Report Tabled
Victoria’s food supply
Victorian agriculture is important to state and national food supply. It also contributes billions to our economy, is a significant regional employer and supports adjacent industries including farm supplies and food processing.
Food is produced all around the state, but farms along the fringes of our cities supply many of the highly perishable foods consumed by Victorians, such as leafy greens and chicken. These farms are some of our most productive and are important to the resilience of our food supply.
When food is grown locally, it can be supplied more directly, making it less vulnerable to disruptions (such as extreme weather or geo-political events) than food supplied nationally or internationally.
(pilot for the ongoing Foodprint Melbourne research project at the University of Melbourne).
A growing population
Demand for the fresh fruit, vegetables and meat grown by Victorian farmers is increasing as our population grows. The population of Victoria has almost doubled since the 1990s from just over 4.3 million people to more than 6.8 million people today.
Most of this growth has been accommodated in Melbourne which has increased from around 3.1 million residents in 1990 to approximately 5.1 million residents today. The capital’s population is projected to increase to 8 million by 2051.
Melbourne’s urban sprawl
As Melbourne’s population has grown, so to has its urban footprint. Many new residents are being accommodated in low density housing, being built over farmland in growth areas along the fringe of the city.
In 2021-22, many of Victoria’s fastest growing local government areas were located on the outer edges of Melbourne. In some of our most productive farming regions.
Regional centres are also growing
Victorian’s regional centres are also expanding. For example, the population of Geelong has increased from just under 160,000 residents in the year 2000 to around 290,000 residents today. It is forecast to grow to almost 400,000 residents by 2041.
Like Melbourne, farmland along the fringes of Geelong is being developed into new suburbs (such as Armstrong Creek) to accommodate population growth.
Click the link below to view a map depicting the expansion of Geelong's urban sprawl from 2010 to 2024.
Impact of population growth and urban sprawl on food supply
Urban encroachment into farming regions along the fringes of Victorian cities is having a profound impact on our agricultural sector.
Development is displacing farmland and subdivision is fragmenting farming communities. Rising property prices are reducing the viability of some farms and encouraging practices such as land banking. The urbanisation of farming communities is causing conflict and increasing the biosecurity risks faced by farmers.
Without action to protect farmland and boost the agricultural sector, Victoria risks losing its local food supply.
Click the link below to view a map depicting the evolution of Melbourne's urban sprawl from 1988 to 2020.
A Victorian Food System Strategy
Victoria must consider how it will feed its growing population into the future and the reform needed to increase the resilience of our food system.
The Environment and Planning Committee recommends a Victorian Food System Strategy and a Victorian Food System Council to refocus agricultural governance and policy on securing our food supply and to coordinate the efforts of all actors in the food system.
Find out more by reading its report, Securing Victoria’s food supply.