SGS recently hosted the Food Sustainability Seminar at the Urban Food Store in Canberra. Four experts
discussed issues including localised food production and consumption; inequality, hunger and obesity;
climate change and food production; the economic contribution of food; and farmers markets.
Terry Rawnsley of SGS described research to value the contribution food makes to the economy. Sharon Friel
from the ANU explained how material inequality causes both hunger and obesity, and how food production is
expected to decline with climate change. Gabrielle O'Kane from the University of Canberra discussed how
social movements are pushing for more localised food production and consumption. Finally, Peter O'Clery
discussed how the Canberra Farmers Markets he helped to establish, form part of this trend.
Read the presentations at http://www.sgsep.com.au/news
SGS Economics and Planning received four top awards at the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Victoria
Division 2009 Awards for Planning Excellence. The Consultant Planner of the Year award recognised the
firm's innovative thinking, contributions to raising awareness of planning and economics issues, and focus on
staff development. An award for Rural and Regional Planning Achievement recognized SGS's study "Mildura
Older Irrigation Areas Study into Land Values". The awards for Urban Planning Achievement and the
President's Award were given for the project "Residential Intensification in Tramway Corridors" (undertaken
in partnership with Design Urban and City of Melbourne).
More about these award winning projects at
http://www.sgsep.com.au/sgs-winner-pia-awards-planning-excellence
