Many First Nations organisations have been dedicated to supporting their youth for decades. They are now also starting to see the potential of urban agriculture as a way of bringing about social, economic, and cultural change for Indigenous people living in urban and peri-urban areas. These organisations understand that urban agriculture is not just about growing food, but also about improving community resilience, ecological health, and quality of life.
The relationship between food security and academic achievement in children, as well as long-term health and well-being, has been defined for a long time, with studies showing that even mild food insecurity can lead to an increased risk of obesity, among other negative long-term impacts. In late 2022, while participating in Gleanr’s inaugural Urban Agriculture Dialogues, leaders from First Nations organisations emphasised the connection between food security and the well-being of future generations of Indigenous peoples.
A lot of people tend to view urban agriculture as ‘backyard gardening’, however, while it is still not a mainstream economy per se, this is far from the complete picture (as was conceded by several participants at the Urban Agriculture Dialogues who found the event an eye opener). Some First Nations leaders also draw a parallel in their work helping young people deal with a host of challenges, including mental health. The association between Indigenous mental health and food insecurity has also been examined by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in its recent report which cited research showing that ‘food insecurity was significantly associated with very high psychological distress’.
None of this is news to those working on the frontlines; which is why many recognise the potential of urban agriculture as a tool to reduce both the cause and effect of food insecurity in First Nations communities.
“The economic opportunity for First Nations in the areas of food and agribusiness, if supported optimally, can lead to a reduction in food insecurity, improvements in health and well-being, and create a unique, global leading approach to urban agriculture.”
Jelenko Dragisic, Co-founder – Gleanr
The risk of food insecurity is slightly higher among First Nations communities, as well as among other groups such as the unemployed, young people, and individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. In this context, the focus should fall on how food insecurity plays out in these communities and how emerging economic opportunities could contribute to solutions.
In Australia, it has been reported for decades that almost one third of Indigenous adults go without food on a regular basis. One survey conducted a decade ago found that “one in five of Indigenous Australians had run out of food and could not afford to buy more”. In recent years researchers have identified that there is high chance of underreporting and hence a much greater need to do more to build an accurate picture. Despite this, food security is not a specific target in the ‘Closing the Gap’ program; but is rather grouped under the broader category of health and well-being. It’s worth noting that food insecurity as a serious research and policy area is relatively new compared to many other areas of concern related to quality of life. Australia, being a country with a high standard of living and a wealthy democracy, has only recently begun to pay attention to the intricacies of food insecurity.
In October 2022, the Australian Government launched an inquiry into food security, which according to Parliament’s Agriculture Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson, was in response to the growing realisation that food security is a worrying issue both in Australia and globally due to a complex web of factors. As Ms. Swanson noted, despite Australia being one of the most food-secure countries in the world, “recent events such as the pandemic and widespread floods have shown that we cannot take anything for granted.”
Gleanr’s recommendations in its submission to the inquiry, with the belief that they could lead to a more robust food security strategy, considered the long-known benefits of urban agriculture, and endorsed a strong focus on providing First Nations communities access to the resources necessary for full participation in this field. We see urban agriculture as a significant opportunity, as the concept of being directly involved in growing food in urban and peri-urban spaces is gaining global momentum. A multi-billion-dollar opportunity for large-scale participation in food production under the umbrella of urban agriculture should not be overlooked.
First Nations peoples’ ability to add value to food production lies in their unique connection with ecology and traditional foods. The economic opportunity for First Nations in the areas of food and agribusiness, if supported optimally, can lead to a reduction in food insecurity, improvements in health and well-being, and create a unique, global leading approach to urban agriculture. None of this should be surprising, but it is still worth emphasising, until Australian governments at all levels start collaborating to form a joint investment strategy in urban agriculture as a natural economic space for First Nations communities.
Urban agriculture will become an increasingly competitive sector of the economy and developing it in close collaboration with First Nations peoples can serve as a catalyst for transformation. Reducing food insecurity in Indigenous communities through active participation in urban agriculture development is only the beginning.
