Food security relates to people's ability to access healthy food.
Eating healthily is essential for people to meet their dietary requirements — however, for a number of reasons, many people find it challenging to access the food they need to keep healthy.
This is what we mean when we talk about 'food security' and a newly launched Edith Cowan University (ECU) initiative aims to tackle this issue across Western Australia.
The Food Community project began as a trial in the State's South-West, looking to support those who had difficulties accessing the food they need, be it due to physical distance, affordability, social constraints or other factors.
The trial identified dozens of food initiatives in the area, ranging from farmers' markets and community transport to workshops aimed at cooking and nutrition education.
It then successfully identified how the various organisations involved could work together to allow these initiatives to better address food security concerns.
Project lead Dr Stephanie Godrich, from ECU's Centre for People, Place & Planet, said the project was seeing many positive results.
"We saw increased opportunities for collaboration, professional development opportunities, new community networks created, meetings with government and community organisations — all helping to address food insecurity and drive local action on the issue."
Expanding to where it's needed most
The program will soon be rolled out across the State, starting in the Wheatbelt before expanding to the Pilbara, Kimberley, Goldfields, Great Southern, Midwest and Gascoyne.
Dr Godrich said Food Community would offer real benefits to communities who face significant food security challenges.
"Food security is dependent on factors such as the availability and variety of nutritious food, multiple food retail options, transport to access food, adequate food preparation and cooking facilities and nutrition knowledge and cooking skills, among others," Dr Godrich said.
"Regional and remote communities face various obstacles, such as limited supply of healthy food, higher food costs, lower food quality, inconsistent food transportation, and intermittent power supply.
"All of these factors impact community food security."
The programs in each area will be tailored to address issues specific to that particular region.
"Complex issues such as food security are better addressed using a place-based focus, and when government and community work collaboratively,” Dr Godrich said.
"WA is unique, with much of its population living in urban areas.
"Rural and remote locations face more challenges when it comes to maintaining food security, given a wide variety of good quality, affordable, healthy food, is often less available.
"The Food Community hopes to help communities develop ways to give all Western Australians access to the food they need."
Food security – what's needed
- Food availability
- Access to healthy food
- Ability to use the food.
Factors impacting food security
- Enough food outlets
- Distance to outlets
- Financial resources to buy food
- Adequate food preparation and cooking facilities
- Knowledge of nutrition and cooking skills.
