Food is essential to life – and central to Australia’s culture, economy and reputation as a trusted supplier.

According to ABARES, around 70 per cent of Australia’s agricultural production is exported, making us a key player in global food security.

But this global security must be matched by domestic resilience – particularly in the face of rising input costs, infrastructure constraints and geopolitical uncertainty.

In GrainCorp’s submission to the Federal Government’s Feeding Australia: National Food Security Strategy, the company has warned that without urgent and integrated reforms, Australia risks falling behind in a rapidly evolving global food landscape.

GrainCorp urges policymakers to recognise food security as the product of a fully integrated supply chain – one that spans energy, transport, processing, and trade.

“Australia’s food system is resilient, but it’s under pressure,” the submission states.

“Climate variability, freight bottlenecks, biosecurity threats and global trade disruptions are converging. We need a strategy that’s bold, future-focused and grounded in practical reform.”

A three-horizon for action

In the submission, GrainCorp proposes a three-horizon framework to guide reform:

• Short term (1–2 years): Fast-track infrastructure upgrades, harmonise freight and harvest rules, streamline approvals, and strengthen biosecurity.
• Medium term (5–10 years): Invest in intermodal and port infrastructure, scale digital traceability, and expand sovereign renewable fuel processing.
• Long term (10+ years): Embed climate-resilient energy systems, transition to a circular economy, and position Australia as a global leader in low-emissions food, feed and fuel.

Food, Feed and Fuel: An integrated approach

A key message in the submission is the need to treat food, feed and fuel as interconnected pillars of national resilience.

It warns that without deliberate integration, renewable fuel policy could inadvertently compete with food and feed objectives – particularly in oilseed sectors where co-products are essential to livestock nutrition.

The recommendations also include:

• Energy and fertiliser to be formally recognised as critical inputs.
• Nationally consistent freight regulation to unlock investment and reduce costs.
• Expanded sovereign processing capacity to capture more value onshore and reduce reliance on imports.
• Transparent governance, including the establishment of a permanent National Food Council to oversee infrastructure planning, regulatory reform and renewable fuel integration.

Action already underway

GrainCorp is not just calling for reform but investing in it.

In fact, GrainCorp has already committed to initiatives that support food security and regional resilience, including:

• Co-investment in renewable fuel production using Australian-grown feedstocks, generating essential livestock feed co-products.
• Expansion of secure feed supply for livestock and dairy industries.
• Infrastructure upgrades across its east coast network to improve supply chain efficiency.
• A $30 million commitment to agri-tech innovation through GrainCorp Ventures.

Freight remains a critical pressure point. Grain freight costs in Australia are more than triple those in Canada and Ukraine – reducing farm gate returns and undermining export competitiveness – so addressing this inefficiency must be a priority.

Looking ahead: A shared responsibility

GrainCorp believes the Government’s strategy must go beyond short-term fixes and set a bold, long-term vision for Australia’s food future.

Coordinated investment, integrated policy, and transparent governance will be essential to ensure the strategy delivers lasting impact.

“Australia’s future food security depends on bold action today,” the submission concludes.

“This strategy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to align agriculture, energy and community goals into a coherent national framework.

“We’re ready to work with government, industry and communities to make it happen.”

Read GrainCorp’s full submission to Australian Government’s National Food Security Strategy below.

Read more about the Federal Government’s Feeding Australia: A National Food Security Strategy