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Stone Soup: A Recipe For Climate Action

When:
Venue: Birkbeck Main Building, Malet Street

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An educational and networking event that explores environmental sustainability within the food sector.

The title ‘Stone Soup: A Recipe for Climate Action’ is inspired by a European Folktale in which a group of hungry townspeople are convinced by a stranger to share a small amount of their food to make a meal that everyone can enjoy. Starting with an unappealing looking stone, one by one the villagers contribute whatever they have and throw it in the pot. The moral of the story is about collaboration and scale: when individuals bring something to the table, even if it seems small, together they can create solutions that are sustainable for the whole community.

Inspired by this story, this event offers an opportunity for you to engage with the Birkbeck community, business, and wider public to hear perspectives on the intersection between food, climate change, and its mitigation. As part of this, Birkbeck student and CEO of Little Green Footprint, Henry Farrelly, will present on his work to help companies reduce their environmental impact. Claire Ogley, Head of Campaigns, Policy and Research, at The Vegan Society, will discuss the Plate Up for The Planet, One Little Switch campaign, and Jamie Stone (PA Consulting) will discuss PulPac's low cost approach to producing sustainable packaging.

Other speakers include: Dr Rebecca Wells (Senior Lecturer in Food Policy in the Centre for Food Policy at City University of London) who will be speaking on the need for interdisciplinary higher education courses to address the impact of food systems on climate change and the impact of climate change on food systems; and Diana Diaconu, a Brand Standards Manager for IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the top 3 global hotel brands, speaking on how environment and sustainability issues are a key concern of their work. 

More speakers will be announced, and each will present briefly on their work leaving lots of time for discussion and some food! This event is running as part of the Birkbeck Climate Festival: The Sustainable Now (see the full programme of events here) and linked to the following programmes: 

BSc Environment and Sustainability

BBA Culinary Industry Management 

MSc Culinary Industry Management

BSc Business and Economics

 

 

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