The final conference of “Good Food: fight against food poverty and waste in the Genoa area“.
The project was carried out by the Banco Alimentare della Liguria Odv in partnership with Caritas, San Vincenzo De Paoli and the University of Genoa – Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties and Department of Political and International Sciences – thanks to funding from the Foundation Carige as part of the “Recreate – for actions aimed at promoting RECOVERY, DISTRIBUTION and FOOD EDUCATION” tender.
The general objective of Good Food is to combat food insecurity among the most vulnerable sections of the population in the area, while at the same time promoting the fight against food waste. Among the specific objectives, education on correct and healthy nutrition stands out. To realize this objective, the working group carried out aanalysis of the needs of the beneficiaries of food distribution through a survey of 70 structures affiliated with the Liguria Food Bank and interviews with 21 beneficiary families.
The Liguria Food Bank since 1996 it has been recovering foods that are still intact and not expired but which would be destined for destruction because they are no longer marketable.
Saved from waste, these goods regain value and become resources and wealth for those who have too little to live on.
The recovered food is distributed free of charge every day 377 structures charities that help more than 70,000 people in need in Liguria.
In 2023, approximately 3,000 tons of food were redistributed.
The contextual investigation made it possible to identify issues on which to start training and awareness activities for the structures belonging to the Food Bank, to be carried out with the distribution of information material to the beneficiary people and families.
The work on the informative material led to the drafting of flyers that deal with the topic of nutrition educationthanks to the activation of curricular internships for students belonging to the Degree course in Dietetics and a post-graduate internship linked to the Degree course in Information and Publishing of the University of Genoa.
«The project has allowed us to further deepen our knowledge of the needs of the people who benefit from the activities of the Liguria Food Bank and its network – he stated Gabriella Andraghetti, president of the Liguria Food Bank – At the same time, thanks to the interviews conducted with the operators of the affiliated charitable bodies and the beneficiary families, it was possible to understand the prevailing eating habits. This activity will allow the launch of training and information courses to spread the principles of food education in order to improve the well-being of everyone, especially those who live in a situation of food poverty. This activity may also facilitate a reduction in food waste.”
Good Food: a starting point for future activities
The Good Food project highlighted the commitment of the Liguria Food Bank in the fight against food waste and in the redistribution of food to assistance and aid bodies for the poor, the marginalized and people in need and put the spotlight on what more can be done to improve people’s quality of life. The results of this work will help limit waste even further. Furthermore, education on healthy eating will be strengthened with training and information activities.
