Brianna Casey is the CEO of Foodbank Australia, Australia's largest food relief organisation that provides essential food & groceries to front line charities around the country. In this episode, Brianna talks to Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry about food insecurity and its prevalence within all walks of life in Australia. Even before the Black Summer bushfires and COVID, Foodbank was helping 815,000 Australians every month to obtain essential, safe, healthy and culturally appropriate foods and groceries. Currently, that figure has expanded to well over one million people per month. Brianna notes that it's not just the homeless or those living in poverty who are struggling to feed themselves and their families. She points out that many Australians are only a missed payday away from food becoming a discretionary item in the home. We talk about the logistics involved in obtaining and distributing food to those in need, the unpredictability of supply through food rescue and the ground-breaking work Foodbank has performed to arrange collaborative manufacturing as well as funding the purchase of food and grocery products thanks to donation of funds to the charity. Brianna recalls the impacts to Foodbank's ability to operate due to Covid and recent flooding which disabled supply lines to the west and north of the country. She also talks about the importance of working with government and having a seat at the table to drive social policies to support the most vulnerable in Australia and reduce food inequality. ------------------------------ The Food & Drink Business Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Food & Drink Business, owned and published by Yaffa Media. The views of the people featured on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Food & Drink Business, Yaffa Media, or the guest's employer. The contents are copyright by Yaffa Media. If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Food & Drink Business via their website www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au or send an email to [email protected] Host: Kim Berry MC: Grant McHerron Editor: Chris Visscher Producer: Steve Visscher Food & Drink Business - © 2022