2026 Conference
The 2026 Crawford Fund for Food Security Conference comes at a critical time in Australia and our broader regions’ food security journey.
Australia is in the process of developing its first ever food security strategy.
Feeding Australia: A National Food Security Strategy is being developed with farmers and fishers, industry and the community. The strategy will set a vision for a sustainable, resilient and secure food system that serves all Australians from producers to consumers. It will also support Australia’s role as a trusted exporter of food, contributing to the food security of our trading partners.
The timing is perfect, with 2026 already testing the region’s supply chains as a result of the war in the Middle East and the strategic struggle for control of one of the world’s most important maritime choke points, the Strait of Hormuz, that carries roughly a quarter of global oil supply.
2026 is also a year where Australia is taking a leading role in climate discussions in the lead up to COP31 in Türkiye in November. In partnership with our Pacific neighbours Australia will be participating in pre-COP31 discussions in Fiji and Tuvalu in October.
The Crawford Fund for Food Security’s Annual Conference will be held this year on Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th August and will feature discussions around food security, climate and the impact of Australia’s investment in international agricultural research in supporting developing nations.
Food security improves health and nutrition, breaks cycles of poverty, fosters education and reduces displacement, making our region more stable and secure.
There’s also a boomerang effect, with our investment resulting in benefits back to Australia such as new crop varieties, stronger biosecurity, increased trade and better trained scientists.
This year’s conference’s theme, Emerging Voices Shaping Regional Integration for a Food Secure World, will focus on how regional integration in agricultural research and innovation can strengthen food and nutrition security in a rapidly evolving geopolitical and climate environment.
A series of case studies from across the Indo-Pacific will highlight agriculture as a driver of climate adaptation, economic stability, and regional peace, showcasing research that delivers practical solutions for nutrition, sustainability, and community resilience.
We will also consider how the changing climate is increasingly impacting communities across our region, with a pre-COP panel that considers what implementation of agri-climate solutions actually looks like.
The conference is expected to once again attract delegates from development, research, academia, the private sector, primary production, NGO and advocacy groups, as well as from decision-making and policy areas. This will be complemented by a virtual audience, including many from overseas.
We look forward to seeing you at our 2026 conference to bring your insights to improve understanding, appreciation and impact for all our work and help us reach our vision of a food secure world where sustainable agriculture and resilient agri-food systems reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
Photo credit – conference banner (left to right): Dr Robert McIntosh, Sam Coggins, NARI staff member (Image: NARI), Dr Alison Bentley