An authoritative voice speaks up for the return of human values in food.

Paul West is a celebrity in Australia - for his cuisine. In a speech he held at the Margaret River Gourmet Escape the famous chef said that having seasonal produce available all year round had taken away the celebration of food. We are left deprived of that special excitement like plucking the first ripe tomato of summer. We have lost the connection with the primary source of food. Ingredients are there on a supermarket shelf every day, all year round.

Not preparing meals or eating lunch at a desk was also detrimental to a person's mental health because enjoying food was so intrinsic to wellbeing, West said. Growing food in an urban environment like leafy greens and herbs was a great way to be sustainable and form communities by sharing produce with family and friends.