2015-11-03
Asian food banks held their largest ever international seminar in history on November 3 and 4 at the International Conference Hall of Business School, National Taichung University of Science and Technology. During the opening ceremony, the representatives from six Asian countries and regions (namely Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia) signed a cooperation agreement, under the witness of Mayor Lin Chia-lung; Ms. Sabine Werth, mother of German food banks; Lue Jen-der (呂建德), Director-general of Social Affairs Bureau; Liu Zhao-hui (劉昭惠), Chairperson of the Red Cross Taichung Branch; and Xie Jun-hong (謝俊宏), President of National Taichung University of Science and Technology.
Attending this International Symposium were experts and scholars from 8 countries, including the United States, Germany, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia and over 180 representatives from local food banks.
Originated from the United States, foodbanks aim to reduce food waste caused by overproduction and distribute the excessive foods to vulnerable populations so as to help them avoid hunger.
Mayor Lin shared his own experience in the contact with food banks. “During the years when my wife and I were students in the US, we went to supermarkets to buy foods very often. Those chain stores liked to use the ‘buy-one-and-get-one-free’ tactic to promote sales. As we were just two of us, the ‘free’ one was usually an excess and we often dropped it into the baskets prepared by the supermarkets at the doorsteps as a donation. I have since appreciated the concept very much. It is really a good way to help those in need while avoiding wasting any food.
"Nowadays, people tend to consume more than their real need. As a result, the Earth is overloaded. For sustainable development, we must go back to the most fundamental to balance food supply and demand and to avoid waste. Otherwise, the disparity between rich and poor will widen, and damage to the environment will get more and more severe.
"As I shift from a legislator to mayor, I still feel it is one of my most important works to institutionalize the practical experience of food banks from home and abroad. When I was at the Legislative Yuan, I proposed quite a number of ordinances for food banks, and now I hope to formulate Taiwan’s first food bank self-government ordinances in Taichung, which I hope our city council can review and approve before the year end. So, Taichung will become the most active and most productive city in the legalization of promotion of food bank system.
“Currently, the Taichung Community Food Bank Alliance has established 5 foodbanks. I hope that at least one alliance shop will be set up in every administrative district, and we can form a regional governance in the Taichung-Changhua-Nantou region. We also must sign a cooperation agreement with the Kerry TJ Logistics Company (嘉里大榮物流) to strengthen the transport of resources and goods donated by enterprises and the public in Taichung, Changhua and Nantou.”
Social Affairs Bureau pointed out that currently, the Taichung Community Food Bank Alliance has 3 physical stores, 27 distribution stations, 5 alliance shops, and 3 market exchange platforms; the 4th platform would be set up in the next week; at least 2,500 households have been receiving food support every month; and in the future the city government will try to set food banks in communities, so that people in need can get food assistance in in close proximity.
The workshop was composed of 2 lectures, 1 symposium and 5 thematic sessions. Representatives from the United States and Germany shared the development process and the current status of food banks in their respective countries, and representatives from Asian food banks shared their experience in handling challenges and explored the definition of a successful food bank. Moreover, representatives from non-profit organizations and business firms also shared their views on the current status and difficulties of Taiwanese food banks. The workshop was considered a success in learning after foreign experience, exchanging views and experience and resources, and improving service quality of Taiwanese food banks.
unit:綜合企劃科
