National food group kicks off

The federal government's new working group to advise on policies affecting the nation's food supply will meet for the first time in Sydney today.

Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig says the group will foster talks between the food industry and government as part of Labor's election commitment to develop a National Food Plan.

He says 98 per cent of our fresh produce is grown and supplied by our own farmers, but there's work to be done to address economic, environmental and consumer-driven pressures across the food sector, from the paddock to the plate.

The group includes Woolworths boss Michael Luscombe, CSIRO deputy chief executive Alastair Robertson, and the National Farmers Federation's Jock Laurie.