Sustainable Food

Workshops on cooking with wild plants, gastronomic experiences involving the reuse of food, talks on nutrition and science, storytelling, games – these are just some of the things Barcelona has in store for World Food Day on 16 October. With these activities, the city invites local people to help encourage a healthy, sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle in a mindful and fun way.

Driven by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Day aims to promote global awareness of hunger, food security and the importance of nutrition with a view to ensuring that a healthy, sustainable diet is accessible to all, to encourage cooperation, and to address the challenges posed by climate change and inequalities in food systems.

Cookery workshops: sustainability and health

Cooking and sustainability are the focus of a number of workshops to be held in the city. On 17 October, the La Fàbrica del Sol Environmental Education Centre will be hosting a workshop on cooking with wild plants, a practical activity that demonstrates how imported products can be replaced with local alternatives. During the session, recipes using local plants will be showcased, highlighting their nutritional properties, and at the end there’ll be a tasting of the dishes that have been prepared.

On 16 October, the Can Castelló Civic Centre will be offering a workshop on cooking with plant-based fermented foods led by Zero Waste BCN. This activity will show the benefits of fermented foods, which are known for having beneficial properties that support digestive health and the immune system, enabling participants to learn simple recipes for everyday use.

Talks on understanding food

On 16 October, the Guinardó Civic Centre will be the venue for the talk “Is it True? Disinformation, Nutrition and Science”, delivered by Dr. Gonzalo Casino. This lecture will help attendees to differentiate between reliable scientific information and the myths about nutrition that often circulate in the media, with the aim of encouraging a critical approach.

On the same day, the Vil·la Florida Civic Centre will be hosting a workshop on healthy eating to support gentle exercise, aimed at people who do moderate activities such as yoga or Pilates. Nutritionist Rosa Maria Rodríguez will be offering practical advice on how to balance a healthy diet with regular physical activity.

Family activities to raise awareness among young children

Families will also have their place in the World Food Day celebrations. On 13 and 27 October, the Gran Clariana de les Glòries urban parkland will be the setting for a range of fun activities organised by the Barcelona Network of Environmental Facilities (XEAB) with the aim of introducing families to the values of food sustainability while enjoying a shared leisure space.

On 13 October, kids will be invited to take part in a sustainable cooking workshop with medicinal plants organised by Bosc de Llum, and in the game “Don’t eat with your eyes”, where they’ll learn the basics of healthy eating in a fun way.

On 27 October, there’ll be a storytelling session entitled “Finger-Licking Tales” with Blai Senabre, followed by a workshop to prepare fruit kebabs, and a practical activity for making olivada spread and herb salt, organised by Aresta Educació. 

Fighting food waste

Food waste is a central theme in many of the activities taking place during these days. From a more technical perspective, there’s the day session “Food waste: a central issue on the 2030 Global Agenda”, which is due to take place on 16 September at the Royal Academy of Pharmacy of Catalonia, organised by Section Four: Public Health, Food and Environment.

Let’s go rural: giving local farmers a voice

Finally, from 18 to 20 October, Barcelona will be the venue for the “Let’s Go Rural – Voices for Food Sovereignty”, which will include talks, inter-cooperation sessions and a festival dedicated to local farmers. This event aims to give small-scale farming a boost, and promote agroecology as a key model for guaranteeing food sovereignty in both the city and the metropolitan area.