The State Government is putting $1.5 million on the table to combat food insecurity.

Applications for the Food Security Grants are now open, offering up to $50,000 to ignite innovative projects aimed at shoring up food systems in communities.

The Grants will support community projects that align with the South Australian Food Relief Charter and the Nutrition Guidelines for the Food Relief Sector in the state.

What is food insecurity?

According to a 2020 report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security, food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Therefore, grant applications that focus on one or more of these dimensions are welcome, and could include:

• Community/social supermarkets ensuring affordable and dignified access to food.
• Cutting-edge food storage and refrigeration solutions.
• Thriving local food networks, including fresh food markets.
• Revitalising or enhancing community gardens, for example providing raised garden beds, tools, storage, irrigation, plants, and seedlings, or facilities like toilets, shelters, and spaces for food and nutrition education.
• Innovative community nutrition and food education programs, enhancing food and nutrition literacy.
• Strengthening an organisation’s capability for service delivery through volunteer training.
• Community-focused food and nutrition literacy, job opportunities, and leadership development.
• Modernised kitchens and cooking equipment, ensuring safe and healthy food preparation.
• Inclusion of food and consumables, integral to community education and development programs.
• Pioneering sustainable urban agriculture initiatives.
• Supporting food entrepreneurs at risk of food insecurity through innovative social enterprises.

Who can apply for the grant?

These grants are open to Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, not-for-profit community organisations, and Social Traders-certified social enterprises.

The window of opportunity is open now, with applications accepted until Thursday, 23 November, at 3pm. More information, including the grant guidelines and eligibility criteria, are available on the Grants SA webpages.