STOCKHOLM, June 28,
2024 /CNW/ -- The Curt Bergfors Foundation is
honored to announce that C40 Food Systems, a global network, was
awarded the Food Planet Prize, the world's biggest environmental
award, on June 28 in Stockholm, Sweden. This recognition highlights
their exceptional contributions and strong potential to transform
urban food systems to benefit people and the planet.
As urbanization continues to surge, 80% of all food produced
globally is expected to be consumed in cities by 2050. Moreover,
food is currently the biggest source of consumption-based emissions
in major cities (13-20%).
C40's Food Systems Network works directly with its 50+ member
cities from around the world to make it easier for residents to eat
food that is good for people, the planet, and prosperity by
developing healthy, equitable, and accessible food systems that
also reduce food loss and waste.
Through the C40 Good Cities Accelerator, 16 cities worldwide are
working to deliver sustainable food policies and achieve a
"Planetary Health Diet" for all by 2030, informed by the
EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health. The 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. These
cities collectively serve over 500 million meals. Though every city
is shaped by local context, good solutions can be quickly scaled
and refined to suit other cities facing similar challenges.
"We are deeply honored to stand among these amazing finalists
and receive the Food Planet Prize 2024 from the Curt Bergfors
Foundation. This recognition underscores our shared responsibility
in addressing the climate crisis without delay. With this award, we
are poised to drive transformative change and lead the way
forward."
The prize will empower cities to accelerate toward delivering a
planetary health diet for all within a decade. C40 mayors are at
the forefront, taking decisive action to make sustainable food
choices accessible and appealing to all. As they continue to lead,
national governments will follow suit, amplifying these efforts
across the entire food value chain," said Zachary Tofias, Director of Food and Waste at
the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.
In awarding the Prize to C40 Food Systems, the Food Planet Prize
jury commented:
"Cities, where 70% of all food in the world is consumed today,
play a pivotal role in the global transformation to healthy and
sustainable food systems. C40, a global network of nearly 100
mayors of the world's leading cities, has a long track-record in
climate action and increasingly food systems, and can provide
city-led leverage towards positive tipping points that can
radically shift the global trajectory towards a sustainable food
future.
In particular, the Food Planet Prize jury sees that C40, a
locally anchored global force, can work with cities across the
world, supporting them in areas of food policy, public procurement
and school food programs to reduce food loss and waste, and improve
governance. C40 has a unique opportunity to build synergies with
other urban sustainability networks on food and provide a city-led
global acceleration for our food system."
About the Jury
The Food Planet Prize International jury has ten members,
representing the very best of academia, business, non-profit, civil
service, and practical work within food. With members located on
four continents and in all parts of the food system, both
theoretical and practical, the jury reflects the diversity of
perspectives needed to understand and evaluate the broad range of
nominations we receive. Co-chairs Johan Rockström and Magnus Nilsson act as moderators, facilitating
their work.
About the Food Planet Prize
The Curt Bergfors Food
Planet Prize is the world's biggest environmental award,
rewarding 2 million USD to one
winner. It can only be awarded to projects working within the food
system.
The Сurt Bergfors Food Planet Prize was established in
Sweden on August 30th, 2019, in acknowledgement of the
perils that our current food systems pose to the health of people
and the planet and with the conviction that the ways we produce,
distribute and consume food must be radically and urgently reformed
if future generations — and the planet itself — are to survive and
thrive.
The Prize supports initiatives that significantly reduce the
environmental impact of the way we eat. No other human activity
puts more strain on our environment, and stopping eating is simply
not an option.
Unlike many awards, the Food Planet Prize recognizes initiatives
for their potential future impact on the environment rather than
past achievements.
The Curt Bergfors Food Planet Prize's vision
is a well-nourished world population on a thriving
planet.
Press contact
For any additional information, please contact
anya.gerzhan@foodplanetprize.org, or +46 73 360 71 93 (Anya
Gerzhan).
Photo -
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450947/The_Food_Planet_Prize_1.jpg
Winner of the Food Planet Prize 2024: C40 Food Systems.
Zachary Tofias, Director of Food and
Waste, and Stefania Amato, Head of
Food Strategy at C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, posing with
the winner's diploma together with the Co-Chairs of the Food Planet
Prize jury: Johan Rockström (left), Director of the Potsdam
Institute for Climate Impact Research, and Magnus Nilsson (right), Michelin Star Chef,
organic apple farmer and Director-General of the Curt Bergfors
Foundation.
Photo -
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450946/The_Food_Planet_Prize_2.jpg
Winner of the Food Planet Prize 2024: C40 Food Systems.
Zachary Tofias, Director of Food and
Waste, and Stefania Amato, Head of
Food Strategy at C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, posing with
the winner's diploma.
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SOURCE The Food Planet Prize