Food Fairness Illawarra (FFI), based in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia, is a community coalition formed in 2005 to advance food security for all residents. Partnering with local councils (Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama), the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, University of Wollongong, and over 1,000 community groups, charities, and businesses, FFI drives collaborative action toward healthy, sustainable, and affordable food access.
FFI focuses on the UN’s four dimensions of food security: availability (vibrant local food economies supporting growers), access (affordable, culturally appropriate nutrition), utilization (community skills for healthy choices), and stability (coordinated coalitions). Their work includes advocacy for urban food planning, education via directories and events like Connecting Over Fair Food, empowerment tools such as field guides, research contributions, and food rescue initiatives—recently highlighted by a PhD scholarship on sustainable, equitable food systems.
For nutritionists and dietitians, FFI’s model is vital as it addresses systemic barriers, like poverty and urban planning that limit nutrient-rich food access, aligning with sustainable diet goals amid rising chronic disease. By fostering local production and policy change, FFI demonstrates scalable strategies for food sovereignty, empowering professionals to integrate community-level advocacy into practice for planetary and public health.
updated 2026 February