The fourth and final multidisciplinary panel discussion presented in 2016 by the BGFF, Safe Harbor (Sustainable Seafood: Myths, Truths & Misinformation) took place on November 16th at United Portuguese Hall on Point Loma. In collaboration with the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival, the panel of scientists and fishmongers included celebrity chef Rick Moonen, an early pioneer of sustainable seafood. Local chefs Davin Waite and Isabel Cruz prepared several dishes using a giant opah from Catalina Offshore Products alongside some delicious vegan options for the crowd.

Read our recap to learn about the state of our oceans and how we can make the best choices both at the market and in restaurants.

Read about the scholarships we presented to three local fishermen in collaboration with the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival.

The third of four multidisciplinary panel discussions presented in 2016 by the BGFF, Reimagining Food Waste took place on August 23rd at the Joe and Vi Jacobs Center. Cooks-in-training at Kitchens for Good teamed up with local restaurant chefs to prepare a delicious feast for attendees made from ingredients that are often thrown out, like carrot tops and day-old bread.

Read our recap to learn several tips on how you can help reduce food waste in your own home and community.

The second of four multidisciplinary panel discussions presented in 2016 by the BGFF, Meaty Issues, Meat Friend or Foe? took place on May 17th at the Scripps Research Institute Auditorium. Panelists (listed in detail below) included vegans, omnivores, researchers, a cardiologist, a nutritionist, and a rancher. The discussion was divided into four sections: environment, animal welfare, human health, and technology.

Major takeaways of the discussion: Americans consume more meat on a daily basis than is healthy for them or the environment, understanding the dangers of having high levels of antibiotics in our meat, the environmental repercussions of meat production that require immediate action, and suggestions for what we as consumers can do to improve the situation.

Click the links on the right to watch video of the panel discussion on YouTube, listen to it on SoundCloud, or read the re-cap on the BGFF blog.

The first of four multidisciplinary panel discussions presented in 2016 by the BGFF, “Soil Matters: Climate Change’s Hottest Topic” took place on February 2nd at the University of California, San Diego. The video is currently ranked in the top 20 most-watched UCTV uploads with more than 87,000 views, and trended as a “top tweet” for UCTV on Twitter. The discussion is also highlighted on its new UC Climate Solutions Channel.

Panelists included organic farmers, scientists, food advocates, and a sustainable retailer. The major takeaway? Creating carbon-rich soil can have a big impact on climate change. We need to embrace “carbon farming” or “regenerative agriculture,” which absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and puts it back in the ground where it belongs. This was the natural balance of the ecosystem before conventional agriculture distorted it with invasive practices.

Click the links on the right to watch video of the panel discussion on YouTube, listen to it on SoundCloud, or read the re-cap on the BGFF blog.