OzHarvest successfully feeds thousands using surplus at the United Nations Think.Eat.Save events to fight food waste

Australia’s leading food rescue organisation, OzHarvest fed up to ten thousand people across Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Newcastle yesterday at the Think.Eat.Save events; a collaboration with the United Nations to tackle the issues of food and nutrition security and sustainable food systems.

Taking place at Martin Place in Sydney, St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane, Federation Square in Melbourne, The University of Adelaide as well as Hunter St Mall in Newcastle, the events were a collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the UN’s Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Global Initiative on Food Loss and Waste Reduction (SAVE FOOD).

Some of the nation’s top chefs including Neil Perry, Guillaume Brahimi, Matt Moran, Frank Camorra, Somer Sovrioglu, Cory Campbell, Josue Lopez and Callum Hann, as well as politicians and celebrities united at each of the events to take a stance against food waste.

Members of the public were served a free, delicious and hearty hot meal made from surplus produce that would have otherwise ended up as landfill.

Food waste is currently costing Australians up to $10 billion each year, while two million people still rely on food relief.

Founder and CEO of OzHarvest, Ronni Kahn said the aim of Think.Eat.Save 2014 was to bring attention to the disturbing amount of food wasted in Australia and around the world, where roughly one third of food produced for human consumption (approx. 1.3 billion tonnes) gets wasted and lost [1] along the way.

“Our modern day challenge is to create a sustainable food culture that can be shared by all, where we waste less at all levels of food production, distribution and consumption,” Kahn said.

“I’m thrilled that so many people came to our events, not just for the free lunch but to hear about how they can make a positive contribution and reduce food waste. Outside of Think.Eat.Save, each and every one of us can make a pledge to reduce food waste at home. Small actions can affect change and united, our actions will make a huge positive impact on our planet. ”

Renowned gardening personality, Costa Georgiadis took part in a panel discussion around food waste and food sustainability and encouraged people to learn more about the source of their food.

“Food and waste are two words that OzHarvest are using in the one sentence. If we want to change our appreciation of food and reduce the amount of food wasted, we need to get to know exactly what it is we’re buying and eating. Make food your friend, not a stranger,” said Georgiadis.