The Wire

Local food projects like community gardens and farmers markets are growing in popularity around Australia. Last year the federal government launched the Community Food Grant program, offering $1.5 million to support these projects as part of the National Food Plan. However the new government has now contacted grant winners to advise that they are scrapping the program. Community groups are very disappointed by the decision, but peak industry body AUSVEG is claiming that these projects should not be supported as they pose a biosecurity risk.