-resolution climate and hazard datasets for grain growing regions.
Read the full submission: