Plenary Session - Building Policy Coalitions: A Case Study of Reframing Breastfeeding Around ‘First Food Security’ in Australia

What happens when infant formula is not available because of supply chain disruptions or natural disaster?
In 2022, the U.S. President approved important emergency supplies of formula from Australia when bacterial contamination halted a manufacturing plant run by Abbott, one of three companies which dominate the U.S., and one of five that dominate the global market for milk formula. With rising public concern about vulnerability to emergencies and climate change, reframing breastfeeding as 'first-food security' has potential to shake up conventional views on infant and young child feeding.
This plenary session discusses the promise and pitfalls of 'first-food security' as a framework for breastfeeding advocacy, using a case study from Australia. Following catastrophic bushfires in 2019-2020, and supply chain disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in 2022, there was a national inquiry into food security. This opened a political 'window' to build broader coalitions and shift advocacy around breastfeeding to new forums beyond health. Understanding the politics of these processes reveals new opportunities and strategies to trigger national and global investments in breastfeeding.

This study was also supported by the authors:
Julie Smith – Honorary Associate Professor, Australian National University
Karleen Gribble – Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University