Problems, policy and politics – perspectives of public health leaders on food insecurity and human rights in Australia

Background: To achieve zero hunger targets set within the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, high-income countries such as Australia must reconsider current efforts to improve food security. This study aimed to; explore perspectives from public health nutrition experts on the usefulness of drawing on the international human right to food, and associated mechanisms, to address food insecurity; identify potential roles of key stakeholders in Australia to implement a rights-based approach; and examine barriers and enablers to achieving the right to food in Australia. Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants ( \u3e 10 years professional experience). Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase approach to thematic analysis was employed to analyse data, using Kingdon’s multiple streams framework (1984) to examine interactive variables which affect policy-making processes. Results: Thirty interviews took place, with most participants representing academia (n = 16), majority had 10–14 years of experience (n = 12) and almost one quarter (n = 7) were in senior leadership roles. Participants believed that framing food insecurity as a human rights issue could be effective when communicating with some audiences, however alternative rhetoric is more popular and potentially more effective. Citizens, government, food industry, non-profit sector, research/tertiary and legal institutions were described as playing critical roles. Barriers to progress were identified as lack of awareness and acknowledgement of the problem, prioritisation of the private sector, lack of political will and domestic laws, and an inefficient/ineffective charitable food sector. Participants identified various enablers and opportunities for implementing a rights-based approach such as grass-roots advocacy efforts to raise awareness of the issue, integrating human rights into government frameworks and community projects and the political will to support action aligned with sustainable development. Conclusions: Human rights language and mechanisms have the potential to trigger genuine commitment to addressing food insecurity however should be used with caution. Australia’s public health workforce requires increased capacity to implement a human-rights approach and framing such efforts to align with sustainable development may achieve greater political action. Trial registration: Ethics approval was received from the Deakin University Human Research Ethics committee (project ID HEAG 168_2018)

A rights-based approach to food security in Australia

The 2030 “Zero Hunger” target, set as part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, intends to ignite an international agenda to reduce the global prevalence and severity of poverty and food insecurity. Household food insecurity occurs when there is inadequate access to healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate food. Action on food insecurity, rather than a “business as usual” approach,1 will ensure member states, including Australia, achieve these important global targets. This commentary aims to (a) analyse Australia\u27s progress towards reducing food insecurity, informed by the Food Agriculture Organization\u27s Voluntary Guidelines on the Right to Food2 and Australia\u27s reporting on the International Covenant for Economic Cultural and Social Rights to the United Nations; (b) outline a roadmap for implementation of a rights‐based approach to food security in Australia; and (c) identify appropriate stakeholders to engage in the roadmap to achieve change by 2030

Perseverance, partnerships and passion: ingredients for successful local government policy to promote healthy and sustainable diets

Abstract Background Local government authorities are well-placed to invest in evidence-based food policies that promote a population-wide shift to healthy and sustainable diets. This study describes the contextual factors that facilitated or impeded policy-making related to healthy and sustainable diets within a ‘best-performing’ local government in Victoria, Australia. Methods Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), data from semi-structured interviews with individuals involved in developing the City of Greater Bendigo’s Food System Strategy were analysed using the seven-stage Framework Method. Results Semi-structured interviews (n = 24) were conducted with City of Greater Bendigo employees (n = 15) and key stakeholders working for local organisations (n = 6) or at a state or national level (n = 3). Interviewees mostly held positions of leadership (n = 20) and represented diverse areas of focus from health (n = 7), food systems (n = 4) and planning and public policy (n = 3). Data analysis revealed 12 cross-cutting themes; eight facilitating factors and four impeding factors. Facilitating factors included perseverance, community engagement, supportive state policy, effective leadership, a global platform and networks, partnerships, workforce capacity and passion, and the use of scientific evidence. Impeding factors included access to secure, ongoing financial resources, prohibitive state and federal policy, COVID-related disruptions to community engagement and competing stakeholder interests. Overall, this study suggests that the City of Greater Bendigo’s success in developing an evidence-based local food system policy is built upon (i) a holistic worldview that embraces systems-thinking and credible frameworks, (ii) a sustained commitment and investment throughout the inner-setting over time, and (iii) the ability to establish and nurture meaningful partnerships with community groups, neighbouring local government areas and state-level stakeholders, built upon values of reciprocity and respect. Conclusions Despite insufficient resourcing and prohibitive policy at higher levels of government, this ‘best performing’ local government in Victoria, Australia developed an evidence-based food system policy by employing highly skilled and passionate employees, embracing a holistic worldview towards planetary health and harnessing global networks. Local government authorities aspiring to develop integrated food policy should nurture a workforce culture of taking bold evidence-informed policy action, invest in mechanisms to enable long-standing partnerships with community stakeholders and be prepared to endure a ‘slow-burn’ approach

Local government policy to facilitate healthy and sustainable diets and the broader policy hierarchy: insights from Milan Urban Food Policy Pact cities

Abstract Background Local government authorities are well positioned to change the way food is produced and consumed through the implementation of integrated food policies. By facilitating the uptake of healthy and sustainable diet-related practices, integrated local government food policy can trigger change throughout the food supply chain. This study aimed to provide insights as to how the policy hierarchy surrounding local governments may be influencing local government’s capacity to create integrated food policy. Methods Content analysis was conducted on local government food policies (n = 36) from signatory cities of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact were mapped to seven global regions. A set of 13 predetermined healthy and sustainable diet-related practices, organized into three categories: “where to source food”, “what to eat” and “how to eat”, was used to assess the level of integration of each local government food policy. Additional policies from the broader policy hierarchy that were mentioned in each local government food policy were sourced and then screened for relevancy, charted according to their level of administration (local, national, global region, international) and analysed to consider which diet-related practice(s) each broader policy was likely to promote. Results Analysis revealed three key insights: (i) local government food policies across all included global regions (n = 4) mostly promoted practices in the “where to source food” category, (ii) local government food policies across all global regions referred to policies from higher levels of administration (local, national, global region and international) which tended to also promote practices in the “where to source food” category and (iii) regarding the level of integration, local government food policies in Europe and Central Asia targeted the highest number of diet-related practices. Conclusions The level of integration of food policy at national, global region and international levels may be influencing that of local governments. Further research is required to understand why local government food policies are referring to some relevant policies and not others, and to determine whether a greater focus on the diet-related practices of “what to eat” and “how to eat” in policies from higher levels of government would support local governments to also prioritize these practices in their food policies

Local urban government policies to facilitate healthy and environmentally sustainable diet-related practices: A scoping review

Objective: This scoping review sought to describe the policy actions that urban local governments globally have implemented to facilitate healthy and environmentally sustainable diet-related practices. Design: Five databases were searched to identify publications which cited policies being implemented by local governments within the 199 signatory cities of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) that targeted at least one healthy and sustainable diet-related practice. Grey literature was then searched to retrieve associated policy documentation. Data from both sources were charted against the MUFPP\u27s monitoring framework to analyse the policy actions included in each overarching policy. Results: From 2624 screened peer-reviewed studies, 27 met inclusion criteria and cited 36 relevant policies amongst signatory cities to the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact. Most were from high income countries (n=29; 81%), considered health (n=31; 86%), equity (n=29; 81%) and the broader food system beyond dietary consumption (n=34; 94%). Of the 66 policy actions described, the most common involved food procurement within public facilities (n=16; 44%) and establishing guidelines for school feeding programs (n=12; 33%). Conclusions: This review has demonstrated that urban local government authorities are implementing policies that consider multiple phases of the food supply chain to facilitate population-wide uptake of healthy and sustainable diet-related practices. Opportunities exist for local governments to leverage the dual benefits to human and planetary health of policy actions, such as those which discourage the overconsumption of food including less meat consumption and the regulation of ultra-processed foods

Additional file 1 of Perseverance, partnerships and passion: ingredients for successful local government policy to promote healthy and sustainable diets

Additional file 1: Additional material A1. Interview guide. Additional material A2. Healthy and sustainable diet-related practices. Additional material A3. Step-wise approach to data analysis. Additional Material A4 Coding framework. Additional material A5. Sub-themes and examples of illustrative quotes for each construct, organised by domain

Interdisciplinary insights on the future of food systems research: Perspectives from the next generation of research leaders

Our dominant food system is a primary driver of worsening human and planetary health. Held in March 2022, the Public Health Association of Australia\u27s Food Futures Conference was an opportunity for people working across the food system to connect and advocate for a comprehensive, intersectoral, whole-of-society food and nutrition policy in Australia to attenuate these issues. Conference themes included food systems for local and global good; ecological nutrition; social mobilisation for planetary and public good; food sovereignty; and food equity. Students and young professionals are integral in transforming food systems, yet are under-represented in the academic workforce, across publishing, scientific societies, and conference plenaries. A satellite event was held to platform initiatives from early career researchers in areas integral for improving planetary and public good. The research topics discussed in this commentary reflect sub-themes of the conference under investigation by early career researchers: food systems governance and regulation; local food policies; commercial determinants of health; sustainable healthy diets; and food equity and sovereignty

A pathway to personal, population and planetary health for dietitians and nutrition professionals

Abstract Background Earth and all its inhabitants are threatened by a planetary crisis; including climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss and pollution. Dietitians and nutrition professionals have a responsibility to lead transformational change in contemporary food and health systems to help mitigate this crisis. The study aims to develop a conceptual framework to support dietitians towards personal, population and planetary health. Methods Non‐empirical methods were used by the co‐researchers to explore and explain the application of an international framework ‘Next‐Generation Solutions to Address Adaptive Challenges in Dietetics Practice: The I + PSE Conceptual Framework for Action’. Results A non‐sequential pathway guide to personal, population and planetary health for nutrition professionals was developed including several key guiding principles of Agency, Action, Ascension, Alignment, Alliance and Allyship, and Advocacy and Activism. Each guiding principle features descriptors and descriptions to enhance dietitian and nutrition professional Agency (i.e. vision, self‐belief, confidence, strength and responsibility), Action (i.e. start, shift, translate, achieve and commit), Ascension (i.e. build, overcome, manage, challenge and progress), Alignment (i.e. leadership, transparency, diplomacy, values and systems), Alliance and Allyship (i.e. support, collaborate, represent, community and citizenship) and Advocacy and Activism (i.e. disrupt, co‐design, transform, empower and urgency). The framework and its descriptors support enhanced understanding and are modifiable and flexible in their application to guide the participation of dietitians and nutrition professionals in transformational change in personal, population and planetary health. This guide acknowledges that First Nations knowledge and customs are important to current and future work within this field. Conclusions Alongside the international body of work progressing in this field, this framework and visual guide will support dietitians and nutrition professionals to achieve urgent, transformational change in personal, population and planetary health

A Pathway to Planetary Health for Dietitians and Nutrition Professionals

A non-sequential pathway guide to Population, Personal and Planetary Health for Dietitians and Nutrition Professionals was developed including several key guiding principles of Agency, Action, Ascension, Alignment, Advocacy and Activism and Alliance and Allyship. Acknowledgements: The co-authorship team are grateful for the contributed knowledge and cultural experience of First Nations Consultant, Quandamooka woman Noell Burgess, to the framework. We recognise that further collaboration and future work relating to planetary health and sustainability with First Nations and, in Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is vital, and we propose to advance this body of work by supporting and collaborating with First Nations people in the work they are leading to support our planetary health and ensuring sustainable food sources.   We acknowledge Brenna Quinlan of Illustrations with a Purpose for her consultancy to develop Figure 1; the Pathway figure which features a sweet pea vine.  This version supercedes the previous FigShare published version but either can be used.</p