Riga Food 2024 will host the discussion ‘Forgotten foods: cultures and sustainability safeguards’

Panel discussion ‘Forgotten foods: cultures and sustainability safeguards’, organised in scope of the Riga Food 2024, will take place at the Ķīpsala Expo Centre on September 7, 12:30–14:00. Panellists will discuss food and how it impacts the planet and our lives, share childhood memories and long-forgotten recipes, and how grandma’s recipe will save the world. Working language: English and Latvian.

Panellists:
Ilze Mežniece, Latvian Permaculture Association
Sandra Stabinge, founder and supporter of seed saving movement under the umbrella of Latvian Permaculture Association
Lily Akorfa-Keledorme, Farmerline
Abdul-Rashid Issah, Savanna Agricultural Research Institute
Moderator: Maija Kāle, senior researcher, Baltic International Centre for Economic Policy Studies (BICEPS)

The ‘three whales’ of the panel: Back to roots: How traditionally-cultivated plants and grandma’s recipes can inspire new food preferences? Panellists will share their opinion on how cultivated traditional and heritage plants and past recipes can improve our nutritional habits, and help reduce the pressures of inflation.

Economy: Discussion shall focus on financial benefits of bringing back traditional and long-forgotten foods on the menu. How past wisdom can help us build financially-sustainable food systems and meet the expectations of modern food manufacturers and consumer alike?

Environmental benefits: Panellists will discuss environmental gains from growing and consuming traditionally cultivated plants. They will also share tips on how to integrate them into our everyday meals.

”Moreover, the discussion will not focus solely on food. It will venture into the world of taste, memories and traditions that bond generations and even continents. Have you ever thought about the number of African foods, or food from other continents, that you eat every day? Join us and discover ancient wisdom and build new roadmaps into the world where all of us are connected and lean on each other,” Sandra Stabinge, founder and supporter of seed saving movement under the umbrella of Latvian Permaculture Association, urges.

Discussion is part of the project ”Development of digital education in the field of cultivated heritage plants for resilience of African food systems against climate crisis” funded by Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Republic of Latvia.

Seed-exchange point
For the first time ever in the history of Riga Food, Ķīpsala International Expo Centre will also operate the seed-exchange point on 5-7 September. It will serve as the exchange for growers, allowing them to bring and exchange heritage and cultivated plant seeds, corms, tubers, cuttings or scions. More at: https://ej.uz/Rfseklumainaspunkts