The Tasmanian Greens believe that the way our food is produced requires a clean, green and clever state. How we produce and consume food is critical to human health and to a healthy environment. Tasmania has a unique opportunity to position itself as a place where food is produced ethically, organically and sustainably.

Consumers are increasingly conscious of the impact their dietary choices have on the environment. We have a fundamental right and an increasing need to know what is in our food, how it is produced and where it comes from. Our environmental footprint is affected by the sustainability of our food production practices.

Food production must be regulated to minimise health risks from pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, growth hormones, food additives and food-borne diseases. Sustainable farming practices must be encouraged to achieve this. 

The Greens have a vision for a Tasmania where food produced here is safe for our health, affordable, derived sustainably, ethically and organically, as well as diminishing our carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. 

Measures

Public Consultation:  ensure that people are fully informed about our food choices by introducing ‘Truth in Labelling’ laws to provide customers with details of the origin, food miles, and the chemical and GE status of food 

Education:  require curriculum studies of nutrition, basic cooking and gardening skills, and the origins and production of food; encourage the establishment of organic fruit and vegetable gardens at all schools

Environment:  encourage sustainable food production;  support the production of a diverse range of food for local consumption to reduce our carbon footprint;  encourage organic and biodiverse agriculture that protects the genetic diversity of vegetables, grain seeds, fruit and livestock; support heritage seed banks and fruit tree distribution; prevent the growing of GE crops; ensure a clean drinking water supply, and clean up and protect our waterways;  support organic growers by introducing mandatory minimum legal standards for organic production

Health: work towards a food supply free of pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, growth hormones, food additives, and food-borne diseases;  phase out pesticides that have been identified as being possible and probable carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and toxic organophosphates;  review maximum residue levels for all pesticides and set new limits on the basis of children’s tolerances; routinely test imported food to ensure it does not contain illegal residues;  make chemical trespass an offence

Ethics:   regulate that all farming, transportation and transfer of livestock be conducted in a humane and safe manner; encourage free-range livestock farming to replace intensive factory farming methods; end battery hen farming and the use of sow stalls