CFS is a network of over 50 organisations, including Anglia Ruskin University Catering Department and Cambridge City Council. The network promotes a number of initiatives across the city of Cambridge to encourage food sustainability in both the public and private spheres.
A 2015 WRAP report on household waste found that we threw away 7.3 million tonnes of food with more than half of that being deemed to be eatable. They estimated that this amount of avoidable food waste was associated with 19 million tonnes of CO² emmisions, which is equivalent to the emissions generated by 1 in 4 cars on UK roads.
Mr Zeichner said: “I am thrilled to be launching the third annual Cambridge Pumpkin Festival, and to be helping to bring attention to such an important issue. Food sustainability is extremely relevant when we consider the rising costs of doing the weekly shop, but also when we look at the bigger picture of rising CO² emissions.
“It is imperative that if we are to leave the European Union, we as a country remain committed to our environmental targets, and food sustainability is a big part of that. We all need to make the effort to try to prevent food waste and source our ingredients more locally; that would be better for the environment and the local business.“
“The fact that the festival is back for a third year running shows that there is support for these initiatives in Cambridge and I very much look forward to learning about new recipes that are good for people and the planet!“
Sam Dyer, Cambridge Food Partnership Coordinator for the Pumpkin Festival said: “We are very excited to be running the third annual Pumpkin Festival. We are looking forward to a fun-packed week with some exciting events across the city that will highlight food waste and celebrate great local produce“
- CSF is a member of the national Sustainable Food Cities Network. One of a number of UK cities working towards making food in their city more sustainable.
- Cambridge Sustainable Food (CSF) is a network of individuals and organisations who support local sustainable food.
- Waste Less, Save More was launched by Sainsbury’s in 2015 to help combat the growing issue of food waste which includes a further £1 million investment to support 29 UK-wide Discovery Communities.
- Cambridge has been selected as one of these 29 communities, Feed the 1000 is funded from the Waste Less Save More Funding. Other initiatives include - stalls, Zero Waste Kitchen Challenge, Business sign up to OLIO and The Community Fridge
- The Pumpkin Festival is a celebration of food and autumn, which encourages people to think about the food that we waste. The festival will hold events ranging from cookery workshops and fine dining, to a pop-up farmers’ market and kids’ disco soup.
- The idea behind the event is to feed 1,000 people with foods often thrown away. The aim is to highlight that the attitude of CSF towards food waste.