Region. Prime food land under threat

Around 52 per cent of prime agricultural land on the outskirts of the Sydney region was included in areas slated for urban development, which could reduce the city's food security and force up food prices to cover the added costs of long distance transportation, according to Michael Shuman, US economist and champion of locally owned business and local economic development. Sydney has an economically viable local food industry worth around $1 billion a year and employing around 12,000. The Sydney Food Fairness Alliance, is organizing a two-day food summit in October.