Food waste project for Glasgow pupils thanks to Prince Charles and Jamie Oliver

Prince Charles’s The Prince’s Foundation has launched the project with chef Jamie Oliver and TV presenter and farmer Jimmy Doherty.

Over the course of the programme young people will have the opportunity to learn from experts in farming and cooking, including Jimmy Doherty and Jamie Oliver.

The programme will engage pupils in hands-on horticulture and farming activity, including industry visits and the opportunity to explore the inner workings of factories and meeting rare breeds of animals like those reared on Jimmy’s farm.

Glasgow’s St Thomas Aquinas Secondary is one of four schools taking part in the pilot project at the charity’s Dumfries House headquarters in East Ayrshire.

Jamie Oliver said: “Understanding where food comes from, how it’s grown and the impact it has on communities and the planet is so vital in helping us better understand how the food choices we make can have a positive impact on the planet.

“Combining food education and sustainability is really unique to this programme, and I have developed a series of recipes, tips and hacks to show the kids taking part how to make their food go further so they can limit food waste at home - which is not only good for the planet but it’s good for the wallet too.”

Developed with The Soil Association, the Food For The Future programme will initially include 48 pupils from the four participating secondary schools - with an aspiration for it to eventually be rolled out nationally.

The idea is to champion sustainability and combat food waste by giving young people a greater understanding of how the food system works, how it impacts the environment and how to better champion sustainable practices.

Jacqueline Farrell, education director for The Prince’s Foundation at Dumfries House, said: “Sustainability and nature-based learning are the common thread that runs through all the education programmes delivered by The Prince’s Foundation.

“Through our programme Food For The Future, we hope to inspire young people to think about food and waste in a completely different way.

“After immersing them in the practical process and science related to food production systems from the ground up, we will challenge them to come up with their own sustainable solutions to tackling food waste before providing them with the support needed to become food champions at home, at school and in their communities.”

Young people will be given the chance to improve their skills and confidence in the kitchen with Jamie Oliver’s expertise in food education to guide them.

The programme will help equip students with the right skills to prepare a range of seasonal, nutritious dishes while minimising food waste by using ingredients creatively to make every dish go further.

Jimmy said: “Tackling food waste has never been more important than it is right now, which is why I’m proud to be collaborating with The Prince’s Foundation, Jamie Oliver and The Soil Association on this very exciting education project.

“We all have a part to play in reducing food waste - whether that be through individuals making more informed choices, supermarkets choosing to stock food with a longer shelf life or demonstrating good modelling in terms of sustainable farming and growing practices through programmes like Food For The Future.”

To celebrate the launch, Prince Charles attended an event at Dumfries House where he met Jimmy and Michaela Doherty, and teachers and pupils from Ardrossan Academy, The Robert Burns Academy, Wallace Hall Academy and St Thomas Aquinas, who are participating in the pilot.