top of page

The Middlesex-London Food Policy Council, in partnership with Hospitality Services at Western University, presents its inaugural half-day forum: Beyond Waste: Food Recovery and Redistribution. 

 

This forum will bring together key stakeholders to discuss

  • policy trends,

  • innovations in food waste prevention and reduction.

  • opportunities at the local level for successful communication and collaboration around food recovery

 

Featuring  talks on key issues including:

  • legislation on food waste collections globally, nationally and locally.

  • successful local industry leaders in food recovery.

  • effective strategies and partnerships to support food recovery and redistribution. 

 

The goal of this forum is to encourage public-private collaboration, connecting champions of food waste reduction and valorization. 

 

With ample time to network and to raise issues with speakers throughout the morning, this is a not-to-miss event for any food retailer or distributor wanting to be part of the food waste solution.

 

9:00 am to 1:00 pm February 22, 2018.  Lunch will be provided. 

ABOUT THE FORUM

contact

Food waste is a global issue that touches all layers of society, from households to government, retail to industry.  Research indicates that as much as 40% of our food supply is wasted, with collateral damage that includes economic loss, unnecessary food insecurity as well as climate and environmental issues. Major contributors to the issue include confusion about food expiration labels, local composting rules, and liability surrounding food donations.

 

Wasted food costs producers and customers billions of dollars a year and puts extra strain on the environment at a time when the food system as a whole is coming under increasing pressure through growing demand. Canadians throw out more than $31 billion of fresh, edible food each year.

 

Food insecurity is a significant problem in London. 26,000 Londoners are food insecure, as they are not able to afford to eat a sufficient, safe and nutritious diet on a regular basis. 3,600 families (over 8,000 individuals) access the Food Bank each month, an increase of 53% from 2004. Almost half of all patrons of the Food Bank are children under the age of 18. Income is not keeping up with the rising cost of food and as a result, the reliance on food programs, supported by non-profits and charities throughout the city, is growing.

 

Our understanding is many businesses want to share their excess food, however, they are unsure of how and who to give to, as well as concerned about related liability surrounding food donations. This forum will connect leaders in the food industry, as well as social service organizations who are able to receive food, to learn about opportunities to support the minimization of food waste in tandem with increasing food security in London.

WHY SHOULD I ATTEND?

The MLFPC consists of members from both London and the County of Middlesex, representing many parts of the food system including production, distribution, consumption and waste. Our Council includes representatives in the education and non-profit sector, as well as citizens concerned about the local food system. The Food Policy Council Identifies challenges and proposes innovative solutions to improve local food systems, stimulate local economic development, and make food systems more environmentally sustainable and socially just.

Parking At
TD Waterhouse Stadium

Founded in 1878, we deliver ‘The Western Experience’, an exemplary learning experience that engages the best and brightest people challenging them to meet ever-higher standards in the classroom and beyond.

We inform every dimension of a student – intellectual, social, cultural as well as physical. From our home in London, Ont., Canada, outward across every continent, Western prepares future leaders to succeed.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Paul Van Der Werf - Food Policy Trends

Paul is a recognized food and organic waste expert with 25 years of national and international professional experience, encompassing academic research, facility management and consulting. He has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Biology and M.Sc. in Land Resource Science from the University of Guelph. Since January 2015 he has been enrolled in Western University’s Department of Geography’s PhD program, with research focusing on methods to measure residential food waste streams and development of interventions to facilitate its reduction. Paul is a long-time commentator on food and organic waste management issues, as a columnist for Solid Waste and Recycling Magazine, and has written more than 130 articles. He currently writes about food waste on his www.foodisfood.ca blog and on twitter @allfoodisfood

 

8:45-9:00: Registration and Networking

9:00-9:15: Welcome and Introductions Middlesex London Food Policy Council and Hospitality Services at Western University

9:15-9:45: Food Policy Trends - Paul Van Der Werf

9:45-10:45: Food Donations Expert Panel

10:45-11:00: Break

11:00-11:30: Food Recipient Panel

11:30-12:15: Food Donors Panel

12:15-1:00: Networking and Lunch

AGENDA

Generously Funded by

David Pavletic

David became certified as a Public Health Inspector (PHI) in the fall of 2002 after graduating from Ryerson University’s School of Occupational and Public Health program.  After obtaining certification, he began working as a PHI at the Middlesex-London Health Unit and has worked in a variety of Environmental Health programs including food safety, safe water and health hazard investigation.  David completed a Masters of Public Health (MPH) degree from Lakehead University, graduating in 2011.  His practicum experience working on issues related to the built environment has guided his interest in Healthy Environments programming where he now manages the Food Safety & Healthy Environments team at the Middlesex-London Health Unit.  David is interested in utilizing his experience in Public Health to enhance community collaborations and achieve common goals, which includes building safe and healthy communities

Paul Shand

Paul is an associate at McCall Dawson Osterberg Handler LLP. Paul graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology, concentrating in social change and social justice and a minor in applied ethics. He attended law school at the University of Western Ontario where he earned the degree of Juris Doctor in 2016.

 

Prior to pursuing a career in law, Paul worked as a chef for over ten years. Paul helps organize the London Lawyers Feed the Hungry meal program from September to April each year and is a member of the Middlesex-London Food Policy Council.

bottom of page