Victoria Unboxed: Final Report
Community Food Initiatives Research

Victoria Unboxed: Final Report

Food packaging waste in Australia contributes significantly to waste generation and environmental pollution. Despite a high percentage of packaging being reusable, recyclable, or compostable, actual recycling and composting rates are low. The solution to this is not as simple as removing packaging from food supply chains, as it plays an important role in keeping food…

Strengthening Food Systems Governance at the Local Level
Policymaking Research

Strengthening Food Systems Governance at the Local Level

This 2019-2022 collaboration with the University of Sydney and University of Wollongong created a database of food-related policies across all councils in Victoria and NSW. Through in-depth case study research with leading local governments and civil society organisations, it identified the opportunities and challenges for food system transformation at the local level. The extensive research…

Growing Edible Cities and Towns
Research

Growing Edible Cities and Towns

A Survey of the Victorian Urban Agriculture Sector. Despite the diverse benefits of urban agriculture, there is limited research into urban agriculture as a sector in Victoria. This report presents findings from a survey of urban agriculture practitioners in Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong. The findings include the sector’s composition, activities, market channels, challenges, needs and aspirations, as well as opportunities for sector support and growth. The report also proposes a roadmap for addressing critical challenges that face the sector and for building on the strength of its social and environmental commitments. These findings and recommendations are of relevance to policymakers at all levels of government, especially as food security, climate change, human and ecological health and urban sustainability emerge as key interconnected priorities in this challenging decade.