:: Specific Design Brief

CAT 3: Food

FOOD TECHNOLOGY UK

GENERIC DESIGN CONTEXT
The food we eat has a huge effect on the environment. In the UK it represents about a third of our total impact on the planet, as measured by the ecological footprint. Much of that impact is caused by the processing, packaging and transporting of the food. Design one or more food items which will have a low impact on the planet, or a positive impact of some sort.

SPECIFIC DESIGN BRIEF
School dinners often include a lot of processed and ‘quick’ foods, because of the pressures of cost, convenience and producing things that pupils will eat. Design a meal or menu for school dinners that is low impact, interesting and healthy.

CLIENT DETAILS
Your first point of contact will be Ann MacGarry at the Centre for Alternative Technology. Contact by email, [email protected], or by phone, 01654 705963.

SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES
• The ecological footprint of the food we eat in the UK represents about a third of our impact on the planet. Much of this could be reduced by cutting down on processing and packaging and using locally produced foods.
• Many of the food products we eat have been produced by agricultural workers earning very low wages in the South. In some cases child labour is used. Fair trade products guarantee that the producers have been paid a decent wage.
• Health is a sustainability issue. There are many ways in which the average diet makes people less healthy.

FURTHER INFORMATION
ISSUES & RESOURCES

If you decide to work on this design brief, don't forget to consider the issues of sustainability in the different phases of your designing and making.
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