Sustainable Food Systems
Sustainable diets
Achieving a healthy, sustainable dietary pattern.
Today, conversations about health and nutrition go hand in hand with the health of our planet.
Our food choices shape not only personal wellbeing, but also the wellbeing of ecosystems and natural resources. The way we produce and consume food matters, playing a critical role in climate, biodiversity and land use.
As global challenges like climate change intensify, it’s clear that our diets must nourish both people and the planet. So how do we eat well and tread lightly? A sustainable dietary pattern strikes a balance between nutrition and environmental impact, while also respecting social, cultural and economic contexts.
Too often, sustainability is reduced to emissions alone, overlooking the full impact of food systems from farm to table. But food is more than fuel. It’s connection, culture and care for the future.
The Australian dairy industry recognises its role in shaping a healthier future. Producing dairy requires land, water, animals and skilled people, all working together to deliver essential nutrition. We’re committed to doing this responsibly, with long-term benefits for people, animals, communities and the environment.
That’s where the Australian Dairy Sustainability Framework comes in. It sets out clear goals and targets to 2030, guiding innovation and continuous improvement across the industry.
Australian dairy is proud to deliver nourishing food for a healthier world today and for generations to come.
Dairy and sustainable diets
See how dairy supports nutrition, affordability and a more sustainable future.
White paper
To bring together the latest evidence for the role of dairy foods in a health and sustainable diet, Dairy Australia commissioned independent researchers to review the literature on two separate occasions, in 2019 and 2021.
Nutrient-rich food index
Dairy Australia commissioned research to develop an advanced nutrient profiling tool.
This tool enables direct comparisons between common Australian foods, measuring not just their nutrient density, but also their affordability and environmental impact.
Explore how milk stacks up across these three key sustainability factors and see how your food choices and swaps can influence health, cost and the planet.
Dairy in a plant based dietary pattern
A plant-based diet does not mean a plant-only diet. Find out how the inclusion of milk, cheese and yoghurt in a plant based dietary pattern increases the nutritional adequacy.
Food insecurity
Hear more from Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey.
Who would have thought that in the ‘land of plenty’, a bottle of milk in the fridge could become a luxury item?
Yet, according to Foodbank’s annual Hunger Reports, this is the harsh reality for a record 3.7 million Aussie households experiencing food insecurity.
Alarmingly, the 2024 report found cutting purchase of dairy products, fresh produce and protein were in the top 5 strategies for mitigating cost of living pressures.
Taking action: The National Milk Program
Recognising this critical nutrient gap, Foodbank has partnered with dairy farmers and milk processors across Australia to establish the National Milk Program. Through this initiative, 900,000 litres of fresh milk are now donated to Foodbank each year.