Nordic nations to hold talks on food sustainability

By Yi Whan-woo

The embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in Korea will hold joint talks, Nov. 5, to discuss how to ensure sustainable food solutions and the health of future populations.

This will be the sixth edition of the Nordic Talks that began in 2019 on the occasion of three of the four ― Denmark, Norway and Sweden ― marking the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties with Korea. The talks are aimed at sharing Nordic perspectives and experiences on global challenges, such as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, gender equality and climate change.

The embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in Korea will hold joint talks at the Oil Tank Culture Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Nov. 5. / Courtesy of Embassy of Norway in Korea

The embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in Korea will hold joint talks at the Oil Tank Culture Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Nov. 5. Courtesy of Embassy of Norway

Titled “Sustainable Foods for All,” the talks will be held at the Oil Tank Culture Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul, with two speakers ― one Danish, one Swedish ― joining the discussion online from their respective countries.

From the Korean side will be Sze Cotte-Tan, chief technology officer at CJ CheilJedang and Hwang Eun-kyoung, a director at the National Institute of Fisheries of Korea.

The talks will be moderated by Norwegian Ambassador Frode Solberg and Finnish Ambassador Pekka Messo.

“The world is still not on track to achieve the U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 2, to achieve zero hunger,” the Nordic diplomatic missions said in a joint press release issued by the Norwegian embassy.

They pointed out the world population will reach 10 billion by 2050, and that the issues of food sustainability and eliminating regional food shortages are among “the biggest challenges of our time.”

“And thus we need to build sustainable food systems to deliver nutritious and sufficient food,” they added.

The embassies viewed the Nov. 5 meeting as a “a timely event” to address global food challenges, especially as this year's Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the U.N. World Food Program.

One of the two Nordic speakers, Analisa Winther from Denmark, will share her thoughts under the theme, “What's Cooking in the Nordics.”

Winther is an ecosystem developer focusing on the future of food. She is also the founder and host of the Nordic FoodTech Podcast, which spotlights stories related to global food and how people across the supply chain are creating the future through food.

Sze will highlight the opportunities in the sustainable food system from food manufacturer's perspective in the world of “new normal.”

Hwang will speak about cultivating seaweed and breeding programs for sustainable food in Korea.

Event registration is free. For more information, visit nordictalkskorea.com.