May was a busy, successful month for the Champions who attended or held a variety of events and speaking engagements. The success of the Champions is apparent in champion Paul Polman who was awarded the 2017 Climate Visionary Award at this year’s Earth Day Network Gala. Champions also attended and delivered keynote presentations at the REFRESH Food Waste 2017 Multi-Stakeholder Conference on May 18, which connects leaders in food waste prevention, reduction and valorisation.

In addition to this conference, Champions hosted/attended the following conferences:

• EU Commissioner and Champion Vytenis Andriukaitis presented at “Rescuing Food as Part of the Circular Economy: Towards a Sustainable EU Food Policy” at the SAVE FOOD Congress Programme
• Champion Liz Goodwin led a discussion on improving business-consumer relationships at the Financial Times’ Circular Economy Summit
• Champion John Bryant spoke on the topic of food waste at the Walmart Sustainability Summit
• Champion Shenggen Fan led a two–day conference on “Sustainable Development Goals: India’s Preparedness and Role of Agriculture” in New Delhi, where he presented an annual analysis of food policy in the developing portion of the world.

Food waste is also gaining increasing visibility through the media efforts of Champions. Examples include Champion Sam Kass moderating a conversation with former U.S. President Barack Obama on food waste and food sustainability and numerous articles and Op-Ed’s published by or about Champions.

Another major event that Champians led this May was the Feeding the 5000 Feedback event in LA by Tristram Stuart. The event served over 5,440 meals from rescued food, such as the 12,800 lbs of produce served. Over 200 food waste warriors participated in this impactful event.