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Food Rescue

Gradient Ocean

Dixie Swenson

Nov 14, 2023

Canada

Categories:

Food, Technology, Waste

Food insecurity and food waste are global issues.


A group in Canada has a unique way of tackling both of these issues through the use of technology, marketing, volunteerism, and accountability.


In SaltWire, a publication serving Atlantic Canada, Andrew Williams and Mike Hardy explain the model used in this part of Canada in an article dated August 23, 2021.


An app is used to match businesses with surplus food to those non-profit organizations in the community that feed people in need. By donating through the app, donations are documented, quantified, and tracked with a live-updated dashboard that tracks the weight and value of food rescued as well as the greenhouse gas emissions averted. Donations can become tax deductions for a business too.


First, the marketing – the program is referred to as food rescue. This is analogous to animal rescue and changes the way consumers think about food waste.


Second, the technology. An app called foodrescue.secondharvest.ca can be accessed through any phone.


Third, volunteerism. Local food banks and volunteers gather the donated food and provide it to those who need it.


Fourth, accountability. Everyone has access to information about how much food has been rescued, how much has been saved from the landfill, and the greenhouse gasses averted.


This model could be replicated in many places, and it has been done successfully. Examples include CozZo Bulgaria, EroeGo, United Arab Emirates,Kitche, United Kingdom, Love Food Hate Waste, United Kingdom, Magic Fridge, France, MyFoodways, Switzerland, nosh, United Kingdom, NoWaste, Denmark, Olio, United Kingdom, Seva Kitchen, India, Yo No Desperdicio, Spain, and YoRipe, Singapore.
(Source: https://foodtank.com/news/2021/09/apps-preventing-household-food-waste-and-protecting-the-planet/)


Don't invent an app, simply use one of the ones already in existence. This could be a venture that a Chamber of Commerce may be interested in tackling with their restaurant and catering members. The goodwill generated by the marketing could bring in like-minded customers to those restaurants and the restaurants could use it for their independent marketing too. Potential tax deductions may be enticing for businesses to get involved. The non-profits would benefit from the additional food, particularly in times when many food banks are struggling to keep their larders stocked. If your community has a restaurant association, there may be added benefits partnering with a non-profit and sponsoring a non-profit fundraiser dinner with the excess food and highlighting the issue of food waste. Students in culinary programs in local high schools and colleges could be part of the chef experience for such high-profile events. These are excellent ways to build on the community capacity each of us has in our hometowns, the capacity that requires little leverage yet has potentially big rewards. What will your community cook up today?


Originally published November 2, 2021.

Source:

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0821.105.01.110221

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