Revising a right to food road map—perspectives of Australian key informants

Abstract

Objective

In Australia, an estimated 1 in 10 households experiences food insecurity. The objective of this study was to devise a visual synthesis to summarise the activities, processes and principles that support the right to food for everyone in Australia.

Methods

Semi-structured key informant interviews (n=30) were conducted during 2019–20. Content analysis synthesised perspectives and assisted co-authors in revising an initial draft (shared during the interview) to finalise the road map through semantic realist data analysis and re-design.

Results

The six components of the right to food road map summarise the actions, processes, and principles to address the human right to food. These include i) policy leadership, ii) advocate and enact, iii) empowerment, iv) resourcing, v) monitoring and accountability and vi) healthy, equitable and sustainable food systems.

Conclusions

When all the right to food actions, processes and principles are present, the “cogs” within the map are hypothesised to interact and realise the right to food for all Australians.

Implications for Public Health

Considering the cost of living pressures and unrelenting demand for food relief, better solutions are needed for food insecurity. Human rights - this language, their international recognition and as a “method of working”, offer an alternative to the dominant responses to food insecurity.