Out in the community

Where does our food come from? Australia or overseas?



Shoalhaven High Archibull Prize team at Woolworths supermarket in Nowra

Marni and Amy

The Shoalhaven High Archibull team made a visit to the local Woolworths supermarket and we created a research survey about food products that are grown and produced in Australia and available for consumers to buy.There were 20 surveys completed which we though was a decent sample size. While we were there, we found some surprising discoveries.

                   Chloe, Gemma, Kristian and Miss K collect data on peanut butter


We found out that some products were imported from different countries, even products that were exactly the same but in smaller packaging sizes. Cadbury chocolate biscuits were an example of this.

                           Rochelle, Tabetha and Marjorie in the dairy section

One thing we realised was that the supermarkets had placed all their dairy products at the back of their stores. This was so you had to walk through all the aisles before you get to the dairy products. The supermarkets do this so you hopefully buy the other products along the way that help pay for their margins of profits lost on the cheap staple products like milk.

The results of the survey were gathered and 92% of dairy products are produced in Australia and come from Australian farms.That was very encouraging!!! While 63% of all the other types of food and clothing products sold in this supermarket are from Australia.

We have made a video about our experience which you can view at
http://youtu.be/wSp6onGBcGo


This is what our survey looked like:

Our task: Part 1:

1.       Walk around Woolworths supermarket and locate some food products

2.       Make a list of the products you selected

3.       Select appropriate enterprise from which your product originated from (lamb, beef, cotton, grain, etc.).

4.       Research product origin (where the product was manufactured)?

Supermarket Product	Enterprise	Where was the product made (country)
1.
2.
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5.
6.
7.
8.
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10.
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20.

Questions

1.       What percentages of products are made in Australia?

2.       Why is buying Australian made important for Australian Farmers?

Task 2: Dairy Products

1.       List 10 Dairy Products

Dairy Product	Where was the product made (country)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Question

1.       What percentages of these products are produced in Australia? _______________________

Ideas to consider;

(a)    It would be great to complete this activity in an Asian country to see how many Australian products appear on their supermarket shelves.

(b)   Remember Australian exports are an important part of a sustainable farming future.

(c)    In 2011-2012 Australia exported 6% of its Dairy products to overseas markets

(d)   Processed products are increasingly becoming more popular for export, such as cheese.

(e)   Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are our biggest importer.

(f)     “As a major exporter of agricultural produce and services, more than two thirds of agricultural commodities produced on farms are exported each year. Among the agribusiness export industries, the average proportion of production exported ranges from 98 per cent for wool to 51 per cent for dairy products.” (http://www.austrade.gov.au/Buy/Australian-Industry-Capability/Agribusiness/default.aspx)

(g)     The value of the agricultural exports in 2011-12 was $35.9 billion

(h)   “Over the past twenty years, the production and exports of beef, wine and dairy products have increased significantly in response to growing overseas demand for higher value products”( http://www.austrade.gov.au/Buy/Australian-Industry-Capability/Agribusiness/default.aspx)

(i)      “There are approximately 134,000 farm businesses in Australia, 99 percent of which are family owned and operated. Each Australian farmer produces enough food to feed 600 people, 150 at home and 450 overseas. Australian farmers produce almost 93 percent of Australia’s daily domestic food supply. As of 2010-11, there are 307,000 people employed in Australian agriculture. The complete agricultural supply chain, including the affiliated food and fibre industries, provide over 1.6 million jobs to the Australian economy”( http://www.nff.org.au/farm-facts.html)

 

(j)     “The agricultural sector, at farm-gate, contributes 3 percent to Australia’s total gross domestic product (GDP). The gross value of Australian farm production in 2010-11 was $48.7 billion. Yet this is only part of the picture. When the vital value-adding processes that food and fibre go through once they leave the farm are added in, along with the value of all the economic activities supporting farm production through farm inputs, agriculture’s contribution to the GDP averages out at around 12 percent (or $155 billion). Australian farmers export around 60 percent of what they grow and produce” (http://www.nff.org.au/farm-facts.html)

 

Questions

As Consumers how can we ensure Australians buy Australian made products?

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As Australians how can we increase our export trade with other countries?

                                     Deborah investigates fresh pasta products