Food Systems Under Pressure: What Global Conflict Means for Australia

Recent military escalation involving the United States and Israel has intensified conflict with Iran, with far-reaching consequences for global energy, trade and food systems. As supply chains destabilise and key shipping routes face disruption, the impacts are already being felt globally, including here in Australia.

While communities play a vital role in building resilience, governments have a clear responsibility to actively support this work through strong policy, adequate resourcing and structural reform.

As the Federal Government develops the national Feeding Australia strategy, it is critical that this policy moves beyond rhetoric and genuinely empowers communities to shape their own food systems. This includes strengthening regional supply chains and supporting farmers to transition to lower-input, agroecological production methods. At a time when governments continue to subsidise fossil fuels and major resource corporations, resilience must not become shorthand for communities being left to fend for themselves.

This public webinar brings together leading voices to unpack what these global shifts could mean locally, and how we can prepare in practical, grounded ways, while also advocating for the policy settings and public investment needed to build a more secure and just food system.

Speakers include:

• Serenity Hill - Open Food Network

• Dr Nick Rose - Sustain: the Australian Food Network

• Associate Professor Phil Baker - University of Sydney

• Emeritus Professor Amanda Lee - University of Queensland