ABSTRACT
This chapter defines food systems in the Australian and New Zealand context. It discusses the link between food security, nutrition security and food and nutrition policy. The range of foods collected was determined by the local environment and the season. Food might be plentiful at some times of the year and scarce at others; thus, humans would have been at risk of periodic famine and shortage of food for climatic or locality reasons. Permanent settlement and urbanisation, as well as technological developments in transport and agriculture, have been key drivers in the development of the current global food system. The Australian and New Zealand food systems are made up of farmers, food transporters and food manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. The primary production sector employs many Australians and New Zealanders, often in family enterprises or small to medium sized businesses, vital to the overall economy and to sustainable food systems.
