New ‘Reawakened Foods’ Campaign To Promote Global Biodiversity Through Storytelling

Non-profit organization The Lexicon unveiled “Reawakened Foods”, an international agrobiodiversity storytelling initiative. In collaboration with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the campaign is open to storytellers, photographers, filmmakers, designers, journalists, and experts of biodiversity.

Forgotten crops key to repair food system

According to North America-based NGO, The Lexicon, 30,000+ edible plants are available to include in our diets, however, more than 50% of the world’s plant-based nutrition is based on only three crops. This threat to our global biodiversity in the fields impacts our food systems and causes infertile soils, ill health, and a weakened response to climate change.

To address this, new initiatives are needed that will help regenerate the planet. Farmers are already ‘reawakening’ and exploring forgotten crops. This will ensure that the protection of biodiversity leading to self-reliant communities and increased food security.

Reawakened Foods

The Lexicon, which is focused on creating collective impact campaigns to tackle challenges in the food system, has collaborated with The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT for a similar initiative.

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT helps deliver research-based solutions to combat similar problems focusing on the intersection between agriculture, nutrition, and the environment.

The “Reawakened Foods” campaign is a cross-sector partnership, welcome to storytellers, photographers, filmmakers, designers, journalists, and experts of biodiversity from across the globe passionate about food and climate action.

“This amazing diversity of crops and varieties is the result of thousands of years of cultural and natural selection, making it the best bet for making our production systems more resilient and nature positive,” director of Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Carlo Fadda said in a statement. “Knowledge around those crops and varieties are in the hands of farmers as they have been neglected by research.”

Read: Plant-Based Food System Shift Must Happen To Halt Biodiversity Loss, Experts Say

This amazing diversity of crops and varieties is the result of thousands of years of cultural and natural selection, making it the best bet for making our production systems more resilient and nature positive

Carlo Fadda, director of Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT

How will it work?

Out of the applicants, 25 storytellers will be selected and invited for a seat in The Lexicon’s virtual Reawakened Total Storytelling Masterclass. Led by the NGO’s co-founder and chief lexicographer and visiting professor at UNISG, University of Gastronomic Sciences, Douglas Gayeton, the masterclass will offer participants tools for sharing stories of positive transformation in the food system.

Participants will learn storytelling skills like short films, podcasts, and social media content and how to create location-based stories of agrobiodiversity. They will be mentored by The Lexicon’s team along with scientists and experts from around the world.

Members of The Lexicon and creators of the initiative, Douglas Gayeton, Laura Howard-Gayeton, and Alberto Miti said: “Increasing biodiversity in our food systems provides so many vital benefits, for farmers and their communities, and also for customers all around the world who want to support a food system aligned with their values by purchasing more diverse ingredients.”

Read: U.N. Scientists: Climate and Biodiversity Must Be Crises Solved Together

The Congress aims to raise awareness around agrobiodiversity as an essential component of sustainable food systems. And the Reawakened will certainly help to share the story of agrobiodiversity around the globe

Romano De Vivo, coordinator of the 2nd International Agrobiodiversity Congress

Drive policy discussions

Once the participants complete the course, they will receive a digital certificate and work as formal partners with farmers, chefs, agronomists, scientists, and food system experts through the initiative.

The stories created will be featured at The 2nd International Agrobiodiversity Congress scheduled in November 2021. These stories will help drive the discussion on scientific research, solutions, policies, and practices to transition to a better food system. They will also be instrumental in delivering the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through the conservation of agrobiodiversity.

“There is no better place to present Reawakened Foods than the 2nd International Congress on Agrobiodiversity,” stated Romano De Vivo, coordinator of the 2nd International Agrobiodiversity Congress. “Besides promoting scientific research, nature-based solutions, policies, and practices, the Congress aims to raise awareness around agrobiodiversity as an essential component of sustainable food systems. And the Reawakened will certainly help to share the story of agrobiodiversity around the globe.”

Interested storytellers can apply here.

Lead image courtesy of The Lexicon.