PODCAST: Addressing Australia’s food insecurity, with Andrew Henderson, Agsecure

Joint-capabilities
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By: Robyn Tongol

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Agsecure's Andrew Henderson to unpack the recent Australian Strategic Policy Institute food security green paper developed by Henderson and Dr John Coyne.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Agsecure's Andrew Henderson to unpack the recent Australian Strategic Policy Institute food security green paper developed by Henderson and Dr John Coyne.

The pair discuss a range of topics outlined in the food security green paper, including:

  • Food security fragility: Australia’s food system heavily relies on critical imports (e.g. glyphosate, phosphate), with potential disruptions leading to rapid breakdowns.
  • Central coordination, local delivery: Proposes centralised planning (e.g. via agriculture) but decentralised execution, empowering local actors and reducing red tape.
  • Ecosystem perspective: Suggests a holistic “food security ecosystem” approach, connecting producers, processors, distributors and critical inputs.
  • Structured risk assessment: Recommends systematic identification and mitigation of vulnerabilities using structured frameworks, with private sector engagement.
  • Urgency and national security: Highlights immediate action needs due to geopolitical tensions and environmental risks, including building domestic production and resilience.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: CONTESTED GROUND: From Tehran to Sydney – why war could reshape Australian property
Episode 10: SPOTLIGHT: Inside Australia’s AUKUS industrial transformation, with Honeywell Aerospace Australia senior director Lee Davis
Episode 9: CONTESTED GROUND: War without borders – the disinformation threat arriving in Australia
Episode 8: THE PROGRESS REPORT: The mission to make military children visible
Episode 7: PODCAST: Righting the ship, balancing the force, with Senator James Paterson, shadow minister for defence
Episode 6: SPOTLIGHT: Modern electronic warfare, spectrum congestion and the Australian defence ecosystem, with DEWC Services’ Rian Whitby
Episode 5: CONTESTED GROUND: The intersection of finance, organised crime, terrorism and foreign interference, with Keith Bulfin
Episode 4: CONTESTED GROUND: The fragility of Australia’s energy ecosystem, with AVM (Ret’d) John Blackburn AO
Episode 3: PODCAST: The MC-55A Peregrine and the future of ADF airborne reconnaissance, with Alan Clements
Episode 2: CONTESTED GROUND: Australia faces fallout closer to home as Iran continues to fight back