Zero Foodprint Asia
December Newsletter

Dear Friends of Zero Foodprint Asia,

Kudos to all who trekked through and made it to the last day of the year! What a wild ride 2021 has been and we're certain we’re not the only ones feeling this year flew by in a blink of an eye! It's been an incredibly meaningful and educational journey since our launch in June. Coupled with the general excitement and valuable feedback gathered from our restaurant partners, insights from our advisors, and getting to experience life as HK farmers, we feel we have been learning something new every day. We’re indebted to everyone for being crazy enough to hop on this journey with us early on, whether you’re in HK or abroad. We see you and we truly appreciate your support.

Protecting, preserving and regenerating life on earth is the soul of our work at ZFPA. But as idealistic as this may sound, we're also realists who understands that in order to make tangible and long term impact, we have to mobilize, collaborate, and create a movement - together. This movement requires thinkers and doers who endeavours to build a just, equitable and renewable food system not only for ourselves, but for future generations. So we can't do it alone. We'll need ALL of you to pitch in and to do the hard work, but the necessary work with us. So in 2022, all of us at ZFP are excited to continue developing meaningful connections and game-changing partnerships; to onboard new food business members; grow our team and help farmers implement regenerative farming practices proven to create healthier soil, more nutritious food and a more climate-resilient planet for all.

Our best wishes for the new year,
Peggy, Joel, Tarana & Lois

Our Month in a Nutshell - Crops to Shops

December has kept us on our feet launching AAF's Crops to Shops Initiative! After months of deciphering farmers' seed sowing patterns, planning logistics, materials and manpower needed; and designing a short-term program around how we can help alleviate some of our local farmers' worries over the impact climate change is currently having on their shortened winter harvest season, Crops to Shops has finally, officially taken off!

In partnership with Hong Kong Farmers' Pride (HKFP), their network of experienced organic farmers, and our advisory member Janice Leung, we dropped some crops to 23 prominient chefs around town to gather feedback on the process and the beautiful produces themselves. After only two weeks, chefs from 7 different restaurants have already purchased over 80 kgs worth of produces from 6 different Hong Kong farmers! We look forward to sharing what impact collective action can achieve over the next few months!

As stakeholders in the food and beverage industry, use this opportunity to shorten your supply chain, source local & seasonal, reduce farm surplus and support our smallholder farming community!

Follow @HongKongFarmersPride on Instagram to learn what's in season, how to cook them and how best to keep produces fresh.

Adopt a Farm

ZFPA’s success is only possible with the inputs and knowledge of a wide range of audiences from various backgrounds and generations. As a team, we’ve made the decision to be extra mindful about how we name and set up our programs such that we refrain from any hierarchy or cultural coercion. With that said, since our last newsletter, we’ve rebranded 'Adopt a Farmer' as 'Adopt a Farm' to remove any possible negative or derogatory connotation. The AAF program’s intention has and will always be carried out to be one that brings dignity back to farmers and their work.

Meet our Folks

An Agricultural Dream - Cherrie Atilano

The source of our food is often overlooked and with that, the quality of life of the farmers who grow our food go unnoticed as well. On average farmers in the Philippines receive a monthly income below the basic standard of living wage (approx. 200 usd). A big shout out to our board of directors member Cherrie Atilano of AGREA for your consistent and persistent leadership and support for Filipino farmers!

Cherrie teaches farmers to take pride in the resources they do have and build a mindset focused on gratitude. Through introducing the foundational concepts of agribusiness, she is also encouraging farmers to dream big and empowering them with the tools to shift their narrative from farmers to farmer-entrepreneurs. It’s these kinds of initiatives that impart farmers with the recognition and attention they deserve. For the full article from F&B Report click here.

Industry News

Global Alliance for the Future of Food

In this new report, a diverse group of 17 accomplished contributing teams across 15 countries shed light on the robust and diverse body of evidence that speaks to the ability of agroecology, regenerative approaches, and indigenous foodways to transform food systems towards greater sustainability, security, and equity. Find the main findings below and the full report here.

Findings:

- In a study with 15.000 farmers in Malawi they found that farms that transitioned to an agroecological system, were 80% more productive than conventional farms.

- Producers making agroecological transitions express increased feelings of joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction

- Agroecology, regenerative approaches, and Indigenous foodways build climate and ecological resilience, foster biodiversity, and sustain ecosystems by maintaining a diversity of production and food options

- A study with the Andhra Pradesh Community-managed Natural Farming that works with 6 million farmers in India who apply regenerative farming techniques, showed an average of 70% fewer GHG emissions than conventional farms, with yields that are similar or even higher

- Agroecology, regenerative approaches, and Indigenous foodways represent an on-the-ground articulation of food sovereignty through the practices of food producers. They are a political response and entail a shift in power and paradigm toward a new society.

“What agriculture provides to human beings is far from only producing food or making money. It plays a huge role in maintaining the environment of the whole planet, the environment for human survival, and even human spirit, religion, and community culture."

Resources

Business of Design Week
On December 2nd, ZFPA’s executive director, Peggy Chan, was invited to speak on the Business of Design Week panel about accessibility to safe, nutritious and sustainable food. Check out the full recording here.

Homeland Green
Last month our lovely advisory board member, Ms. Josephine Mak from Homeland Green, gave a lecture on "Composting for a Regenerative Future" for Rooftop Republic Urban Farming. Check out the webinar here if you're interested in learning more about composting and its crucial role within regenerative farming, climate change, land degradation, and our future food security.

Thank you for sticking around and stay tuned for more news!
Let's solve climate change with good food!

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Zero Foodprint Asia · TheDesk at Kerry Hotel · Hung Hom Bay · Kowloon City · Hong Kong