Founder of the Düsseldorf Food Sharing group of volunteers
Sabrina Hosono is studying Empowerment for a Master’s degree and is an ambassador for Lebensmittelretter Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf Food Savers), a local volunteering initiative of the Food Sharing network.
She has taken an interest in food and nutrition for several years now, especially in connection with responsible sustainable management, social justice and environmental awareness. She organises a variety of events and training sessions on these subjects, both professionally and privately. In 2013 she founded the Düsseldorf Food Sharing group of volunteers and has since then coordinated their work and cooperation with others. Working through the Food Sharing movement, she advocates, in particular, the combination of social, economic and environmental aspects and promotes collaboration with non-profit organisations and groups in Düsseldorf.
1. Which aspect of the food waste problem is especially important in your view?
The massive amount of resources consumed unnecessarily across the entire production cycle and the associated inequality and injustice in view of food sovereignty on an inter- and intra-generational scale are the decisive reasons for me to fight against food waste. We have to start factoring in the cyclical value flows behind food as well as, of course, also other consumer goods.
2. What do you consider the best way to bring about improvements especially in this area?
Of fundamental importance to my mind are holistic, sustainable closed-loop circulation systems from the growing of food to its final use. Measures already have to be undertaken against the root causes of the problem.
3. Can you already see positive developments in this area in society?
Biodynamic agriculture has become more of a topic although it is still considered a niche – the same applies to composting and waste management in general. It remains to be seen to what extent this “trend” will be petering out again or whether a different awareness really gains ground.
4. Which institutional measures would you like to see in future?
Courage to follow through sustainable environmental and agricultural policies – active soil protection, consistent waste separation and recycling, the control and restriction of pesticide/herbicide use; to my mind more flexible possibilities for local structures and solutions are indispensable if we really want to tackle the problem and related issues comprehensively and on a large scale.
5. How do you see the role that the SAVE FOOD Initiative plays in the battle against food loss and waste?
The Initiative provides the platform for broad-based networking on the theme but it also runs the risk of disseminating apparent solutions and fighting the symptoms rather than tackling the real causes. Here one has to critically examine one’s own objectives.
