Sustainable Food Includes Economic & Socio-cultural Dimensions

When the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) defined sustainable diets back in 2009, they referred to eating patterns with a low environmental impact that contribute to food and nutrition security and to a healthy life for present and future generations.

But they also went on to say that sustainable eating goes beyond nutrition and environment to include economic and socio-cultural dimensions. As our conversation about the future of food increasingly embraces the concept of sustainability, our attention frequently turns to the former, but less so to the latter.

However, without fully embracing all aspects of sustainability as we plan for a better future through food, it would be like making sourdough bread, without including the starter culture.

It is from this perspective that The Bread & Butter Project, provides a good example of how food businesses like Bourke Street Bakery can share their expertise and by doing so, build a better future through social food enterprises.

Created by the Founders of Bourke Street Bakery, The Bread & Butter Project is Australia’s first social enterprise artisan bakery with 100% of the profits being re-invested into training refugees and asylum seekers to become professional bakers.

According to Lina, who arrived in Australia from Iraq in 2009 with her family of six, and who is now working full time as a Baker at Harris Farm Markets in the Sydney suburb of Leichhardt, The Bread & Butter Project has transformed her life.

The project teaches artisan baking using recipes shared by Bourke Street Bakery, but also English as a second language and the skills associated with living and working in Australia.

Since commencement, 100% of the graduates have been placed into jobs, including at companies such as Tip Top.

Extending into Major Retailers
Primarily a wholesale and foodservice market supplier, like other food businesses supplying this sector, The Bread & Butter Project was hit hard by COVID19. Their response was to seek new retail markets and to their delight, confirmed an arrangement with Woolworths Metro to supply 14 of their stores.

The importance of collaboration:
The Bread & Butter Project draws on the intellectual property of The Bourke Street Bakery, the training expertise of TAFE, the management and strategic skills of its Board, corporate supporters, and the retailers and other wholesale buyers that form their extensive network.

When asked whether the mindset of the corporate world was changing and evolving to embrace initiatives such as The Bread & Butter Project, Chair of the project, Cindy Carpenter, agrees.

“There is an evolution in the mindset of organizations today and there’s more opportunity for social enterprises as a result. There’s a greater willingness to work together.”

The ability to collaborate without fear of competition further reinforces the desire to undertake more meaningful work and may be an indicator that business leaders are gradually defining 'progress' in new ways.

The future
Growth and expansion are on the cards with Cindy and Lina enthusiastic about the future of the enterprise.

"We're looking to expand to Canberra and Melbourne, as well as establishing a bigger bakery in western Sydney, which is closer to the refugee/asylum seeker community residencies", said Cindy.

For Lina, her dream is to continue to be part of the team that takes the project forward, assisting the organization to maintain it's current growth and to reach more people.

On the role of baking
"There is something about the fact it is bread we are making. It is very universal. It is common across cultures and the breaking of bread brings people together," said Cindy.

"We have these days where we all get together in the bakery and the participants will cook different things and share them. It’s so good to learn from each other, and to see the diversity of what's made".

"There’s something special about bread and baking".

Collaborating and creating social food enterprises is one way food businesses and producers can give back to the community and work toward a more sustainable future.

For further details on the Bread & Butter Project go here.