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Other London events

Food for Thought, Food for Change

Please note this event takes place on the first floor, which has no step-free access.
Past event - 2023
24 May Doors 7:00pm
Event 7:30pm to ~9:30pm
The Greyhound, 82 Kew Green,
London TW9 3AP
Sold Out!
Have you ever wondered what the foods of the future will be? Or how climate change will impact the way we cook and eat crops around the world? We will discover how researchers at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew are working to adapt the crops we have and to develop new crops that can survive amidst the changing climate crisis. Join us to find out how the food on your plate will change in the future and what new and exciting crops might soon become part of your regular grocery shop.

Fonio Millet in West Africa: Orphan Crops for Future Food Security

George Burton (PhD student, Grantham Institute at Imperial College London and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)
Thousands of nutritious, delicious crops remain understudied, especially those with the best potential for surviving dry, harsh environments. One of these is Fonio – a millet that forms a staple crop for thousands of people in rural communities across West Africa. Using anthropology, genetics, and climate science, we will explore how our understanding of indigenous, traditional crops may hold the key to global food futures.

The Hidden Gastronomic Potential of Underutilised and Neglected Crops

Szymon Lara (Lecturer at University of West London and PhD student at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)
With the growing trends in plant-based protein and emerging technologies in lab-grown foods, what is the role of a simple pea and how will the looming environmental degradation impact the future of our food? Such answers can be decoded by studying the hidden potential of underutilised foods, crop varieties and neglected crop species. The role of sensory science in flavour evaluation of forgotten foods is crucial and can help us make more resilient and sustainable food value chains.

Belowground Futures

Dr Nicola Kühn (Future Leader Fellow, Ecosystem Stewardship Department, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)
Belowground crops are predicted to be more resilient to climate change because their edible yield is hidden from above ground climate extremes. These plants could therefore be better exploited for food security and rural livelihoods, especially in drylands, home to the poorest, most food-insecure populations. One example is edible yams in Madagascar. These plants are already key in supplementing diets during dry seasons or droughts, yet they are not formally cultivated. This talk will explore the potential role that yams could play as a future food in Madagascar.

Conserving Across Continents: The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership

Dr Aisyah Faruk (Europe and Oceania Conservation Partnership Coordinator, Millennium Seed Bank, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)
We are currently living in unprecedented times. The effects of climate change and rapid biodiversity loss, alongside the fragility of food security are now dominating headlines and being felt across all of humanity globally. Sitting quietly in the south of England is a potential solution: the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest seed bank for wild plant species. Dr Aisyah Faruk will take you through the history and importance of the Millennium Seed Bank, and its global Partnership, and will highlight case studies where we try to tackle the challenges faced right now.

Your host for the evening...

Lee Davies (Fungarium Collections Manager at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew )
Lee has a background in palaeontology and botany, but now spends his days as Fungarium Curator at Kew Gardens. He is most interested in the cultural relationships people have with fungi, and in communicating with the public on the importance of fungi.
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