The University of Nottingham Malaysia is running a Food Series of 5 events that explore Forgotten and Future Foods to engage directly with the public on topics exploring the current and future trends of food from farm to table. The events are organised across three distinct themes (Foraging, Farming and Table) and include a food study tour to an Orang Asli Kampung, panel discussions and presentations on foraging and edible weeds, the effects of aquaculture on the environment, and a film screening. It culminates with a discussion about the use of local ingredients with two chefs specialising in modern Malaysian cuisine.
The final session the Chefs’ Table will be held on April 13 from 2 to 4 pm and it will focus on culinary consciousness and creativity about forgotten recipes and ingredients. This will feature Darren Teoh of Dewakan and Raymond Tham of Beta. This series provides a platform to have these discussions with a diverse crowd, who share common interests of food and sustainability. Registration now opened on https://bit.ly/2BNJ09V.
The Food Series was mooted to address how changing climates, landscapes and lifestyle choices are shaping the future of food and diets. From foraging to farming, fishing to aquaculture, there are clear changes in the culture of food. Moderating the opening presentation on March 2, co-organiser Dr Khoo Gaik Cheng sums up the discussion about foraging for edible weeds in the city: “So wild plants or weeds are actually considered forgotten food. We’ve become so urbanised that we no longer remember them as edible food.”
Bakudapan Food Study Group member Khairunnisa nods, “For urban Indonesians, food is affordable and easily available at wet markets, grocery shops, foodstalls, and restaurants. People don’t feel that they need to identify edible plants in urban areas and forage for them. But what happens if there is an emergency food shortage? Wouldn’t this knowledge come in useful?” To that end Bakudapan organizes foraging tours to evoke social memories among its participants in order to document such stories and recipes involving native plants and weeds.
March 3 saw a group of 30 Nottingham University students, faculty and members of the public embarking on an exciting tour to a Temuan village in Negeri Sembilan. Here they were divided into groups to forage in the forest for bamboo, tapioca and edible and medicinal plants. The visitors got to observe the whole community preparing and cooking a local feast for them with the ingredients foraged. Overall the tour was highly educational and interesting. Visitors learned how indigenous people live and fully utilize the natural resources around them in the forest through traditional ecological practices.
Two public events including a documentary about the effects of land reclamation on Penang’s coastal fishermen was held on 15 March.
The discussion on farming looked at two interesting innovations in our farming practices; Farming of aquatic animals held on 15 March and Bringing farms to urban spaces on 17 March. Both these innovations have great promises for food security and eradicating poverty; yet they also come with their share of environmental challenges and sustainability.
For more information on Chef’s Table, please contact Dr. Maysoun Mustafa: maysoun.mustafa@cffresearch.org
Pre registration is required on at https://bit.ly/2BNJ09V seats are limited.
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For media enquiries please contact, Josephine Dionisappu, PR & Communications Manager on josephine.dionisappu@nottingham.edu.my.
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Posted on 22nd March 2019