World Food WeekA sustainABLE NUS initiative for UN World Food Day

What, When and Why?

• World Food Week: 03 – 07 October 2016• Week long program with activities and events under the broad theme of food.

• a sustainABLE NUS initiative to commemorate World Food Day

• Subthemes: Sustainability, Culture, Health and Equity

• World Food Day: 16 October 2016• International Day of Action Against Hunger

• commemorates the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Aims

• Educate and raise awareness on food sourcing, consumption implications and cultural significance of various foods.

• Engage student groups, residential colleges, NUS offices, faculty members as well as external bodies to engage with various food related topics.

Importance• Food + Sustainability

• The environmental impact of food production is very large.

• For every 1 kg of beef 15000 litres of water and 7 kg of grain are required.

• Livestock agriculture accounts for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

• Food + Culture

• Food plays an important role in many cultures, bringing together groups of people and celebrating traditional practices.

• Food + Health

• Unbalanced and poor diets are core factors influencing heart diseases, diabetes and other serious health conditions.

• Generally balanced diets with less saturated fats, less sugar as well as less carbohydrates are considered healthier.

• Food + Equity

• The World Food Programme estimates that there are 795 million undernourished people in the world.

• Malnutrition can lead to stunted growth, 40% of children in poor countries.

Four Subthemes

World Food Week

Food + Sustainability

Food + Health

Food + Equity

Food + Culture

Cross-subtheme Initiatives: Documentary Series followed by Panel Discussions

Documentary Year World Food Week Subtheme

Panel Speakers(NUS faculty members, government & NGO representatives)

Facilitator

Monday Cowspiracy 2014 Food + Sustainability

Tuesday Foodmatters 2008 Food + Health

Wednesday Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution

2010 Food + Health

Thursday … … …

Friday … … …

Cross-subtheme Initiatives: Public Lectures

World Food WeekSubtheme

Topic Speaker Location & Time

Monday Food + Sustainability

NUS’ food-related research eg- Food waste to biofuel- Waste grease oil to biofuel- etc

A/Prof Matthew Chang; A/Prof Li Zhi, Prof Sanjay Swarup

tbc

Tuesday Food + Health Dieting: friend or hidden foe? … …

Wednesday Food + Sustainability

Environmentally Conscious Food Choices in Singapore.

… …

Thursday Food + Equity Food Security in the Asia Pacific. … …

Friday Food + Culture Stories of Food And Culture. … …

Cross-subtheme Initiatives: Trivia Night

Organizer Round Themes

Residential Colleges or Student Societies 1. The impact of food waste2. Facts and figures of food production waste3. Singapore’s eating habits – number of eateries,

locations, types of foods etc.4. Typical foods of other cultures5. Facts and figures on different types of diets (e.g.

raw foods, vegetarianism, veganism)6. Food allergies – what are the trends and where do

they come from

Food + Sustainability: Possible EventsResidential Colleges(Management and Student Social Committees)

NUS Student Societies NUS Offices

Public lecture: food waste recycling (inc. announcement of NEA pilot program at NUS)

Reducing food waste. Organizing an event similar to Electrolux’s Happy Plate initiative, in which food bundles are distributed to families in need for every three pictures of empty plates uploaded.

Cooking or baking contest in which ingredients must be sourced locally (low food mileage e.g. ASEAN region).

Cooking or baking contest in which ingredients must be sourced locally (low food mileage, e.g. ASEAN region).

Cooking classes with locally grown products (low food mileage).

Tour of Singapore’s community gardens.

Alter menu for the whole week – include more vegetarian options and communication of reasoning (reduction in food mileage).

Interactive game (perhaps include the usage of an app or an online carbon footprint calculator) focused on food mileage and resources needed for the creation of particular meals.

Food + Culture: Possible Events

Residential Colleges(Management and Student Social Committees)

NUS Student Societies NUS Offices

A tour of local, affordable food gems closeto NUS.

A tour of local, affordable food gems closeto NUS.

Multicultural dinners, in which residents from different backgrounds cook traditional dishes to try (currently being explored with IRO and exchange students).

Societies may organize an international food market during one lunch time. Work together with IRO to provide food from all around the world.

Food history workshop/presentation: Where did traditional foods come from? Why is their history important? E.g. char kway teow or nasi lemak.

Food + Health: Possible EventsResidential Colleges(Management and Student Social Committees)

NUS Student Societies NUS Offices

Promotion of healthier food choices in canteens Reduction in prices of healthier options such as brown rice and whole meal noodles etc (together with OCA, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, HPB etc).

Menu restructure for one day, during which all options are healthy.

Healthy cooking contest with low carb and low sugar requirements.

Healthy cooking contest with low carb and low sugar requirements.

Workshop on healthier food substitute options.

Food + Equity: Possible Events

Residential Colleges(Management and Student Social Committees)

NUS Student Societies NUS Offices

Food drive of non-perishable food. Donated to the Food Bank with the message to reduce food waste and only purchase what is needed. (in collaboration with OCA or SAVE).

Bake Sale – funds raised go to the Food Bank or a similar organization.

Bake Sale – funds raised go to the Food Bank or a similar organization.

Thank you for your time.