Unlocking and uplifting the Australian food industry
About Defence Nutrition Australia
Who we are
Owned and operated by former ADF service personnel, Defence Nutrition Australia works at the nexus between food security, national security and total defence. We exist to drive food security as an essential pillar in national security, the National Defence Strategy and unlock and uplift our food industry towards a hardened capability. As an industry representative, membership organisation and providing specialised uplift support, Defence Nutrition Australia exists to serve our nation.
What we do
We are building a collaborative alliance with the goal to work towards food security for our nation providing an avenue to build resilience in our national systems. We are forging innovative systems of communication, industry connection, building a body of capability and providing a means to be involved.
Though our focus is food, it is a whole of nation effort where everyone has a role from academia, agriculture, logistics and community.
Working Towards Industry Outcomes
For the Australian food industry to supply our service personnel with the highest quality Australian rations, fueling their service to the nation, their personal energy needs and drive dual use markets for HADR, civilian and export.
Australian farms feeding Australian troops
2. Increase use of Australian capability for total defence.
3. 100% Australian made long life, shelf stable foods as a parallel supply.
Our Principles
Industry Membership
Industry Uplift Program: Working Together
The Industry Uplift Partnership is a membership-based collaboration framework designed to connect food and nutrition businesses, strengthen national capability, and support Australia’s defence and food security objectives. Current arrangements currently rely on supply chains that include offshore components and it is up to us work together to provide Australian solutions to our service personnel and the nation.
At its core, the partnership recognises that total defence requires industry to work together. No single organisation can solve resilience, supply, or readiness challenges alone. Defence Nutrition Australia brings its experience and networks to convene industry, share insight, and create structured pathways for participation, enabling businesses to contribute at a level that matches their capability, growth strategy, and stage of development.
The partnership provides three membership pathways, offering progressive levels of involvement. Members can connect with industry partners, access shared resources and insights, and receive structured support from Defence Nutrition Australia to build capability and resilience over time. Each pathway is designed to be accessible, scalable, and optional, allowing organisations to deepen their involvement when ready.
By working together, members help strengthen Australia’s food system, support Australian producers, and contribute to national outcomes, solve national problems and support the long-term goal of Australian farms feeding Australian troops.
Engage
Engage
Engage is an entry level community membership and an Australian first, designed for individuals and organisations who want to stay informed, connected, and engaged in the national conversation around food security, Defence capability, and resilience.
Members receive regular industry level reporting, Defence updates and strategic insights, creating an accessible entry point to a trusted national ecosystem.
✓ Industry and Defence updates
✓ ‘Engage’ level National Outcome progress updates
✓ Submit your contribution to the newsletter
Involve
Involve
A yearly industry membership designed for organisations seeking a strategic industry connection that elevates operational resilience, competitive advantage, and national outcomes.
Members contribute to industry-wide solutions and benefit from exclusive programs, specialist training, and curated insight updates.
✓ Personalised introduction and onboarding to program once membership approved.
✓ Everything in entry tier upgraded for deeper access.
✓ Access to Members Portal for digital content to uplift your capability.
✓ ‘Involve’ level National Outcome progress updates
✓ Access to Industry Uplift Program knowledge hub
✓ Contribute to problem solving and provide solutions towards national outcomes
Additional Members Access
✓ Access to Defence Nutrition Australia strategy sessions.
Uplift
Uplift
For key industry partners who can provide direct capability to our food security, national security and total defence. With the 6-Phase supply uplift program as a cornerstone, this tier is designed to make a difference in a volatile and uncertain operating environment, linking industry into national outcomes for national defence, ration supply and to build revenue capability.
This tier is tailored to organisations prepared to operate at a national capability level providing access, influence, integration and capability.
✓ A full upgrade from ‘Engage’ and ‘Involve providing unparalleled access.
✓ Cornerstone 6-Phase supply uplift program
✓ Uplift courses including cyber and security assessment
✓ R&D advocacy and activity integration
✓ Direct advocacy in and integration in strategic discussions
✓ Uplift webinars with industry experts providing one on one access
✓ Options for component validation testing
✓ Full access to our data and insights to drive operational success
✓ Design input and early access to a suite of new innovative industry products
Industry Uplift Fund: Direct allocation into the fund provides support to keep Defence Nutrition Australia operations running and keep us working on the solutions. This includes funds for matched grants, operational activities, provide training and administration support. Defence Nutrition Australia offers targeted corporate support opportunities for organisations seeking to contribute to nationally significant outcomes in food security, supply chain resilience, and Defence-adjacent capability. For a corporate presentation on our activities to be delivered to your organisation, email us at [email protected]
Upcoming Cornerstone Events
Cyber Security in the Food Industry: The food industry is a critical part of our national capability, but often overlooked in the national security discussion. This webinar will bring the National Office of Cyber Security (NOCS), Australian Signals Directorate and cyber security professionals together to providedepth of insight on why the food industry is a target, how to prepare yourself and understand the (NOCS) Food and Grocery Play Book. This webinar will a first for the Australian food industry. Date - TBC (Q2, 2026)
Get startedLet’s keep moving forward
Partner with Defence Nutrition Australia and we'll work together to keep the initiative moving forward.