Saving the World with Fork & Knife (Animal Politics World Conference Food & Health 2021)
The Animal Politics World Conference ‘Saving the World with Fork & Knife’ (July 10-11, 2021) gathered experts, politicians, pioneering entrepreneurs, NGO’s and activists from all over the world to look into the impact of our current food system on public health, animals, environment and nature. The speakers also shared inspirational ideas on how to make positive change happen. Missed the conference? You can watch the recordings now!
A healthy food system for a healthy future
More and more scientists confirm that, to improve our health, to prevent the spreading of pandemic zoonotic diseases (like COVID-19) and to preserve a liveable planet, it is necessary to transform the food system.
We must re-imagine our food system to secure our future: to ensure healthy lives and livelihoods, to preserve nature-rich lands and waters and a thriving global community on this planet, and to free animals from a destructive industry.
Politics plays an important part in creating the necessary change, in collaboration with bottom-up initiatives from civil society and business pioneers.
This conference explored the possibilities for positive change.
The short animation "A Viral Spiral" by Steve Cutts paints a clear picture of the relation between our food system, public health and the well-being of animals, people and our planet.
Missed the conference? You can watch the recordings now!
Watch the recordings of the conference below - full of inspirational presentations on our current food system & the need and possibilities to change it.
Conference hosts: Elze Boshart and Barbara van Genne (board members Animal Politics Foundation).
Lecture and Q&A: The Eco-centric Political Movement
By Esther Ouwehand, party leader of the Dutch Party for the Animals
The rise of the Animal Politics Movement
By Elsa Miedema, political historian and researcher
Lecture and Q&A: Food and the ecological and climate crisis
By Helen Harwatt, Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House Food and Climate Policy and fellow at Harvard University
Masterclass Food Impact: Ecocide & Food
By Jojo Mehta, co-founder and executive director of Stop Ecocide International and MP Lammert van Raan of the Dutch Party for the Animals
Interview and Q&A on food transition
With pioneer entrepreneur Kees Kruythoff, CEO of The LIVEKINDLY Collective
Interview with Kees Kruythoff, former CEO at Unilever, now CEO of The LIVEKINDLY Collective of plant-based food brands, by Sophie Kevany, journalist, writing on animal agriculture and the future of food production for The Guardian.
Lecture and Q&A: Food & Health: Pandemics and protecting our health in the future
By professor Hans Zaaijer, medical doctor and microbiologist, Professor of Blood-borne Infections at the University of Amsterdam
A doctor's perspective: benefits of a plant-based diet
By Dr Shireen Kassam, Visiting Professor of Plant-Based Nutrition, University of Winchester
Lecture and Q&A: Behaviour Change and the concept of ‘Plant-based by default’
By professor Henriëtte Prast, economist, senator for the Dutch Party for the Animals and initiator of the ‘Plant-based by default’ initiative
Useful links
Why politics matters
Research report about an unique kind of political movement: Introducing Eco-centrism to Politics
Environmental impact of food
Scientists call for renewed Paris pledges to transform agriculture
Carbon food calculator: https://www.vegansociety.com/take-action/campaigns/plate-planet/carbon-calculator
Greenhouse Gas Footprint Calculator: https://www.tuco.ac.uk/ghgcalculator/index.html
https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food
Benefits of plant-based diet
https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com
https://shireenkassam.medium.com
Course at University of Winchester: https://www.winchester.ac.uk/study/further-study-options/short-courses/plant-based-nutrition/
List of lactose free thyroxine: https://thyroiduk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Medications-for-Hypothyroidism-V2.6.pdf
Ecocide
Stop Ecocide International: https://www.stopecocide.earth/
Initiative paper for the Dutch Parliament, by Party for the Animals: Ecocide: The missing crime against peace
Transition Theory and Food Systems
Transitions - DRIFT
https://www.newforesight.com/
Food Systems | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Projects and initiatives
The idea behind the initiative "Plant-based by default, or: "Carnist Put yourself on the list!":
Organisations
Lebanese Vegans
LIVEKINDLY Collective
European Alliance for Plant-based Foods
ProVeg