Welcome to the Australian Local Food System Policy Database. This is a collection of policies from New South Wales (NSW) and Victorian local governments that relate to healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems.
For further information about using the database and how it was created see How to use the database. You can search the database by using the fields below. Domain refers to eight broad categories under which various topics are situated. The domains and topics are based on a framework of recommendations for local government action on creating a healthy, sustainable, and equitable food system (also located on the ‘How to use the database’ page linked above).
To cite the database: Reeve B, Carrad A, Rose N, Charlton K & Aguirre-Bielschowsky I (2021) Australian Local Food System Policy Database. Available at: https://law-food-systems.sydney.edu.au/policy-database (access date).
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Hold Ctrl to select multiple terms. Using ‘any words’ functions as an “OR” search. Using ‘all words’ functions as and “AND” search.
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| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Objective 2.5 – Reduce impacts from predatory pest animals and weeds Pest animals and weeds have the potential to harm livestock and native fauna, increase soil and stream bank erosion and inhibit restoration of farmland. Pest animals and weeds also cost landholders time and money to manage and impact on farm productivity. Landholders are obliged to control noxious weeds and listed pests and will benefit from training and support to assist them with these activities. Actions: Build farmers’ capacity to identify and control predatory pest animals and noxious and environmental weeds by participating in hands-on training programs and by developing education and awareness raising materials. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Objective 3.2 – Improve farm planning and preparedness for climate change and other threats Farm planning is an essential component of sustainable agriculture. It involves farm design and management based on environmental, financial and social considerations. Planning requires self-reflection to identify individual farm aspirations, resource challenges and opportunities and farmers’ strengths and weaknesses to achieve longer-term production goals. Critical components of farm planning include identifying natural resources and management issues and integrating agricultural and ecological systems, monitoring, adaptation, risk analysis and production requirements and farming within the land’s biophysical capabilities. Understanding and preparing for the potential risks of climate change and climate change policy – including climatic variability, biosecurity risks and fluctuations in non-renewable energy costs – are important for farm planning. Actions: Support the development and implementation of whole-farm management plans based on sustainable agriculture principles. Assist with biosecurity planning and adoption of on-farm biosecurity measures. Conduct regular climate change and energy forums for farmers, including climate conditions, carbon markets, farm management planning, energy efficiency and renewable energy. Provide advice and promote sustainable and cost-effective use of energy, including uptake of energy efficiency initiatives and renewable energy sources. Support research and development to better understand the local rate of change and adaptation options associated with the risk of climate change. Integrate farms to biodiversity corridor enhancement projects to provide resilience and adaptation to climate change impacts. Help farmers understand the inherent productive capability of their land and make the right farming choices, through farm extension and provision of advice. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Objective 3.3 – Improve collaboration and information exchange within and between industries and agencies The gradual decline in government provision of extension services has left many producers reluctant to seek advice on a fee-for-service basis. Many farmers lack an industry support body while research effort is often directed towards larger production areas outside the Tweed. Local farmers rely on a range of information sources such as industry and government agencies, literature including the internet and, importantly, from other farmers in their networks. Farmers require up-to-date and relevant information to improve their operations and there is scope for greater information exchange and resource sharing between all stakeholders. Indigenous knowledge of land management, including farming, is underutilised and there is potential for Indigenous partnerships in sustainable agriculture. Actions: Establish a Sustainable Agriculture Roundtable to ensure collaboration on sustainable agriculture initiatives. Develop and share knowledge through industry events, farm field days, and community meetings. Inform farmers of the latest industry and landholder support schemes and grants. Provide opportunities for Indigenous partnerships in sustainable agriculture, including Indigenous farm programs. Recognise and promote Aboriginal culture and farming practices. Foster leadership and industry champions to drive the paradigm shift from conventional to sustainable farming. Ensure the strategic outcomes and objectives of this strategy are recognised and integrated into relevant local, state and commonwealth policies and strategies. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Objective 4.1 – Increase agribusiness opportunities Diversification and value-adding can provide significant economic benefits to farm businesses, industry and the community. The regulatory environment around farming and food, particularly the establishment of value-adding and farm diversification enterprises, can be a difficult, time consuming and costly process for landholders. Local government and multiple state agencies have different roles and responsibilities in accordance with state legislation and existing council policies, including many which are important and not easily changed. However, there is a need to review current local government policies to determine scope to reduce the regulatory burden on business. Strong civic leadership can provide a path through an often complex array of policies, guidelines and approval processes. Council can partner with other agencies, organisations and industries to facilitate, support and encourage such development within existing policy constraints, effectively guiding rural landholders and food entrepreneurs through the regulatory regime. Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy 25 Actions: Implement actions identified in the Economic Development Strategy to build a resilient agricultural sector, including a review of ‘red tape’, investigating development of a food processing cluster, and investigate and further promote opportunities in organics. Facilitate, support and encourage vertical integration by providing information and support and highlighting agricultural diversification examples, trends, innovations and opportunities with potential for local application. Better evaluate local agriculture by using farm health surveys and reporting on economic, environmental and social circumstances of the agricultural sector. Work with industry to attract research and development funding and investment to enhance productivity and scope for employment growth. Hold regular agribusiness forums to give local producers and retailers the latest advice and market opportunities and to showcase local success stories | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | One of the actions identified in this strategy is the formation of a Sustainable Agriculture Roundtable, comprising a diverse range of stakeholders with an interest in sustainable agriculture initiatives in the Tweed. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Our aim is to foster sustainable behaviour and cultivate a vibrant and diverse farming community. To achieve this vision, we must continue to protect and enhance our farmland, support farmers | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Outcome 1: Prime agricultural land is preserved for sustainable primary production and land-use conflicts are avoided or managed Farmland is a precious resource that warrants protection for the use of current and future generations. Sustainable agriculture depends on the continued availability of agricultural land suitable for primary production. The Tweed Local Environmental Plan 2014 protects state and regionally significant farmland from incompatible development, including subdivision for purposes not related to agriculture. The Northern Rivers Farmland Protection Project identified State and Regionally Significant Agricultural Land in 2005, with the intention of protecting important farmland from urban and rural residential development; most notably the Cudgen Plateau and cleared areas of the coastal floodplain. Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land has been defined by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, for the purposes of the Strategic Regional Land Use Policy, and receives similar protection. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Outcome 2: Agricultural landscapes are farmed to maintain and enhance the natural resource base with minimal impacts on the environment A fundamental aim of this strategy is to ensure natural assets and key ecosystem services are maintained and improved to sustain primary production and maintain and enhance the natural resource base. Today’s farmer must focus on both shortterm productivity and the long-term security of their natural resource assets, to remain viable. The future for sustainable Tweed agriculture is development and adoption of new production methods, more efficient use of inputs, and increased use of natural processes. The challenge lies in determining the most suitable approaches for each farmer’s situation and giving farmers the tools they need to transition to improved farming systems | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Outcome 3: Farmers are well informed and equipped with the skills, knowledge and networks required to farm sustainably Successful farming requires a diverse skill set with expertise in everything from day-to-day farming to business planning, risk management and product marketing. Just as important is an understanding of industry research and development findings and the latest technology and innovations. Such knowledge and skills are essential to enable farming businesses to remain viable in the face of local, national and global pressures. Tweed farm businesses are often small, making it difficult for individual farmers to dedicate time to improve their skills and knowledge and keep up with industry advances and developments. Many producers are not supported by overarching industry bodies that provide technical information and extension support. Many farmers rely on informal networks to maintain their knowledge base. It is important these land managers are given the technical support they need to increase the economic position and environmental sustainability of their enterprises. Agricultural producers benefit from a collaborative environment and use networks to share information, facilitate research and development, investigate opportunities such as cooperatives, and provide a collective voice to influence policy makers and foster change. Networks and partnerships provide opportunities to share alternatives and progressive or new methods that otherwise might not be contemplated. This strategy will increase accessibility to information by promoting and supporting information sharing networks. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Raise awareness of sustainable food production and local food purchasing through school tours and visits and provide links to training schemes and local employment opportunities. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | The strategy consists of four outcomes: 1. Prime agricultural land is preserved for sustainable primary production and land-use conflicts are avoided or managed. 2. Agricultural landscapes are farmed to maintain and enhance the natural resource base with minimal impacts on the environment. 3. Farmers are well informed and equipped with the skills, knowledge and networks required to farm sustainably. 4. Local sustainable agricultural production is valued by the community with widespread consumption of local products. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | The strategy identifies actions that will increase the level of sustainable agriculture in the Tweed including: Conserving and restoring productivity and environmental values on farmland. Remediating past adverse impacts on farmland and the community. Responding to current and predicted pressures on agricultural land. Building capacity through education and stakeholder engagement. Leveraging funding for strategy delivery. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | The Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy will be delivered through a combination of: Research and development. On-ground works. Technical support. Education. Policy development and implementation. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | to adopt flexible and restorative farming practices, continually engage with the community and educate about the benefits of local food. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Vision A sustainable agriculture system supported by a strong partnership between government, industries, farmers and the community, working together to boost the economic viability of farming and protection and enhancement of the natural resource base. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | While these important areas are protected, there are other areas where sustainable and viable agriculture is occurring and could occur, even though they are not formally protected. Opportunities for sustainable agriculture must remain available for current and future generations, irrespective of current land condition or zoning. Increasing demand for rural land for non-agricultural uses, including residential development, threaten the viability of Tweed agriculture. Strong civic leadership is vital to ensure rural residential development does not jeopardise the productive use of land and that sustainable agriculture and related uses are encouraged as part of planning proposals and developments | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Objective 4.3 – Increase community appreciation of local agriculture Consumers expect fresh, quality product all year round but lack appreciation for or understanding of agricultural production and the ecological consequences of their food choices. Community understanding of the different aspects of the local food system is required, including production practices, seasonal availability and environmental impacts, to foster responsible local consumption and appreciation for sustainable practice. Actions: Promote the benefits of local agricultural industries, their products, services and contribution to the community through farm open days, participation in community events and by supporting community gardens, edible streetscapes and other urban sustainability initiatives. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Objective 4.3 – Increase community appreciation of local agriculture Consumers expect fresh, quality product all year round but lack appreciation for or understanding of agricultural production and the ecological consequences of their food choices. Community understanding of the different aspects of the local food system is required, including production practices, seasonal availability and environmental impacts, to foster responsible local consumption and appreciation for sustainable practice. Actions: Promote the benefits of local agricultural industries, their products, services and contribution to the community through farm open days, participation in community events and by supporting community gardens, edible streetscapes and other urban sustainability initiatives. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Fence waterways where practical to reduce manure input and damage by stock, provide off-stream water and revegetate banks. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Actions: Implement actions identified in the Economic Development Strategy to build a resilient agricultural sector, including a review of ‘red tape’, investigating development of a food processing cluster, and investigate and further promote opportunities in organics. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Promote and facilitate uptake of best practice effluent management and reuse on dairies, piggeries and other intensive animal production systems. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Growth in agricultural employment, financial turnover and investment. Sustainable agricultural production is supported by the community, which appreciates the value of farming in the Tweed for its tourism and job opportunities and its contribution to the character of the rural landscape. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Promote dung beetle population management in grazing land alongside off-stream water provision and revegetation of creeks and river banks. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Objective 3.1 – Support the development and succession of a skilled agricultural workforce Careers in farming and agriculture lack popularity, causing a range of skill shortages that impact on farmers. The average age of farmers in the Tweed is increasing because younger generations are leaving the farm to pursue other opportunities. Actions: Provide training opportunities for students and volunteers in delivering practical on-ground projects. Support and promote educational opportunities for existing and aspiring agriculturalists and land managers. Partner with local schools, tertiary and vocational organisations to provide technical and educational support in sustainable agriculture. Support initiatives that enable young farmers to access land, including start-up farm programs, a register of landholders requiring share farmers, and connecting young and aspiring farmers with holders of rural land. Capture and disseminate the knowledge, skills and stories of our industry champions and progressive farm elders to younger generations. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Work with industry to benchmark existing management practices for sugar cane, dairy, beef, bananas, vegetables and other agricultural enterprises. | Sustainability and Environment | Animal husbandry | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Raise awareness of sustainable food production and local food purchasing through school tours and visits and provide links to training schemes and local employment opportunities. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | 4. Local sustainable agricultural production is valued by the community with widespread consumption of local products | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Work with industry to attract research and development funding and investment to enhance productivity and scope for employment growth. | Economic Development | Food related job creation | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | Actions: Help farmers promote and market local products, including support to develop local food marketing and branding initiatives, strengthening links between local growers and local retailers and identifying and removing impediments to local food marketing, distribution and sale. | Sustainability and Environment | Strengthen food chain connections/distribution | NSW | Tweed | Regional |
| Tweed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy | 4. Local sustainable agricultural production is valued by the community with widespread consumption of local products. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | NSW | Tweed | Regional |