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FeedThePlanet

Worldchefs’ Feed the Planet Program Honored with Second Place in LIFE Climate Smart Chefs Award 2023-24 for Best Non-Profit Initiative

Celebrating global leadership in sustainable gastronomy, Worldchefs’ Feed the Planet program has been awarded second place in the prestigious LIFE Climate Smart Chefs Award 2023-24 for Best Non-Profit Initiative. This recognition highlights Feed the Planet’s innovative efforts to educate chefs and inspire sustainable food practices worldwide.

  • Feed the Planet was celebrated for its transformative initiatives, including chef education on sustainability, zero-waste practices, and community empowerment programs.
  • The award was presented at the LIFE Climate Smart Chefs Final Conference in Milan in December 2024, where stakeholders reflected on the project’s impact and advanced dialogue on sustainable gastronomy.
  • Learn more about how Feed the Planet is shaping a more sustainable future by exploring its initiatives at feedtheplanet.worldchefs.org.

Paris, 19 December 2024 – Worldchefs’ Feed the Planet program is proud to announce its second-place recognition in the prestigious LIFE Climate Smart Chefs (CSC) Award 2023-24 for Best Non-Profit Initiative. Presented at the LIFE Climate Smart Chefs Final Conference in Milan, this award highlights the program’s dedication to promoting sustainable gastronomy and environmental stewardship through culinary education.

Worldchefs
Feed the Planet
LIFE Climate Smart Chefs Award 2023-24 for Best Non-Profit Initiative

The LIFE Climate Smart Chefs project, a three-year initiative focused on educating chefs across Europe, emphasizes the vital connection between food, health, and the environment. By equipping culinary professionals with the knowledge and tools to make sustainable choices, the project supports healthier food systems and raises awareness of gastronomy’s role in achieving global sustainability goals.

At the Final Conference, stakeholders from across the European food community gathered to reflect on the accomplishments of the Climate Smart Chefs project. The event showcased innovative solutions, encouraged dialogue on sustainable gastronomy, and celebrated organizations and chefs driving meaningful change.

Worldchefs’ Feed the Planet program was recognized for its pioneering initiatives, including:

  • Sustainability Education for Culinary Professionals: A free, open-source curriculum designed to equip chefs with practical tools to implement sustainable practices in their kitchens and communities.
  • Like a Chef: An employment training program offering underprivileged individuals a pathway into the culinary industry with an emphasis on zero-waste and sustainability.
  • Food Heroes Challenge: A global educational project inspiring children to adopt sustainable food habits and become active participants in creating a better future.
Worldchefs
Feed the Planet
LIFE Climate Smart Chefs Award 2023-24 for Best Non-Profit Initiative
Ragnar Fridriksson, Worldchefs Managing Director, accepts the award in Milan.

“This award celebrates the incredible efforts of our global network of chefs who have made sustainability a cornerstone of their craft,” said Ragnar Fridriksson, Managing Director of Worldchefs, who accepted the award in Milan. “Feed the Planet is proud to be part of this vibrant movement advancing sustainable gastronomy, and we appreciate this recognition from the LIFE Climate Smart Chefs program.”

The LIFE Climate Smart Chefs Award reflects Worldchefs’ focus on addressing the critical challenges of food sustainability and environmental impact. As a leader in culinary innovation, Feed the Planet continues to engage chefs, educators, and communities worldwide to contribute to a sustainable food future, inspiring better cooking and eating habits through awareness and advocacy.

Feed the Planet was founded by Worldchefs in 2012 as a way to empower and mobilize our global chefs’ network passionate about building a better future. In 2016, Worldchefs joined forces with Electrolux Food Foundation and AIESEC, the world’s largest youth-led organization. Since that time, Feed the Planet has grown into a dynamic collaborative effort for inspiring social change. Through diverse and crosscutting programs, Feed the Planet creates impact through awareness, education and advocacy, supporting the training of key communities to help them put better food on the table, upskilling culinary professionals to help minimize environmental impact in professional kitchens, and encouraging sustainable food consumption through resources, webcasts, recipes, and more.

The success of Feed the Planet would not be possible without the support of its key partner, the Electrolux Food Foundation. Together, these initiatives aim to inspire positive change by leveraging the power of culinary professionals to drive sustainability and support communities in need.

Worldchefs
Feed the Planet
LIFE Climate Smart Chefs Award 2023-24 for Best Non-Profit Initiative

The Climate Smart Chefs project is part of the European Union’s LIFE program, which supports environmental, nature conservation, and climate action initiatives across Europe.

For more information about the LIFE program and awards, visit the LIFE Climate Smart Chefs Award website or find the full list of winners here.


Learn more about Worldchefs’ Feed the Planet programs at www.feedtheplanet.worldchefs.org.

Take action
Worldchefs Academy Culinary Education Sustainability Education for Culinary Professionals

Start your journey towards a more conscious kitchen with Worldchefs’ FREE online Sustainability Education for Culinary Professionals course on Worldchefs Academy! Learn about key topics in food systems at your own pace, and give your career a boost with a valuable digital badge to show you’ve completed the training program.

Feed the Planet is powered by our friends at Electrolux Food Foundation. Visit the Electrolux Food Foundation website here and explore Replate at replate.com.

Electrolux Food Foundation logo Singapore Culinary Culture Chef Eric Neo President of Singapore Chefs' Association Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2024
Read more in the latest issue of Worldchefs Magazine

Head to page 46 in Issue 30 to read more about how Feed the Planet programs are making an impact around the globe.

About Worldchefs

The World Association of Chefs’ Societies, known as Worldchefs, is a federation made up of 110 national chef associations. A leading voice in the hospitality industry, Worldchefs carries years of history since its founding in 1928 at the Sorbonne by the venerable Auguste Escoffier.

Representing a mobilized international membership of culinary professionals, Worldchefs is committed to advancing the profession and leveraging the influence of the chef jacket for the betterment of the industry and humanity at large.

Worldchefs is dedicated to raising culinary standards and social awareness through these core focus areas:

  • Education – Worldchefs offers support for education and professional development through the landmark Worldchefs Academy online training program, a diverse network of Worldchefs Education Partners and curriculum, and the world’s first Global Culinary Certification recognizing on-the-job skillsin hospitality;
  • Networking – Worldchefs connects culinary professionals around the world through their online community platform and provides a gateway for industry networking opportunities through endorsed events and the biennial Worldchefs Congress & Expo;
  • Competition – Worldchefs sets global standards for competition rules, provides Competition Seminars and assurance of Worldchefs Certified Judges, and operates the prestigious Global Chefs Challenge;
  • Humanitarianism & Sustainability – Worldchefs Feed the Planet and World Chefs Without Borders programs relieve food poverty, deliver crisis support, and promote sustainability across the globe.

Media contact: 

Olivia Ruszczyk [email protected]

Categories
Blog

5 Ways to Take Action on International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

5 Ways to Take Action on International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

As we recognize the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on 29 September 2024, it’s crucial to reflect on the significant role that chefs and culinary professionals play in reducing food waste.

“As chefs, we see firsthand the large amounts of food and energy that can be wasted through traditional culinary practices – both inside the kitchen and in all the preceding steps in the food supply chain,” says Thomas Gugler, Worldchefs President.

Chefs’ unique position as food chain connectors allows us to influence both the sourcing and preparation of ingredients to reduce waste, and influence consumer habits. Chefs play a central role in helping to implement and inspire systemic changes, turning kitchens into hubs for sustainability. From selecting locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients to tracking food waste in your kitchens, there are so many ways to get started on your journey towards a more conscious kitchen.

Here are five actionable ways to make a difference:
  1. Make this No Waste Recipe: Follow along with Chef Robert Van de Kolk of the Gastronomisch Gilde in the Netherlands to make his zero-waste recipe for slow-cooked pointed cabbage with curry oil, Jerusalem artichoke croquettes, shiitake ‘hachee’, salsa verde, fresh herbs, and red onion confit.
  2. Watch the Sustainability Around the World webcast The Human Factor – Chefs & Food Waste: Learn from Vojtech Vegh, Chef & Founder of Surplus Food Studio, to get started with better food waste management and gain insights into how chefs can be catalysts for change in addressing food waste.
  3. Tune in to World on a Plate episode The Big Picture on Food Waste with Benjamin Lephilibert: Hear from Benjamin Lephilibert, a Food Waste Solution Designer and Managing Director of LightBlue. Benjamin shares innovative ways to combine sustainability with business excellence, offering invaluable strategies for food waste prevention in the hospitality industry.
  4. Start the free Sustainability Education for Culinary Professionals Course on Worldchefs Academy: Enhance your knowledge of food waste reduction with Worldchefs’ Sustainability Education for Culinary Professionals. This eight-part course covers the latest practices in sustainable culinary operations, from waste management to energy conservation, and ends with a digital badge to recognize your achievement. It’s a comprehensive resource to help chefs become champions of sustainability in their kitchens.
  5. Register for Worldchefs Congress 2024 in Singapore: Join a global community of forward-thinking chefs at the Worldchefs Congress this October 20-25 for key sessions like Beyond the Plate: Empowering the Brigade of Tomorrow, a panel discussion on sustainability practices in the kitchen. Engage with top industry leaders including Chef Emile van der Staak, Head Chef at two-Michelin-starred, Green-Starred, and five-We’re-Smart-Green-Guide-Radishes awarded De Nieuwe Winkel, and Emmanuel Stroobant, chef-owner of two-Michelin-starred Saint Pierre, known for their dedication to zero-waste cooking and innovative plant-based cuisine.

The United Nations General Assembly designated 29 September as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW). The day is co-convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The goal is to raise awareness on food loss and waste, possible solutions, and promote global efforts and collective action towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3. The target aims to halve per capita food waste at the retail and consumer level by 2030, and reduce food losses along the food production and supply chains. Learn more at www.stopfoodlosswaste.org.

Join Us: Take Action with Worldchefs
The Feed the Planet team, June 2024. Read more about the Feed the Planet partnership here.

“Chefs have become increasingly involved in
the global movement to reduce food waste,
championing food waste reduction efforts in their
own restaurants, as well as empowering local
communities to fight food waste… the World Association of Chefs Societies (Worldchefs) shed light on the
links between the culinary industry and food waste,
environmental degradation, and hunger.”

Chefs As Agents of Change, FAO and UNESCO Collaboration on Food and Culture

Worldchefs offers resources and education to empower culinary professionals worldwide to be food champions. Whether it be tuning in to Worldchefs’ webcast Sustainability Around the World or exploring Feed the Planet programs, everyone has the opportunity to take action.

One key initiative is Sustainability Education for Culinary Professionals, an open-source online curriculum available on Worldchefs Academy. This comprehensive course, consisting of eight lessons, equips chefs with the knowledge and tools to think and act sustainably. Topics range from sustainable sourcing and food waste reduction to energy efficiency and community engagement. By completing this course, chefs can become champions of sustainability, influencing their peers, patrons, and the broader community.

This October, Worldchefs’ global community will gather together in Singapore for the 2024 Worldchefs Congress. Join the discussion surrounding the biggest challenges and opportunities facing culinary professionals and help inspire trends that will shape the future of the hospitality industry.

Check out the Speakers to discover hospitality professionals paving the way toward a sustainable future. Meet thousands of chefs from around the world with a shared commitment to making a difference.

“The food forest was the catalyst for our story around botanical cuisine. We realise that many of the challenges we face come back to our plates. Our food system is one of the biggest drivers of global warming. That’s why we only use plants: botanical gastronomy.” — Emile van der Staak

Register today!


#THISISWORLDCHEFS
Categories
Blog

10 Ways to Celebrate Sustainable Gastronomy Day

10 Ways to Celebrate Sustainable Gastronomy Day: chefs as catalysts for change

On Sustainable Gastronomy Day, we celebrate the vital role chefs play in crafting a more sustainable food system. As culinary professionals, chefs possess a unique influence over consumers, driving cultural and behavioral shifts toward sustainable practices. Chefs are not merely creators of exquisite dishes; they are educators, innovators, and advocates for a healthier planet.

Chefs as Influencers and Educators

Chefs have the power to shape public opinion and influence food choices. By promoting locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, chefs can guide consumers towards more sustainable eating habits. The culinary arts can be a conduit for sustainability, fostering a deeper appreciation for traditional food practices that respect natural resources and cultural heritage.

Sustainable Gastronomy Day highlights how chefs, through their creativity and commitment, can address global challenges such as food waste, climate crisis, and the loss of biodiversity. By integrating sustainability into their menus, chefs can be agents of change.

Feed the Planet’s Like a Chef St. Lucia graduates, 2024. Read more here.
Taking Action: 10 practical steps for a more conscious kitchen

Culinary professionals are pivotal in championing sustainability in their kitchens and communities, connecting to a global movement towards a better future. Here are 10 practical steps chefs can take to promote sustainability, protect livelihoods, and foster a sustainable food system:

  1. Source Locally and Seasonally: Explore the journey from farm to fork, and prioritize ingredients from local small-scale farmers and suppliers to support regional economies. Engage with local producers to understand the harvesting schedules and plan menus around seasonal produce. This not only ensures the freshest ingredients but also promotes biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.
  2. Minimize Food Waste: Implement strategies to reduce food waste in kitchens, such as nose-to-tail cooking and repurposing leftovers. Educate kitchen staff on proper storage techniques to extend the shelf life of ingredients. Utilize food waste tracking tools to identify and address key areas where waste can be minimized.
  3. Educate and Inspire: Use your platform to educate staff and customers about the importance of sustainable practices. Share stories about the farmers and producers you work with and the benefits of sustainable sourcing. Create awareness through menu descriptions and signage that highlight your commitment to sustainability.
  4. Engage in Continuous Learning: Enroll in programs like Sustainability Education for Culinary Professionals to stay informed about the latest sustainability practices. Attend workshops, conferences, and seminars focused on sustainable gastronomy. Network with other chefs and sustainability experts to exchange ideas and best practices.
  5. Optimize Energy and Water Use: Invest in energy-efficient kitchen equipment and implement practices to reduce water usage. Regularly maintain and update appliances to ensure they operate efficiently. Educate staff on simple habits, such as turning off equipment when not in use and using water-saving techniques during food preparation and cleaning.
  6. Reduce Single-Use Plastics: Transition to reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging and serving materials. Encourage customers to bring their own containers for takeout and provide incentives for doing so. Work with suppliers to reduce plastic packaging for delivered goods.
  7. Promote Biodiversity: Incorporate diverse and heirloom varieties of fruits, vegetables, and grains into your dishes. Incorporating beans and legumes into your menu not only promotes biodiversity but also provides a nutritious and sustainable protein source. Experiment with lesser-known ingredients that can add unique flavors and nutritional benefits to your menu.
  8. Engage in Community Outreach: Partner with local food banks and shelters to donate surplus food. Organize cooking classes and workshops that teach sustainable cooking techniques to the community. Participate in local farmers’ markets and food festivals to promote sustainable gastronomy.
  9. Lead by Example: Demonstrate leadership in your kitchens by ensuring fair wages, equal opportunities, and continuous training for your team. Champion women’s empowerment in agriculture and culinary arts, advocating for better representation and support in these fields.
  10. Advocate for Change: Participate in community and industry initiatives that promote sustainable food systems. Collaborate with local schools and organizations to teach children about healthy and sustainable eating. Be a citizen chef by advocate for policy changes supporting sustainable agriculture and food systems.

By embracing these actions, chefs can make a significant impact on global sustainability efforts.

Local to Global: taking your impact to the world stage

Chefs can further this impact by engaging in policy advocacy and public education. By collaborating with governments, NGOs, and industry stakeholders, chefs can influence food policy to support sustainable practices. Participating in forums, policy discussions, and campaigns allows chefs to advocate for a food system that prioritizes sustainability, inclusion, and health.

By reducing food waste, sourcing sustainably, and supporting ethical practices, chefs can contribute to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Moreover, by advocating for fair trade, local sourcing, and protecting the livelihoods of farmers and producers, chefs also support SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

On this Sustainable Gastronomy Day, let’s celebrate the transformative power of chefs as agents of change. By taking simple, everyday actions, chefs can lead the way toward a more sustainable and delicious food future for all. Through education, advocacy, and practical action, culinary professionals can make a lasting impact on both people and the planet.

Join Us: how you can inspire change with Worldchefs
The Feed the Planet team, June 2024. Read more about the Feed the Planet partnership here.

“Chefs have become increasingly involved in
the global movement to reduce food waste,
championing food waste reduction efforts in their
own restaurants, as well as empowering local
communities to fight food waste. In June 2018, the
World Association of Chefs Societies (World Chefs)
met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to shed light on the
links between the culinary industry and food waste,
environmental degradation, and hunger.”

Chefs As Agents of Change, FAO and UNESCO Collaboration on Food and Culture

Worldchefs offers resources and education to empower culinary professionals worldwide to be food champions. Whether it be tuning in to Worldchefs’ webcast Sustainability Around the World or exploring Feed the Planet programs, everyone has the opportunity to take action.

One key initiative is Sustainability Education for Culinary Professionals, an open-source online curriculum available on Worldchefs Academy. This comprehensive course, consisting of eight lessons, equips chefs with the knowledge and tools to think and act sustainably. Topics range from sustainable sourcing and food waste reduction to energy efficiency and community engagement. By completing this course, chefs can become champions of sustainability, influencing their peers, patrons, and the broader community.

This October, Worldchefs’ global community will gather together in Singapore for the 2024 Worldchefs Congress. Join the discussion surrounding the biggest challenges and opportunities facing culinary professionals and help inspire trends that will shape the future of the hospitality industry.

Check out the Speakers to discover hospitality professionals paving the way toward a sustainable future. Meet industry leaders like Emile van der Staak, Head Chef of Restaurant De Nieuwe Winkel, and thousands of chefs from around the world with a shared commitment to making a difference.

“The food forest was the catalyst for our story around botanical cuisine. We realise that many of the challenges we face come back to our plates. Our food system is one of the biggest drivers of global warming. That’s why we only use plants: botanical gastronomy.” — Emile van der Staak

Register now to expand your network and gain skills for a more conscious kitchen.

Cover image: A plate from Restaurant De Nieuwe Winkel’s current menu: Awakening.


For more on Social Impact in the Kitchen, join us on June 25th to discover the inspiring journey of Jordann Norbert.
#THISISWORLDCHEFS
Categories
FeedThePlanet

Food Heroes Wins Sustainability Education Award

Food Heroes Wins NORNS Awards Sustainability Education Program 2023

  • Food Heroes, a Feed the Planet initiative driven by Worldchefs, Electrolux Food Foundation, and AIESEC, has won the NORNS Awards Marketing & Creative – Sustainability Education Program 2023.
  • The NORNS Awards celebrate excellence and innovation worldwide by spotlighting professionals and organizations who, through hard work, collaboration, knowledge, and creativity, achieve results worthy of recognition.
  • Food Heroes was developed as part of UNICEF’s World’s Largest Lesson. The interactive workshop has inspired more than 130,000 children all over the world to develop healthier eating habits. Learn more about Feed the Planet programs including Food Heroes at feedtheplanet.worldchefs.org.

Paris, 13 July 2023 – The World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs), together with Feed the Planet partners Electrolux Food Foundation, accepted the NORNS Awards Marketing & Creative – Sustainability Education Program 2023 for the Food Heroes program’s remarkable contributions to “transforming the landscape of food sustainability and accessibility”.

“It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of admiration that we present this well-deserved recognition,” said NORNS Awards co-founder, Elisa Mattos. “We want to recognize all these professionals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, creativity, and passion in their respective fields, contributing significantly to building a more equitable and nourishing world, and remind of our collective responsibility to create a more sustainable and equitable food system. Let their achievements serve as a call to action, inspiring each one of us to become agents of change in our own communities.”

Food Heroes
Sustainability Education Award
Norns Awards
World's Largest Lesson

Developed as part of UNICEF’s World’s Largest Lesson, Food Heroes has inspired more than 130,000 children all over the world to develop healthier eating habits toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Delivered in more than 30 countries by Worldchefs’ members and Feed the Planet partners Electrolux Food Foundation and AIESEC, the interactive workshop gives kids the superpowers they need to make better everyday food choices to contribute toward a healthier planet.

The open-source Food Heroes toolkit, available in English, Swedish, Romanian, Portuguese, Polish, Hungarian, Spanish, Italian, Ukrainian, and Traditional Chinese, can be used by anyone—from parents and teachers to professional chefs—to raise awareness of the relationship between food and planetary health.

“We are so proud to receive the NORNS Sustainable Education award and for the chance to celebrate all our Food Heroes around the globe,” says Worldchefs President, Thomas A. Gugler. “Feed the Planet initiatives are making a global impact thanks to the dedication and hard work of the Worldchefs’ community, inspiring action in and out of the kitchen. It is so important that we continue our efforts to help youth and families navigate key issues of our time, and we believe in the ‘The Power of the White Jacket’ for chefs to help build a better future.”

“We did it, together,” said Cosimo Scarano, Head of Electrolux Food Foundation. “To know that the judges recognized Food Heroes in the fight against food insecurity, while promoting sustainable food practices and empowering communities fills me with a sense of purpose and heartfelt gratitude to our colleagues, partners, local communities, and educators, as we work together to build a more equitable and nourishing world. Mostly, it reminds me that even small actions make a big difference and that together, we can do so much.”

Become a Food Hero

Food Heroes provides toolkits, quizzes, and resources, along with fun visual assets developed by EY Doberman, to facilitate workshops that bring a sense of joy to discovering new ways of looking at food with engaging exercises, lots of laughter, and knowledge that lasts a lifetime.

Get all tools to run a Food Heroes workshop, available in English, Swedish, Romanian, Portuguese, Polish, Hungarian, Spanish, Italian, Ukrainian, and Traditional Chinese. Click the button below to download the latest version of the Food Heroes PowerPoint slide deck and the toolkit.

Take action

Food Heroes is made possible with the support of Feed the Planet partners and the tireless contributions of Worldchefs’ members around the globe. Worldchefs extends the utmost gratitude to all program participants, local partners, and sponsors who contribute to all Feed the Planet initiatives.

“Our amazing Food Heroes partnership has reached over 100,000 kids, with so many professional chefs active in countries around the globe,” says Ragnar Fridriksson, Worldchefs Managing Director. “Together we are working to empower and educate the next generation about healthy, nutritious food, which is so important to us.”

To learn more about Feed the Planet, visit feedtheplanet.worldchefs.org.

Read more in the latest issue of Worldchefs Magazine

Head to page 45 in Issue 29 to read more about how Feed the Planet programs are making an impact around the globe.

From mastering the art of sustainable cooking to embracing the latest technological advancements in the kitchen, Worldchefs Magazine is your guide to staying at the forefront of the culinary profession. 

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