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Day 2 11:00 – 13:00 Keynote Lecture
Lecturer: Ms. Tomoko Kitamura Nielsen
Lecture Title: Food and Sustainability in Denmark
Bio:
Living in Lolland, Denmark since October 2001. Born in Chigasaki, and grew up in Chigasaki/Odawara in Kanagawa prefecture.
After moving to Denmark, Tomoko has worked between Japan and Denmark for various themes and topics with various people from elementary school kids to ministers and the Crown Prince such as renewable energy, welfare system, sustainable society, education, democracy, sports and culture, reconstruction and city planning with municipalities and prefectures etc. Tomoko has been arranging many learning journeys since 2006 between Japan, Denmark and Scandinavian countries.
One of the most important recent projects is to establish Lollands Højskole(International Academy for FOOD) in Lolland, Denmark that opens August 2023 for accelerating not only sustainable and healthy food and water supply but also better democracy in the world through international dialogue, experiments and practices with lots of joy as life-long learning process. Tomoko runs for election of city council members for Lolland Municipality with Japanese nationality in November 2021. Member of executive board for AIDA DESIGN LAB. Member of The Foreign Press Association in Denmark.
Ms. Tomoko Kitamura Nielsen shared many aspects of food sustainability-related issues in Denmark. We learned there is a rising number of vegetarians; animal ethics is one of the reasons many Danish people are changing to a vegetarian diet, but another reason is people’s concern about the climate and the environment. Also, some people may not be vegetarian, but they have chosen to have a “no meat day” once a week. Some restaurants are changing to a “no meat” policy too.
Denmark has been working toward reductions of carbon dioxide; they are even considering a CO2 tax on meat products. If passed, this could set quite a precedent for the world. Denmark exports many pork products. However, in the future, farmers who raise pigs might face a shift toward growing plant-based protein crops such as soybeans. Denmark’s Food Ministry has published a book in which they make predictions about the changing food landscape.
Ms. Tomoko Kitamura Nielsen suggested that people are changing the way they think about food in their daily lives. For example, instead of planning a meal first and then shopping for the ingredients, some people are getting the ingredients first (“rescuing” food) and then thinking about what to make for their meals. She introduced an app called “Too Good To Go.” On the one side are companies who wish to minimize their food waste; on the other side are people who want to prevent food waste. Both sides register, and through this system people can get the leftover food.
We really appreciate that Ms. Tomoko Kitamura Nielsen joined RSGF! She has given us lots to think about!
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