Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.
Seoul gears up for conference seeking healthy, sustainable food policy
The main poster of the 6th Seoul Urban Food International Conference / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
By Jung Da-hyun
6th Seoul Urban Food International Conference focuses on role of cities in tackling urban food problems
Seoul is set to host the sixth Seoul Urban Food International Conference, Friday, at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul. The conference aims to delve into healthy dietary practices and sustainable food policy for cities globally.
The conference will see global experts in urban agriculture convene to discuss the future of urban food and share cases from cities around the world.
This year, attendees will focus on discussing urban agriculture strategies that can address the imbalance of food systems, where excessive food consumption coexists with widespread malnutrition due to disparities in food access.
The consensus of participants is that city governments worldwide should take a lead role in tackling polarization within the agricultural sector.
Across the globe, the low-income group faces the challenge of "food deserts," disrupting the supply of fresh produce. On the other hand, another segment overindulges, leading to extensive medical expenses due to obesity.
Seoul City officials and experts in urban agriculture discuss the strategies to deal with international food crises during the 5th Seoul Urban Food International Conference at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul, Dec. 6, 2022. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
Olav Kjorven, a Norwegian politician who also serves as a chief strategy officer at EAT Foundation, a non-governmental organization committed to developing sustainable and healthy agricultural strategies, will deliver a keynote speech on the roles of cities in addressing agricultural challenges.
Park Yoo-mi, a director general of the Citizens’ Health Bureau at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, will present "Seoul Mirae Bapsang," a practical guide featuring 15 actionable practices for individuals in the process of meal preparation, consumption and cleanup of meals.
The guideline, introduced in 2022, aims to promote a balanced diet and reduce an individual’s carbon footprint simultaneously. It is modeled after the "Planetary Health Diet" guideline created by the EAT Foundation, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Seoul is also advocating for the guideline to be implemented in infant meal service management centers. Director General Park will elaborate on the creation of this guideline and the city's efforts to promote and apply it.
City officials from New York and Berlin will also present their respective cases and policies regarding food education in public schools and eco-friendly school meals with a focus on a plant-based diet.
The enforcement status of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP), an international agreement on urban food policies, is also likely to be a topic of discussion during the conference.
MUFPP was initiated by the Milan Municipality in 2015, aiming to support cities aspiring to develop more sustainable urban food systems by encouraging city-to-city cooperation and the exchange of best practices. Approximately 270 cities have signed this agreement, fostering future food policy exchanges.
"As healthy eating is a crucial aspect of life, I hope many people will show interest in the conference's content," Park said.
The sixth Seoul Urban Food International Conference will also be live-streamed on YouTube (https://youtu.be/f7QyyJCC2hQ).