Creating Stronger Food Systems and Food Security with Vivien Yii

Written by Sophie Kirk, Deakin University Food & Nutrition Science Placement Student

Last week, I had the opportunity to interview Vivien Yii, a food systems lead at VicHealth, where we delved into VicHealth's critical role in reshaping food systems for a healthier Victoria. 

Can you describe your role at VicHealth and its focus on food security?

“My role is as a food systems lead at VicHealth. VicHealth is a health promotion agency and a lot of our current strategy is around reshaping systems for a healthier Victoria. One of those key systems is food systems. That’s where we are talking about the big web of actors and activities that influence access, availability and affordability of healthy, sustainable and culturally appropriate food. Within that, there’s a really big commitment from us to addressing the systemic barriers to healthy and sustainable food access. That includes food security among a multitude of other factors. Connected to Common Ground Project, we are really interested in supporting a fairer and more circular food system, strengthening local food systems so that they can provide better access to healthy and fresh food, and also really interested in fostering equitable and diverse leadership in Victorian food systems. Food security is a pretty crucial element of what we do amongst other things.”

What are the key challenges in food security today, and how does VicHealth address them?

“In Victoria the key challenges are mainly around economic hardship, housing insecurity and really high living costs, which are the main drivers. In regional communities as well, distances and geographical barriers affect food security. On top of that, and in combination you’ve got a lot of shocks and stressors; supply chain issues from Covid, conflicts around the world, and then climate related events.  

In terms of VicHealth's role there’s a lot of different projects, investments and advocacy that VicHealth looks to do. One of our really major programs is the ‘Future Health Food Hubs’, one of which is what Common Ground Project works on. 

Beyond Common Ground Project, we work with 6 other food hubs in outer metro and regional Victoria, and they have a really big focus on increasing access to healthy food that are also culturally appropriate, so that is a key focus for us. 

We also work with councils, through our VicHealth local government partnership, which is often providing a lot of practice and guidance informed by experience, research and how councils can draw on the evidence base to shape their local plans and activities. Often a lot of them have a big focus on food security, especially on that food relief end, but we are seeing more councils as well and doing some really fantastic work in local food systems and the inner work that they do. In addition to that, we do fund quite a few research programs. 

Part of food security is that agency and participation point around the rights of people and communities to be involved in shaping their decisions around how they get to access food and what the food systems look like. One of our really incredible academics that’s embedded in our team is Dr Christina Zorbas, who is at Deakin and a research fellow that sits within our team. Her project has been a lot around her participation and lived experience within the development of food systems policy, so really crucial work. In conjunction with that, she has for many years been doing work in the food pricing space, looking at the practices of supermarkets and doing a lot of media work. 

Beyond that, there is also the policy advocacy that we do whether it's working on submissions or looking at other policies that affect food systems and food security as well. So very very broad, but touches a lot on the work we do within our food systems team.”

How does regenerative farming fit into the broader strategy for improving food security?

“Regenerative farming plays such a crucial role and we really recognise the importance of this particular way of farming. To have sustainable food systems and to have food security into the future, we really need the practices happening on farms to not just be looking after the needs of our current generations, but also of the future generations. 

I know that at present, a lot of the policies and dynamics around farming don’t really encourage regenerative farming. I would say this is often because it can be more costly, more time and resource intensive and I would say it isn’t valued properly by some consumers and more broadly in society. However, it’s a really crucial piece, we see it as being very central to a healthier and more sustainable food future.” 

How important is collaboration between organizations like VicHealth and local farms in promoting food security?

“I think it’s really crucial. A really special and central part of our food hubs investment at the moment is bringing together all of the food hubs, most of which have a farm component, and our VicHealth team. We get together a couple of times a year. I think the thing that feels really essential here, is the way that we are spending that time together getting to recognise what the common issues are and what potential problem solving we can do together. 

I think also just to recognise that this work is happening and will always happen without us too. We love to support where we can, but I’d say that there’s a lot of grassroots and really important work happening out in the regions that don’t have our fingerprints or our funding behind it that’s still really really crucial.”

What role does education play in enhancing food security?

“I feel like the direct link is into the food literacy education component. Making sure that people in communities have a really sound understanding of how they can utilize food, everything from preparing, cooking and storing foods. 

You can be growing in ways that are really suited for the local environment - that might be really important crops that we want to grow more of for particular environmental reasons, for example. However, if you’re not also ensuring that communities have that understanding of how to really use it, the impact kind of stops there. 

So, I think I see the most direct link in the food literacy part of things. Beyond that, coming back to that earlier point around agency and participation - ensuring that communities are given examples or are informed and inspired to realise how they can get involved. There are some really great projects happening in Victoria where people get to really feel like they can shape what’s happening around them when it comes to food security. I think the more we can guide people, provide them with tools, resources and those sorts of networks, the more that we’ll see policies and government responses being more reflective of what people are aspiring to, what they desire from their food system.”

Are there any recent developments or future plans you’re excited about in your field?

“Definitely. I’m really excited about this program called ‘Seeding Success: Cultivating Social Food Enterprises Across Victoria’, getting to work with fifteen different organisations and 20 people to take them through some extra training around their business plans, developing stronger impact plans and connecting them in with our food and systems experts like Guy Ritani from PermaQueer. Getting them to have a really comprehensive understanding of the work that they do and how it fits in with not just work on a local level but on their bioregion level and then connecting out to work globally as well. Really really excited to see these program participants and get to know eachother, to connect up with people that are doing similar work in Victoria, and to hopefully see their ideas and their projects be really strengthened and sustained, so that we have more players to do this really critical work in the food systems space in Victoria.”

What advice would you give to farmers or community groups aiming to support food security?

“Farmers and community groups doing this work hold so much wisdom, so I don't really think there's too much advice that I can offer! They have such great ideas, are excellent leaders, and are incredibly driven to represent the interests of their communities. They're thinking about the places they live, and the people they care about, and are so invested in looking after these places and people for the long term. So their hearts are always in the right places, and often they're trying to achieve very necessary and important change with too few resources. This work is so meaningful, but often feels relentless and sometimes heavy. 

I think my advice is to take time to recognise the small and big wins, and to find people and spaces where you can acknowledge and work through heavier parts of doing this work. There will always be times where you have to step back or away. To do this work in the long term, you have to do it with other people.”

A big thanks to Vivien for taking the time to chat about her role and its link to stronger food systems and food security. This interview with Vivien really underscored the vital role of collaboration, education, and sustainable practices in shaping a healthier and more equitable food future.