STOCKHOLM , June 28, 2024 /CNW/ — The Kurt Bergfors Foundation is pleased to announce that global network C40 Food Systems has been awarded the Food Planet Prize, the world's largest environmental prize, in Stockholm, Sweden, on June 28. The recognition highlights their extraordinary contributions and enormous potential to transform urban food systems to benefit people and the planet.
Food Planet Prize 2024 winner: C40 Food Systems. Zachary Tofias, director of food and waste, and Stefania Amato, head of food strategy, at the C40 City Climate Leadership Group, pose with their award certificates with Food Planet Prize jury co-chairs Johan Rockström (left), director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and Magnus Nilsson (right), Michelin-starred chef, organic apple farmer and executive director of the Kurt Bergfors Foundation.
2024 Food Planet Prize Winner: C40 Food Systems. Zachary Tofias, Director of Food and Waste, and Stefania Amato, Head of Food Strategy, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, pose with their winner's diplomas.
As urbanization continues at a rapid pace, it is expected that 80% of the food produced globally will be consumed in cities by 2050. Moreover, food is currently the largest source of consumption-based emissions in major cities (13-20%).
C40’s Food Systems Network works directly with more than 50 member cities around the world to develop healthy, equitable and accessible food systems that reduce food loss and waste, making it easier for residents to eat food that is good for people, the planet and prosperity.
Through the C40 Good Cities Accelerator, 16 cities around the world are implementing sustainable food policies, informed by the EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet and Health, to ensure that all people have a “Planet Healthy Diet” by 2030. Cities participating in the Good Food Cities Accelerator are Stockholm, London, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, ​​Oslo, Copenhagen, New York City, Toronto, Montreal, Los Angeles, Lima, Seoul, Quezon City and Tokyo. Together, these cities are providing more than 500 million meals. While each city is shaped by its local context, successful solutions can be quickly scaled and refined to suit other cities facing similar challenges.
“We are incredibly honoured to be among these incredible finalists and to receive the Food Planet Prize 2024 from the Kurt Bergfors Foundation. This recognition underlines our shared responsibility to address the climate crisis without delay. Inspired by this award, we are ready to drive change and move forward.”
“This Award will empower us to accelerate our efforts to provide planet-friendly, healthy diets for all within ten years. C40 Mayors are leading the way, taking decisive action to make sustainable food choices accessible and attractive for all, and their continued leadership will encourage governments to follow suit and scale up these efforts across the entire food value chain,” said Zachary Tofias, Director of Food Waste at the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.
In presenting the award to C40 Food Systems, the Food Planet Awards judges commented:
“Cities, where 70% of the world's food is currently consumed, have a pivotal role to play in the global transition to healthy and sustainable food systems. As a global network of nearly 100 mayors of the world's major cities, C40 has a long-standing track record in climate action and food systems and is well placed to harness city-led influence towards a positive tipping point that could fundamentally change the world's trajectory towards a sustainable food future.”
In particular, the Food Planet Prize judges believe that C40, as a local, global force, can work with cities around the world to support them in the areas of food policy, public procurement and school feeding programs to reduce food loss and waste and improve governance. C40 has a unique opportunity to create synergies with other city food sustainability networks to accelerate city-led global food systems.”
About the judges
The Food Planet Prize International jury is made up of 10 people, representing the highest echelons of academia, business, non-profit, government and practice in the food sector. With members spanning four continents and from all areas of food systems theory and practice, the jury reflects the diverse perspectives needed to understand and evaluate the wide range of nominations we receive. Co-chairs Johan Rockström and Magnus Nilsson act as moderators and help facilitate the judging process.
About the Food Planet Awards
The Kurt Bergfors Food Planet Prize is the world's largest environmental prize, offering a $2 million prize to one winner. The prize is awarded exclusively to projects that work within the food system.
The Kurt Bergfors Food Planet Prize was launched in Sweden on 30 August 2019 in recognition of the dangers that the current food system poses to the health of people and the planet, and in the conviction that fundamental and urgent reforms must be made to the way food is produced, distributed and consumed if future generations, and the planet itself, are to survive and thrive.
The award will support efforts to dramatically reduce the environmental impact of our diet. No other human activity places such a strain on the environment that stopping eating is simply not an option.
Unlike many awards, the Food Planet Prize recognises not past achievements but commitment to potential future impact on the environment.
The vision of the Kurt Bergfors Food Planet Prize is a well-nourished world population on a thriving planet.
Press Contact
For more information, [email protected]or +46 73 360 71 93 (Anya Gerzhan).
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450947/The_Food_Planet_Prize_1.jpg
Food Planet Prize 2024 winner: C40 Food Systems. Zachary Tofias, director of food and waste, and Stefania Amato, head of food strategy, at the C40 City Climate Leadership Group, pose with their award certificates with Food Planet Prize jury co-chairs Johan Rockström (left), director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and Magnus Nilsson (right), Michelin-starred chef, organic apple farmer and executive director of the Kurt Bergfors Foundation.
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450946/The_Food_Planet_Prize_2.jpg
Food Planet Prize 2024 winner: C40 Food Systems. Zachary Tofias, director of food and waste, and Stefania Amato, head of food strategy at the C40 City Climate Leadership Group, pose with the winner's diploma.
Source: Food Planet Prize
