Dialogue
DocuScience: NextGen: changing the food system
The American project group Farmlink sees the lack of food security as a major problem. They are addressing this by transporting surplus food from the country to nearby food banks. This way they reduce food waste at the beginning of the food chain as well as shortages at the food bank. This is much needed in a world where billions of pounds of food are lost while at the same time millions of people are starving. An incredible contradiction that has puzzled world leaders for decades. In Project Farmlink, a group of more than 100 students - a new generation of go-getters - has risen up with one goal: to prevent hunger and food waste.
Through the food chain around the world, about a third of food is produced for the garbage can, incinerator, bio-digester or landfill. One-third of global greenhouse gas emissions come from our food system. It is for a reason that curbing food waste is one of the top 3 climate solutions. On top of that, more than 800 million people worldwide suffer from hunger even though we produce enough food to feed everyone in the world. So clearly something is going wrong in connecting supply and demand.
It seems to be an unsolvable problem in scale and complexity. During the COVID-19 crisis, this problem was magnified as many people lost their incomes and producers lost their customers (among other things, by closing down restaurants). In response, a group of students in the United States started Project Farmlink. The fresh, critical eye and out-of-the-box thinking of these students allowed this group to come up with new solutions and grow into an initiative with great impact. Together, they saved more than 50 million pounds of food and contributed to many extra meals.
No one should have to go to bed hungry while perfectly adequate food is wasted.
In the short documentary Abundance: the Farmlink story, we are introduced to the origins and development of the impactful Farmlink Project. They also share their vision for a future-proof and sustainable food system. Co-founder and CEO of Farmlink, Ben Collier, joins us via a video connection for a conversation about his experiences and advice for the Dutch NextGen.
Good to know: this program is English spoken.
Details
De documentary will be shown in Omnia and admission is free of charge. The program will begin at 19:00h, with the room (auditorium) opening at 18:30h. Registration is not required, but make sure to be in time because full=full. After the program, the bar at Faculty Club Novum is open for drinks and a chat.
Dinner in restaurant Novum beforehand?
Restaurant Novum, in Omnia, offers a special DocuDinner especially for DocuScience.
For 18.25 euros, you will be served a delicious (waste-free) vegetarian main course, dessert and a drink. The DocuDinner will start at 17:30h. Reservation is required and can be done by sending an e-mail to welkom@restaurantnovum.nl. As a dinner guest, you will have a reserved seat in the auditorium, so you are guaranteed of a spot at the documentary.
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About DocuScience
DocuScience is a new program in Omnia, where employees of Wageningen Campus share insights into the inspiring work happening at Campus. We will explore new perspectives through provocative documentaries that encourage conversation. Everyone working at Wageningen Campus is welcome, so bring your colleagues!