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's progress towards reducing food insecurity, informed by the Food Agriculture Organization's Voluntary Guidelines on the Right to Food2 and Australia's 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.