Planet. People. Prosperity. Communities as Forces for Good

Just as a single string cannot make music, a single person, organization, technology, or idea cannot solve the current challenges our global food system is facing. Creating a more efficient and sustainable food system and making an indirect and long-term impact on food security requires a holistic value chain and a profound harmonization of the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of development. Like in an orchestra, the plurality of voices composing the food system's complexity now needs to be united in a collective commitment towards multilateral actions. 

Evidence of the merits of this approach is on full display in Asia where chefs, executives, youth activists, and governments are embracing an ecosystem approach and working in collaboration to push us all closer to the goal.

As part of the UN Food System Summit 24-Hour Global Relay Conversation on Friday, October 15th at 3:00 UTC, I will be moderating a session, focused on Asia, featuring leaders from across the food spectrum, each working in tandem on a piece of the food systems puzzle. 

• Jian Yi: Founder & President, the Good Food Fund, CBCGDF. One of the 10 finalists in the Rockefeller Foundation Food Systems Vision prize, Jian and his team aim to build the most reliable and respectable food-related Chinese-language knowledge hub on the Internet. The Good Food Academy is informed and inspired by those who are interested in "the true costs of food" with an emphasis on the impacts of industrial animal production and consumption. Through research, roadshows, training programs, and corporate engagement, they are promoting the "(re)discovery" of Good Food that is healthy, non-violent, mindful, and culturally diverse.
• Matilda Ho: Managing Director 总经理, Bits x Bites, and TED Fellow. Matilda leads China's pioneer food tech accelerator and VC fund, on a mission to shape the future of good food by inspiring and supporting the entrepreneurial community to bring new ideas for solving global issues. To date, it has invested in companies that are advancing gene editing for high-performing crops, functional chickpea-based protein ingredients, as well as cost-efficient, non-GMO meat production directly from animal cells without an actual animal. Bits x Bites has also founded Yimishiji, a farm-to-table e-commerce platform that has engineered food education and transparency into the entire supply chain and customer experience, effectively reshaping the relationship between Chinese consumers and farmers.
• Pier Luigi Sigismondi: President at Dole Packaged Foods, LLC. Pier Luigi is a nutrition and sustainability advocate currently leading the transformation at Dole, a 169-year-old brand, based on the Japanese philosophy of 'Sampo Yoshi', which only considers a business ethical if it benefits the buyer, seller, and society. Dole has set its sights high with a promise to contribute to the highest level of sustainable nutrition for one billion people by 2025.
• Joshua Williams: Young Activist who founded the Joshua’s Heart Foundation at the age of 5 with the mission to 'Stomp out hunger'. As President and Chief Changemaker of this non-profit organization, Joshua works to inspire and empower youth to tackle global issues and change the world through kindness, teamwork, and determination. Recognized by the Disney Channel's 'Make Your Mark' series, Joshua's Heart Foundation has grown beyond just focusing on hunger to working to address other global issues such as clean water, shelter, and education.  
• Radhika Khandelwal: Founder of Radish Hospitality, an umbrella company for restaurants including Ivy & Bean, and Fig & Maple, located in New Delhi. Radhika is also a Representative of India at the Chefs' Manifesto and a Future Food Institute Climate Shaper. Radhika has made the conscious decision to use local produce directly sourced from farmers, focusing on native ingredients, and regularly incorporating zero-waste food in her menu. This year she organized 45-days long “Be a #ZeroWasteHero” campaign to raise awareness about issues such as hunger, biodiversity, climate change, and food waste sharing tips and tricks across social media channels. 
• Amanda Katili: The Climate Reality Project Indonesia, Chair of Omar Niode Foundation and another Future Food Institute Climate Shaper. Amanda is an internationally renowned environmental and climate change educator and communicator. Her team at the Climate Reality Project supports more than 300 climate leaders working to change individual attitudes and behavior to be part of the solution, promote local and national actions that lead to clean energy economies and jobs, and build support for global action and implementation of international commitments. As Chair of the Omar Niode Foundation, she works to generate and provide resources for programs and activities in agriculture, food, and culinary arts.

These panelists highlight the tremendous potential for communities to be a force for good. Innovative collaborations across industry and grassroots organizations, similar to those being discussed in this session, facilitate the cultural shift to move the needle forward. Through their determination, creativity, and leadership, they are galvanizing the ideas and support of individuals, then organizations, then communities, and ultimately the global food ecosystem. This is how real change happens. 

To hear from these inspirational Food Heroes and for more details on the UN Food Systems Summit Global Relay visit: https://bit.ly/voicesoffoodsystems

#FoodSystems #SDGs #VoicesofFoodSystems