If we as a nation are serious about addressing climate change, then we need to turn our attention to food production. Lisa is calling on all levels of governments to develop an action plan on tackling food security and the links between climate change and food.
The current system for food production drives a loss of biodiversity, pollution and deforestation. It is responsible for immense animal suffering, directly impacts on species extinction, and creates human and animal sickness.
As Australia’s population is set to soar to 32.8 million in 2050, all levels of government, the agricultural industry and consumers must transition away from animal-based protein towards healthier, more affordable and low-emission sources of protein.
The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has made projections around scarcity of food by 2034, and in Western Australia alone 370,000 households had inadequate access to food in 2023.
The world’s food crisis is predicted to deepen, with the demand for protein to increase 70 per cent by 2050.
Statistics show that three-quarters of the world’s fresh water is currently taken up by agricultural production processes and a staggering thirty per cent of food produced is wasted.
By 2050, 10 million human deaths will be linked to zoonotic disease (animal -human transfer). This is inextricably linked to intense animal production facilities.
The COP28 conference asserted that “…any path to fully achieving the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement must include agriculture and food systems. We affirm that agriculture and food systems must urgently adapt and transform in order to respond to the imperatives of climate change”.
In 2023, researchers at the George Institute for Global Health found that overall, plant-based and meat analogues had a healthier nutritional profile compared with the equivalent meat product and their energy content was marginally lower.
Currently, Lisa is working hard on raising awareness of this exciting, emerging industry by:
- Promoting the role that future food systems can play in addressing State climate change outcomes.
- Linking alternative protein businesses into WA based opportunities.
- Connecting with international & national innovators and peak bodies to promote this work.
- Championing this new industry sector to the WA parliament and the WA consumer.
- Briefing Ministers on the opportunities presented by the alternative protein sector.
- Researching progress around the world to highlight emerging trends and good practice.
If we rely on animal-based protein to deliver the amount required to feed this number of people, we would need 3 ½ times this planet to produce the food.
Link to Lisa’s full speech in Hansard:
