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Food for thought - Seeding responsible consumption & Production
On April 5th 2022, took place our Food for thought - Seeding responsible consumption & Production seminar in the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam
For this special occasion, we welcomed more than 100 guests to exchange, reflect and think about the threats and opportunities for feeding the fast-growing world population in a sustainable way.
Moderated by Tieneke Breehmaar from WayToSustain, the debate was truly dynamic and lively thanks to Mrs Breehmaar asking relevant questions to the public in order to involve them. Indeed, the seminar started by a discussion amongst the participants about their food habits.
First session (15.00 – 16.00)
Our guest speakers for the 1st panel were : Aurélie Letortu from Friesland Campina, Natasha Valeeva from Rabobank and Deirdre Ryan from Bord Bia. They discussed the food systems from the outlooks of food production.
Shedding lights on the future of proteins, they pointed out the environmental impact of food production that contributes to more than 25% of global GHG emissions and covers nearly 40% of ice- and desert-free lands.
Our experts also alluded to the harmful effects and consequences of crises (such as Covid-19 pandemic or the was in Ukraine) over food production such as the lack of grains, and sunflower-oil or the fertilizer shortages.
They especially showed how fragile our actual food system is and that it is vital that we become more resilient to adapt to future crises. Solutions and alternatives could be the consumption of crickets or protein-rich plants as an alternative to meat and the use of technologies that can improved crops’ production. Indeed, digitalization can help companies in predicting behaviors and reducing both food waste and carbon footprint as digital technologies can support farmers to produce ‘more with less’.
Then, our experts stressed the importance of sustainable food systems and production which could be defined as : production that contributes to thriving both local economies and sustainable livelihoods and that reduces carbon footprint. Regenerative agriculture’s methods could be the answer: increase of biodiversity, the rotation of crops, the minimizing of chemical inputs and the no-till systems.
They concluded that only a healthy soil can produce healthy food, hence the need to rethink our actual food production systems.
‘There is no future without good practices’
Second session (16.15 – 17.15)
After a short coffee break, our second session was anchored by Geraldo Vallen from Join the Pipe Foundation, Robert Claasen from Sodexo and Lydia Croll from Too Good to Gowho were invited on stage to exchange about the food waste problem. Using their personal experiences and their companies’ philosophy and manifestos, they gave examples of what can be done to provoke a drastic shift in mentalities and consumption.
Alluding to the European plastics pact, they show that policies are already on to accelerate the transition towards a European circular plastics economy. Furthermore, raising the effects of the Covid-19 pandemics over consumer's behaviors, our speakers tried to show how this global crisis deeply changed our food habits and our way to consume with the closing of restaurants among other things. Relating to the pandemics, they also displayed the clear difference between countries on the handling of food production.
‘If we join forces and work together, this is the only way to solve the huge problem of food waste’
A big thanks to all our speakers for their insightful contributions, engaged and engaging presence on stage, sharing with us their knowledge and passion!
Our seminar was then followed by a networking cocktail during which our guests were able to meet and exchange about what they learnt during the seminar but also to make new acquaintances. They had the chance to taste the delicious appetizers made by the sumptuous Royal Tropical Institute.
Of course, we would like to warmly thank Veolia Nederland for powering this event and co-organising it along with INBA.
Last but not least, we would like to thank all parties being present for sharing their reflection and time with us. The event couldn’t have been the success it was without you!
You can find the pictures we took during the debate and the networking cocktail in the photo gallery and the retrospective video below.
We truly hoped that you enjoyed our event, and we are very looking forward to seeing you at our next insightful seminars!