The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) is calling on the government to boost the country’s food security by providing better support to food and grocery manufacturers.
The organisation shared ongoing challenges on the FMCG sector, including strained supply chains, rising costs, and increasing compliance demands related to nutrition, packaging sustainability, and energy use.
“Supply chains remain strained after Covid-19, costs are rising, and the industry is faced with increasing compliance demands, from improving nutrition content to advancing sustainability through packaging and energy use,” the AFGC said.
Ahead of the upcoming Federal election, the council urged candidates to prioritise policies that address immediate industry needs and long-term collaborative solutions.
AFGC outlined several key recommendations:
- Strengthen supply chains by investing in critical infrastructure, such as the East-West Rail, to ensure the efficient and reliable delivery of essential goods nationwide.
- Incentivise investment through targeted tax breaks for advanced technologies, automation, and energy efficiency upgrades to enhance productivity and sustainability.
- Champion clear and consistent packaging regulation harmonised nationwide to support industry efforts in improving circularity.
“Without collaborative and sustained action, the ability to deliver the products Australians know and love is at risk,” the AFGC warned.
“The sector touches every household, and securing its future is critical for our nation’s economic and social stability.”
