Buildings, products, communities…and food! Food is the newest target of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI)’s quest to create a healthy future for all – to “lead the transformation toward a civilization that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative.”
Food? It’s easy to jump to the idea that ILFI is just a bit outside its knowledge base and its comfort zone, considering it first formed its core identity around the built environment, building and interiors products, and urban planning.
But, if you’ve ever attended a Living Future event, you’re well aware that ILFI and the people it attracts actively step outside their comfort zone. ILFI is launching its brand new Living Food Challenge (LFC).
In its announcement of the new pilot program, ILFI states:
“A Living Food System that provides nutrient-rich food for people in all communities is a foundation of a Living Future…[The Living Food Challenge is] a challenge to growers, processors, distributors and consumers to design a food production, processing and distribution system that functions as effectively and efficiently as nature’s living ecosystems.
“The Living Food Challenge will address a food’s cradle-to-plate impacts, including food waste, loss of topsoil, hunger and malnutrition, food miles, overconsumption of meat, advertising to children, monocultures, farmworker rights, factory farming, GMOs, and more. ILFI hopes to learn from and embrace other programs that are also tackling these same challenges to move toward a better future.
Jason McClennan, creator of the Living Future Institute and current Board Chair, introduced the Living Food Challenge to Living Future 2018 UnConference attendees in Portland two weeks ago.
“This is not one of my normal talks, as it’s out of my comfort zone,” said Mr. McClennan, to Living Future unConference attendees. “I am not a food expert, and we are not food experts…This is a first draft, and it’s not finished. We need to refine and shape this. We prefer the idea of co-creating with people who know about food.”
The Living Food Challenge will touch all pieces of the food system infrastructure – primary producers, secondary producers and distributors (people who provide the food directly to us – groceries, restaurants and cafes, local farmer stand) – for an inclusive, holistic end result.
As in other Living Future Challenges, the Living Food Challenge consists of 20 Imperatives organized into seven performance areas called Petals.
“What those imperatives are depend on your area, said Mr. McClennan, in the LFC announcement. “We don’t tell you how to do your job. We leave the genius to you.”
In their current form, the 20 Imperatives are:
1. Appropriate Regional Food (Place petal)
2. Responsible Place & Habitat Impacts (Place)
3. Soil Health (Place)
4. Habitat Exchange (Place)
5. Net-Positive Water (Water petal)
6. Net-Positive Energy (Energy petal)
7. Nutrition Red List (Health & Happiness petal)
8. Transparent Ingredient Health (Health & Happiness)
9. Safe Handling & Public Health (Health & Happiness)
10. Red List (Materials petal)
11. Living Economy Sourcing [food miles] (Materials)
12. Responsible Industry (Materials)
13. Net-Zero Waste & Methane Management (Materials)
14. Equitable Access to Healthy Food (Equity petal)
15. Equitable Investment (Equity)
16. JUST Organization & Worker Rights (Equity)
17. Sacred Life Treatments (Equity)
18. Beauty & Spirit (Beauty petal)
19. Inspiration & Education (Beauty)
20. Positive Handprinting (Beauty)
There are three pathways to the Living Food Challenge certification: a full Living Food Certification, a Living Food Petal Certification, or a Living Food Imperative Certification (requiring at least seven of the 20 imperatives achieved).
“Over the coming year, ILFI will be testing the Living Food Challenge pilot with a small, carefully selected group of stakeholders to create a model for the future of Living Food.” ILFI is currently seeking pilot participants, expert feedback and funders.
The results of the Living Food Challenge pilot program will likely present a bleak picture of how far behind the food system is in moving toward a sustainable future. Unlike a building, or product development, people across the world harbor deep cultural relationships and rituals associated with food. Reshaping that chain is a steep uphill climb, but ILFI is attempting to create its Living Food Challenge as a positive path to change.
“We don’t use guilt and shame to encourage change,” said Mr. McClennan, in Portland. “We use inspiration and knowledge and positive support for action.”