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What happens when extreme heat meets the food system? Here, our Food Systems convenor Dheepa Jeyapalan chats with Sweltering Cities founder, Emma Bacon, to discuss what it'll take for Melbourne's food system to become truly resilient to extreme heat events and more.
As temperatures rise across Melbourne and the world, our food system stands at a critical crossroads. But our planning efforts lag behind the accelerating pace of climate change. From farms to distribution centres, grocery stores to public markets and kitchens, every link in our food chain faces unique vulnerabilities that demand urgent attention.
Sweltering Cities is working to address these issues, advocating for policies, infrastructure, and solutions that keep people safe in extreme heat. It's work that aligns and supports the goals of Regen Food Systems. Regen Food Systems Convenor, Dheepa Jeyapalan, and Sweltering Cities founder, Emma Bacon, discuss the biggest challenges facing Melbourne's food systems in the face of increasingly extreme weather conditions.
Melbourne's summers are getting hotter each year. How prepared are we as a city to handle this new normal?
Emma: Melbourne is not prepared. Every summer, we see growing risks to health, infrastructure, and communities – yet policies are not keeping up with the reality of climate change. Many homes, especially rentals, lack adequate cooling, and extreme heat events strain our electricity, transport and healthcare systems. Heatwaves are now Australia's deadliest climate disaster, but we still treat them as short-term weather events rather than systemic threats requiring long-term planning and adaptation.
Rising temperatures will transform how Melburnians access, prepare, and share food. What specific changes should we anticipate?
Dheepa: Rising temperatures in Melbourne will impact every part of our food system. Farmers will be among the first to feel these effects. Further along the supply chain, increased heat and a higher risk of bushfires could severely disrupt food transportation by rail and road. At the same time, Melbourne's shrinking food bowl means we're increasingly dependent on food from distant regions.
Even at the consumer level, heatwaves could make it too hot for people to travel to stores to buy food. Higher temperatures also increase the risk of food poisoning, as bacteria thrive in warm conditions.
"The key is fostering collaboration between sectors that have traditionally operated separately but ultimately share a common goal: nourishing communities."
Emma: During heatwaves, food deliveries slow down, supermarket refrigeration systems struggle, and fresh produce spoils more quickly in transport and on shelves. People in hot homes without air conditioning may find it unsafe to cook. Community food programs and local markets could also face disruptions.
How ready are we for the challenge presented from these changes?
Dheepa: We still have a long way to go in securing our food system against rising temperatures. There's a false sense of security that comes from Australia being seen as a "food secure" nation. One major weakness is our reliance on a supermarket duopoly, which leaves us exposed to supply chain breakdowns. We saw this firsthand last year when a strike at a Woolworths distribution center led to noticeable shortages on supermarket shelves.
What crucial conversations need to happen across the food and climate change sectors to build resilience against rising temperatures?
Dheepa: The key is fostering collaboration between sectors that have traditionally operated separately but ultimately share a common goal: nourishing communities and protecting the environment.
Emma: The most important people to bring into the conversation are people who are impacted in their homes, workplaces and communities. Too often, climate adaptation is over-professionalised.
What do you personally hope to achieve or learn from our upcoming Hot Food workshop?
Dheepa: We hope to spark new connections between people who may not have crossed paths before. We'll take a close look at the real vulnerabilities in our food system, identify key strengths and opportunities, and explore concrete steps that different sectors can take to build resilience.
"Reducing our dependence on supermarkets is key to building a more secure and adaptable food system for Melbourne's future."
Emma: I want to deepen the conversation on how heat intersects with food insecurity and inequality. Many climate resilience conversations focus on floods and fires, but heat is just as disruptive.
Looking ahead, how would you like to see this conversation evolve into meaningful action?
Dheepa: We need to see policies that meaningfully secure our food supply chain, such as protecting Melbourne's food bowl. It's also essential to strengthen protections for those working in the food system. Beyond policy, we must explore financial instruments like subsidies to ensure that lower-income communities can still access food. Urban planning should also prioritise food accessibility. Reducing our dependence on supermarkets is key to building a more secure and adaptable food system for Melbourne's future.
Join Dheepa and Emma at Regen Melbourne, Sweltering Cities and the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation's forthcoming workshop, 'Hot Food: Building Melbourne's Food System Resilience in a Warming World'.
