End food
waste

The purpose of our End Food Waste initiative is to superpower the transition to a circular and regenerative food system in Greater Melbourne by rapidly accelerating the plethora of existing action in this area. This complex and ambitious goal requires an ecosystem of actors working with boldness, coherence and the intention for tangible, deep and systemic impact. The End Food Waste initiative aims to nurture and amplify this ecosystem, enabling both an increased ambition and a deeper systemic impact.

Food is a powerful gateway to social and cultural connection and a pathway to building a direct and personal relationship with the natural world. Our food systems can also be a gateway to a broader appreciation of how our complex and interconnected urban systems work.

As such, this initiative works broadly and deeply, from recognising and valuing the connection of First Nations community and the natural food bowl upon which Melbourne sits, to harnessing the power of our thriving circular food innovators, to the role of big business, capital and policy, and of course to behaviour change and education.

Of course, ending food waste is not a new idea or exploration; we are proudly building on and honouring the work of many existing efforts and experts working in this field. It is only by moving together as a broad alliance of actors that this ambitious goal can be achieved.

Why this matters:
“Whether we’re talking about climate, biodiversity, poverty, education, gender, economic policy—the food system is a through-line that connects everything, and it’s beyond time for those in power to realise it.”
- Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank

Current goal:
To be determined during exploration phase

Current phase:
In exploration

In early 2020 a small group of food-based social enterprises formed Moving Feast, a project to jointly provide culturally-appropriate food relief to tens of thousands of people vulnerable to food insecurity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns. Since then Moving Feast has grown to become a network of social innovators working for a connected, fair and regenerative Victorian food system.

In early 2023 Moving Feast catalysed a series of Challenges to set out towards this new vision, together. Regen Melbourne became actively involved in this process and the Ending Food Waste project was born.

This project builds on the inspiring work of Moving Feast and is designed to deepen and extend this work to other sectors and actors in the economy. As an initial exploration, our work will centre on the emerging Purpose Precinct at the Queen Victoria Market. We will activate our alliance around this precinct throughout 2023 as a way of exploring the ambition, opportunities and areas of action that are required to end food waste in Greater Melbourne.

Lead Convenor:
Nicole Barling-Luke

How to get involved
This initiative is in exploration which means we’re currently scoping meaningful opportunities for collective action.

Please keep an eye out for upcoming events.

And if you are currently working in the food system, contact our Portfolio Lead, Nicole Barling-Luke nicole@regen.melbourne.