Integrating Agriculture and Food Policy to Achieve Sustainable Peri-urban Fruit and Vegetable Production in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Efforts to increase fruit and vegetable consumption are a significant aspect of national approaches to preventive health. However, policy frameworks for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption rarely take an integrated food-systems approach that includes a focus on production. In this policy analysis and commentary we examine fruit and vegetable production in peri-urban areas of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, and highlight the significance of emerging environmental and economic pressures on fruit and vegetable production. This examination will be of interest to other locations around the world also experiencing pressure on their peri-urban agriculture. These

Diversifying Food and Diets

“…In the last five years, these threats have become more acute as agricultural production in the state of Victoria especially has been severely affected by natural disasters such as droughts, bushfires and floods. These natural disasters increase the cost of food for low-income households in Melbourne and regional areas alike (Carey et al, 2011). While the state and federal government have dedicated resources to supporting the economic sustainability of the agricultural sector and developing preventative health initiatives to encourage the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, Carey et al (2011) highlight the absence of 'policy approaches that link fruit and vegetable consumption to production, either in Victoria or internationally'.…”

“…These natural disasters increase the cost of food for low-income households in Melbourne and regional areas alike (Carey et al, 2011). While the state and federal government have dedicated resources to supporting the economic sustainability of the agricultural sector and developing preventative health initiatives to encourage the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, Carey et al (2011) highlight the absence of 'policy approaches that link fruit and vegetable consumption to production, either in Victoria or internationally'. This case study will focus on research carried out to explore farmers markets and community gardens as localized food systems that offer potential for improving dietary diversity and nutrition, supporting biological diversity and linking production to consumption.…”

“…However, agricultural and urban planning policies are effectively at odds with each other in Victoria. Despite over half of the state's vegetables and approximately 17 per cent of its fruit being currently produced around Melbourne's borders (Carey et al, 2011), the council's vision for the future is challenged by state government policy that has earmarked more periurban agricultural land for residential development (Budge and Slade, 2009;Carey et al, 2011;Buxton et al, 2011).…”