Repurposing Surplus Food for Positive Change | Andy Du Plessis | TEDxJohannesburgSalon | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

South Africa faces high rates of food insecurity and food waste, with over 27% of children stunted due to malnutrition. Connecting surplus food with those in need and creating community restaurants can address both issues.

Key Insights

• 🇿🇦 Food insecurity in South Africa is a significant issue, with over half of the population earning below the poverty line and high rates of malnutrition-related diseases.
• 😚 Despite this, a substantial amount of food is lost or wasted, resulting in significant economic losses.
• 🥘 Organizations like Food for South Africa play a crucial role in distributing surplus food to those in need, providing meals at a low cost.
• 😋 Community restaurants can serve as a solution to address both food insecurity and youth unemployment by connecting surplus food with skill-building programs.
• 😋 The regulatory environment in South Africa needs to change to encourage food donations and reduce food loss and waste.
• 😋 Addressing food insecurity and waste requires collaboration among various actors in the food system, including farmers, wholesalers, retailers, and manufacturers.
• 😋 Promoting safe, healthy food access not only reduces food insecurity but also contributes to social cohesion and community transformation.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What are the main causes of food loss and waste in South Africa?

Food loss and waste in South Africa occur due to various supply chain dynamics such as overordering, incorrect labeling, out-of-specification goods, short-dated goods, and a restrictive regulatory environment that doesn't allow for food donation.

Q: How has Food for South Africa been addressing food insecurity?

Food for South Africa collaborates with farmers, wholesalers, retailers, and manufacturers to identify edible surplus food and distribute it to people in need. They have distributed over 91,000 tons of food, equating to 364 million meals, over their 14 years of existence.

Q: How can community restaurants help address both food insecurity and youth unemployment?

Community restaurants can utilize surplus food to provide free or subsidized meals to people in need while also offering training and employment opportunities for young people. By connecting surplus food with skill-building programs, these restaurants can reduce food waste and tackle youth unemployment.

Q: What barriers exist to promoting food donations and reducing food loss in South Africa?

South Africa lacks a supportive regulatory environment that promotes food donations and provides a framework for safe donations. Efforts are underway to change regulations and encourage food system actors to donate more.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• South Africa has high levels of food insecurity, with over half of the population earning below the poverty line and 27% of children under five suffering from malnutrition-related stunting.

• Despite this, more than one-third of all food produced in South Africa is lost or wasted, costing the economy billions of rand annually.

• Organization Food for South Africa has been distributing surplus food to those in need for 14 years, providing over 364 million meals at a cost of just $0.56 per meal.