SFA Supporting food through the experience of harvesting organic vegetables/thinning of a large tree of approximately 20m + the planting of commemorative trees ~ Sustainable agriculture for the future ~ “Children’s Food Ethical Master Course” hel

[SFA] Supporting “food” through the experience of harvesting organic vegetables/thinning of felling a large tree approximately 20m planting of commemorative trees ~ Sustainable agriculture for the future ~ “Children’s Food Ethical Master Course” held ​
SFA Press release: November 11, 2024 Supporting “food” through the experience of harvesting organic vegetables/thinning of a large tree of approximately 20m the experience of planting a commemorative tree ~ Sustainable agriculture for the future ~ “Children’s Food Ethical Master Course” held Cooperating companies: Watami Co., Ltd., Watami Farm Ltd., Kamichiku Group, Save Earth Foundation The Sustainable Food Chain Council (Representative: Tomio Kobayashi, hereinafter referred to as “SFA”) is a general incorporated association (representative: Tomio Kobayashi, hereinafter referred to as “SFA”), as part of the project proposed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, “Promoting food support for the children who will carry the future,” commissioned by Senshu
University. Promoting the provision of the “Children’s Smiling Project Work Experience Food Education Program,” which provides children attending welfare organizations with food, “experience through work,” and “relationships with the local community” necessary for healthy growth. I am. As part of this activity, On Saturday, October 26th, cooperating companies that support the purpose of this project (Watami Co., Ltd., Watami Farm Co., Ltd., Kamichiku Group, Save Earth Foundation) will act as teachers, and will be held in the Ota Ward area of ​​Tokyo. We held a “Children’s Food Ethical Master Course” to learn about agriculture, forestry, and ethical consumption for 18 children who attend children’s places and activity groups. Watami Co., Ltd. held an experience of harvesting and eating vegetables at an organic farm to learn about sustainable agriculture, and an experience of cutting branches and thinning to learn about the necessity of forestry, and Kamichiku Group used carrots harvested during the agricultural experience. We held events at Watami Farm Santake Farm and Hinata no Mori to provide meat as an ingredient for curry and learn about livestock farming.
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On the day, we will learn about organic farming and how to grow vegetables, and try our hand at harvesting carrots, peanuts, and leafy vegetables.As part of our meat-related dietary education program, we will learn about the process from farming to meat processing and getting it to the table, and we will also try our hand at harvesting. I ate curry rice made with fresh vegetables and domestic meat. In the afternoon, after listening to a story about forestry work in the Hyuga Forest, everyone participated in a thinning experience where they pulled a rope and felled a large tree approximately 20 meters in height, and then planted a commemorative tree as a memento of the experience. The children said with smiles, “I decided to avoid leaving any leftovers from now on” and “I was surprised to see the biggest vegetables I’ve ever seen.” Noriko Momose of Watami Co., Ltd., a partner company in this project, said, “When children harvest vegetables, they can touch organic soil, thin trees to protect forests, and touch living things, giving them a chance to experience nature. If they think it’s good, I’m sure they will respect nature.” The SFA Children’s Smiling Project aims to build a system that aims for a sustainable society through understanding of the various initiatives of food companies and contributing to the local community by providing a “work experience-based food education program” and creating a circle of support. We will continue to promote activities to expand this. [Event details on the day] ● Learn about organic farms and how to grow vegetables On the bus heading to Chiba Prefecture, where Watami Farm is located, Mr. Shimizu from Watami Co., Ltd. talked to us about organic farming. There was an explanation about the soil in the field, the creatures in the field, and how vegetables are grown. The children expressed their interest, saying things like, “This is my first time hearing about this.” and “I didn’t know that.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53407/37/53407-37-c25a100b66d09d07db412246b1017029-508×572.jpg ● Organic farm vegetable harvesting experience After arriving at Watami Farm, we harvested carrots, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and leafy vegetables. Before harvesting each vegetable, we received an explanation of the cultivation process and learned how the vegetables are grown. After listening to an explanation of how to harvest vegetables, they worked hard to dig in the soil and harvest the vegetables. It was a valuable experience full of discoveries for the children, who only know vegetables that are usually sold at
supermarkets.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53407/37/53407-37-bdd0f6821484f359d08b9c193e4911ba-806×605.jpg ● Learning about meat and eating curry made from harvested vegetables Mr. Hoshino from Kamichiku Group taught us through picture-story shows and quizzes about how the meat we eat on a daily basis gets to our tables, and the importance of the livestock industry. Afterwards, we ate curry with carrots we had harvested and salads with leafy vegetables we had harvested.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53407/37/53407-37-f77bd68290781286d5c24c55ffcde7bd-723×542.jpg ● Thinning experience where you work together to bring down a large tree about 20 meters in length We moved to the Hyuga Forest and learned about the importance of forestry, which is a little-known fact. After receiving an explanation of the necessity of pruning and how to do so, the participants cut a notch in the large tree, which was approximately 20m long, and worked together to pull it down with a rope. When the large tree fell, the ground shook and the children were filled with a sense of accomplishment and surprise. Afterwards, we observed the annual rings and smell of the cut trees.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53407/37/53407-37-2075c4cdbfe2f5e9e908985eeb665f6a-1028×718.png ● Tree planting to commemorate Watami Group’s 40th anniversary At the end, we planted a chestnut tree and set up a handmade signboard to commemorate the experience and the 40th anniversary of Watami Group’s founding. By thinning the trees, which gave us new life, we planted new ones, thereby making people aware of the importance of the lives of living things. I received a thinned wood coaster as a souvenir.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/53407/37/53407-37-009b4d5e9a197147673ccf23bf897ff1-1016×606.png ◆ Voices from participating organizations and children Although the children were a little nervous at the beginning of the event, they gave comments such as, “Harvesting vegetables was a lot of fun,” and “It’s a waste, so I don’t leave any leftovers.” I was very happy to see the expressions on the children’s faces that I don’t usually see, and I think it was a valuable experience. (From group staff) “It was fun picking vegetables” “I was surprised to knock down a big tree but it was fun” “When is the next one?” (Children’s voices) *We could see that they were thoroughly learning about ethical consumption. It was a day where we learned about the importance of sustainable agriculture, livestock farming, forestry, and food. (Secretariat) What is the Sustainable Food Chain Association (abbreviation: SFA)? HP:
https://www.j-sfa.net/ Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/sustainablefoodchain It is a consortium in which experts, food industry companies, and organizations connected through a loose network examine solutions to sustainability issues in the food supply chain that are difficult for a single company to address, such as food loss reduction. SFA is promoting the following initiatives. 1. “Children’s Smiling Project” A project that builds relationships with the food industry and people who operate child support and welfare organizations, including children’s cafeterias, through dietary education that fosters future sustainable consumers, and connects this to child support. HP:
https://j-sfa.net/kodomo-smilingpj/ 2. “Study session on 2R of plastics” In preparation for the enforcement of the Plastic Resources Recycling Law, a study session will be held to consider specific initiatives to reduce and eliminate the generation of waste plastics in the food industry. 3. “Honeybees’ Community” An online platform that introduces the efforts of student organizations and other organizations working to solve issues such as reducing food loss and increases the number of people who take action. 4. Food donation project for children who will lead the future (Senshu University commissioned project) The Tokyo Metropolitan Government solicits business proposals from university researchers in Tokyo and reflects them in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s policies.The “Food Donation Project for Children”, which was proposed by Professor Tatsuro Watanabe of Senshu University’s Faculty of Commerce and Director of the Association, was selected. , SFA is also participating in the project, which will be implemented for three years starting in 2023. What is Children’s Smiling Project? HP:
https://j-sfa.net/kodomo-smilingpj A project that builds relationships with the food industry and people who operate child support and welfare organizations, including children’s cafeterias, through dietary education that fosters future sustainable consumers, and connects this to child support. ●Work experience food education program By providing food education programs that foster future sustainable consumers, we will build direct relationships of trust with the food industry and those who operate children’s support and welfare organizations, including Kodomo Shokudo. Ethical education for children attending support and welfare organizations We provide a “vocational experience-based food education program” where children can learn about consumption, provide opportunities to experience “food” and “jobs” related to food, which are necessary for the growth of children’s minds and bodies. We aim to build a system that aims for a sustainable society through understanding of initiatives and contributing to the local community. ●Heart drive campaign This project was implemented as a model project to create an opportunity for companies to donate food items that would normally be sold to children facing food poverty during the summer and winter holidays. This project was implemented as a model food donation project to provide food to children attending child support and welfare organizations using a distribution method tailored to each location, and to help alleviate the need for food for children during holidays. ●Other ・Logistics demonstration in line with the diversification of donated food ・Demonstration of intermediate organization (matching function) at the time of food donation ・Sharing knowledge, proposals, lectures, etc. toward formulating guidelines that summarize points to keep in mind when donating food