Canberra Region Local Food Strategy
Summary
The ACT Government released the Canberra Region Local Food Strategy (the Strategy) in June 2024. It sets out a thorough approach to strengthening the ACT and region’s food and agriculture system. The Strategy recognises the importance of the region’s food production and the people that work in the sector.
It aims to:
- help ACT residents get better access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food
- boost local jobs and business opportunities
- grow employment
- encourage the community to get more involved.
Agriculture and Food in the ACT study
The ACT Government commissioned Natural Capital Economics to conduct the Agriculture and Food in the ACT study in 2024. This study:
- will help guide future activities under the Strategy
- provides important information on agricultural production, supply chains and consumer behaviour.
The study suggested potential future actions for the government, including:
- improving education and training
- updating land policies to allow for more diverse use
- using more land for agriculture
- using government buying power to support local producers
The study stressed the need to strengthen the ACT’s food system by:
- supporting small-scale producers
- making supply chains work better
- building local facilities for food processing (e.g. food hubs and micro-abattoirs).
Local food chain infrastructure study
As part of the 2024–25 ACT Budget, funding was provided and SGS Economics and Planning was engaged through a procurement process to explore what would be required to establish an ACT Food Hub that services the Canberra region and how it might function.
Key stakeholders from the ACT participated in workshops in April and May 2025.
The study found that:
- The main purpose of the food hub would be to help grow the local food economy. To do this, it would help local producers overcome the key barriers identified in the ‘Agriculture and Food in the ACT’ study that includes access to local infrastructure for food processing, storage and distribution as well as access to local buyers.
- Food hubs work best when they stay focussed on supporting producers and strengthening the local food market, rather than trying to solve every food-related issues. Hubs that mainly relay on grants to deliver social services tend to be less financially stable.
- To succeed, a food hub would need to connect growers and buyers so that supply and demand could grow together. By examining how similar hubs operate elsewhere, the study found that a potential food hub must start small and add more services over time. Once established, it could add extra services such as a commercial kitchen, event and office spaces and programs to support producers and engage the community.
The ACT Government is reviewing the findings and considering next steps.
Preliminary assessment of the potential for a small-scale multi-species abattoir in the ACT
Previous reports show that not having nearby abattoirs makes it harder for ACT residents to buy local meat. The ACT Government commissioned a preliminary assessment of the potential for a small-scale (“micro”) abattoir in the ACT.
Key findings are:
- Some local farms already sell meat directly to the ACT, showing there is clear demand for local meat and a local abattoir.
- A micro-abattoir appears feasible in the ACT under current planning frameworks. The rules are complex, but a project could succeed if it has:
- careful planning
- good design
- strong environmental, biosecurity, and animal welfare practices.
- An abattoir that handles different types of livestock would:
- better meet farmers’ needs
- keep production steady throughout the year
- Strong farmer‑led management is important for long‑term success. This could be done through specific structures, including:
- a cooperative
- a shareholder group
- an incorporated association.
- A well designed and governed micro‑abattoir could improve animal welfare, reduce environmental impacts, and support the local economy.
Next steps
Potential future implementation activities for the Canberra Region Local Food Strategy also include investigating:
- How suitable unused ACT Government land including at heritage sites could be potentially used for urban agriculture.
- A platform to help educate Canberrans on how to grow food in the ACT. It will bring together the expertise of food growing community groups of the ACT and provide a head-start for those wanting to start their own food growing journey.