[Music] climate change and social inequality and
climate change and social inequality and
climate change and social inequality and do all the greatest challenges facing
do all the greatest challenges facing
do all the greatest challenges facing humanity today and while these
humanity today and while these
humanity today and while these challenges might seem as very different
challenges might seem as very different
challenges might seem as very different issues they can actually have a mutually
issues they can actually have a mutually
issues they can actually have a mutually beneficial solution what if we could
beneficial solution what if we could
beneficial solution what if we could address climate change by making our
address climate change by making our
address climate change by making our food system more sustainable while I’m
food system more sustainable while I’m
food system more sustainable while I’m powering and provided job opportunities
powering and provided job opportunities
powering and provided job opportunities for the most marginalized members of our
for the most marginalized members of our
for the most marginalized members of our community at the same time well I’m here
community at the same time well I’m here
community at the same time well I’m here today to share with you about the
today to share with you about the
today to share with you about the potential of urban farming to be an
potential of urban farming to be an
potential of urban farming to be an instrument for change not only
instrument for change not only
instrument for change not only transforming the way we produce and we
transforming the way we produce and we
transforming the way we produce and we consume our food but transforming
consume our food but transforming
consume our food but transforming community livelihoods at the same time
community livelihoods at the same time
community livelihoods at the same time so climate change we all know by now
so climate change we all know by now
so climate change we all know by now that climate change is a reality and is
that climate change is a reality and is
that climate change is a reality and is already affecting millions of people
already affecting millions of people
already affecting millions of people around the world we’re already suffering
around the world we’re already suffering
around the world we’re already suffering the effects of climate change from
the effects of climate change from
the effects of climate change from rising sea levels to changing weather
rising sea levels to changing weather
rising sea levels to changing weather patterns global warming extreme weather
patterns global warming extreme weather
patterns global warming extreme weather events but we think about climate change
events but we think about climate change
events but we think about climate change we tend to picture cars and factories or
we tend to picture cars and factories or
we tend to picture cars and factories or powered ones not the food that we put on
powered ones not the food that we put on
powered ones not the food that we put on our dinner tables and yet if we’re
our dinner tables and yet if we’re
our dinner tables and yet if we’re concerned about threats to our
concerned about threats to our
concerned about threats to our environment the first thing we should be
environment the first thing we should be
environment the first thing we should be looking at is agriculture because it
looking at is agriculture because it
looking at is agriculture because it turns out an agriculture is the greatest
turns out an agriculture is the greatest
turns out an agriculture is the greatest contributors contributor to global
contributors contributor to global
contributors contributor to global warming it emits more greenhouse gases
warming it emits more greenhouse gases
warming it emits more greenhouse gases than all our cars trains boats planes
than all our cars trains boats planes
than all our cars trains boats planes combines it’s also the largest user of
combines it’s also the largest user of
combines it’s also the largest user of our precious water supplies the launches
our precious water supplies the launches
our precious water supplies the launches user of land and it’s the major cost for
user of land and it’s the major cost for
user of land and it’s the major cost for soil degradation and loss of
soil degradation and loss of
soil degradation and loss of biodiversity all over the world
but if this picture wasn’t bad enough
but if this picture wasn’t bad enough imagine what 2050 will look like we will
imagine what 2050 will look like we will
imagine what 2050 will look like we will have nine billion people on their own
have nine billion people on their own
have nine billion people on their own home on earth and three-quarters of them
home on earth and three-quarters of them
home on earth and three-quarters of them will be living in urban areas like Hong
will be living in urban areas like Hong
will be living in urban areas like Hong Kong and to feed all of those mouths we
Kong and to feed all of those mouths we
Kong and to feed all of those mouths we will need to increase our global food
will need to increase our global food
will need to increase our global food production by a massive seventy percent
production by a massive seventy percent
production by a massive seventy percent so how you’re going to do that we were
so how you’re going to do that we were
so how you’re going to do that we were using all our resources to grow our food
using all our resources to grow our food
using all our resources to grow our food how we going to feed ourselves and the
how we going to feed ourselves and the
how we going to feed ourselves and the future generations without destroying
future generations without destroying
future generations without destroying the planet in in the attempt well we
the planet in in the attempt well we
the planet in in the attempt well we need to fundamentally seriously
need to fundamentally seriously
need to fundamentally seriously reconsider the way we produce the way we
reconsider the way we produce the way we
reconsider the way we produce the way we consume or even the way we think about
consume or even the way we think about
consume or even the way we think about our food an urban farming is one
our food an urban farming is one
our food an urban farming is one powerful way in which we can make our
powerful way in which we can make our
powerful way in which we can make our food system more sustainable and if
food system more sustainable and if
food system more sustainable and if there’s many cities around the world who
there’s many cities around the world who
there’s many cities around the world who are already bringing farming activities
are already bringing farming activities
are already bringing farming activities back into their urban spaces and trying
back into their urban spaces and trying
back into their urban spaces and trying to find ways of making their food
to find ways of making their food
to find ways of making their food systems more sustainable and that’s
systems more sustainable and that’s
systems more sustainable and that’s because urban farming brings a whole
because urban farming brings a whole
because urban farming brings a whole range of environmental benefits to a
range of environmental benefits to a
range of environmental benefits to a city when we grow food closer to what is
city when we grow food closer to what is
city when we grow food closer to what is consumed it means that we’re reducing
consumed it means that we’re reducing
consumed it means that we’re reducing the distance that food travels to reach
the distance that food travels to reach
the distance that food travels to reach our dinner tables a refinement also has
our dinner tables a refinement also has
our dinner tables a refinement also has the potential to simplify our supply
the potential to simplify our supply
the potential to simplify our supply chains and minimize all the packaging of
chains and minimize all the packaging of
chains and minimize all the packaging of a storage thing or the refrigeration and
a storage thing or the refrigeration and
a storage thing or the refrigeration and make a much more direct connection
make a much more direct connection
make a much more direct connection between farm and table between farmer
between farm and table between farmer
between farm and table between farmer and consumer urban farmer or returning
and consumer urban farmer or returning
and consumer urban farmer or returning also offers opportunities to recycle
also offers opportunities to recycle
also offers opportunities to recycle food waste and turned into compost or
food waste and turned into compost or
food waste and turned into compost or more broadly at a city level urban
more broadly at a city level urban
more broadly at a city level urban farming can be a tool to green urban
farming can be a tool to green urban
farming can be a tool to green urban spaces and when put on rooftops on
spaces and when put on rooftops on
spaces and when put on rooftops on rooftop farms we can actually help to
rooftop farms we can actually help to
rooftop farms we can actually help to decrease the footprint of our buildings
but urban farming is not only a tool for
but urban farming is not only a tool for change in our food system it can also be
change in our food system it can also be
change in our food system it can also be an instrument to create economic
an instrument to create economic
an instrument to create economic prosperity and create new jobs together
prosperity and create new jobs together
prosperity and create new jobs together with my co-founders and we started
with my co-founders and we started
with my co-founders and we started putting words into action and recreated
putting words into action and recreated
putting words into action and recreated rooftop Republic a social enterprise
rooftop Republic a social enterprise
rooftop Republic a social enterprise that promotes urban driving in Hong Kong
that promotes urban driving in Hong Kong
that promotes urban driving in Hong Kong two years ago since then we have
two years ago since then we have
two years ago since then we have transformed 22,000 square feet of
transformed 22,000 square feet of
transformed 22,000 square feet of underused space into 22 vibrant and
underused space into 22 vibrant and
underused space into 22 vibrant and green urban farms as urban farmers we
green urban farms as urban farmers we
green urban farms as urban farmers we look at rooftops Albanese podiums window
look at rooftops Albanese podiums window
look at rooftops Albanese podiums window sills not as empty spaces but as federal
sills not as empty spaces but as federal
sills not as empty spaces but as federal land for our installations the response
land for our installations the response
land for our installations the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive
so far has been overwhelmingly positive
so far has been overwhelmingly positive and today we’re working with a wide
and today we’re working with a wide
and today we’re working with a wide range of clients from schools to
range of clients from schools to
range of clients from schools to property developers community
property developers community
property developers community organizations corporations restaurants
organizations corporations restaurants
organizations corporations restaurants hotels or even individuals who want to
hotels or even individuals who want to
hotels or even individuals who want to grow their own best was at home so let
grow their own best was at home so let
grow their own best was at home so let me tell you this the urban farming
me tell you this the urban farming
me tell you this the urban farming revolution has arrived in hong kong is
revolution has arrived in hong kong is
revolution has arrived in hong kong is here to stay but i was saying before I
here to stay but i was saying before I
here to stay but i was saying before I urban farming is not only a tool for
urban farming is not only a tool for
urban farming is not only a tool for change in our food system but can also
change in our food system but can also
change in our food system but can also bring economic prosperity by creating
bring economic prosperity by creating
bring economic prosperity by creating new jobs and by developing new local
new jobs and by developing new local
new jobs and by developing new local industries in Hong Kong we’re seeing an
industries in Hong Kong we’re seeing an
industries in Hong Kong we’re seeing an increasing the man for local food
increasing the man for local food
increasing the man for local food especially for restaurants from grocery
especially for restaurants from grocery
especially for restaurants from grocery stores from hotels or from healthy
stores from hotels or from healthy
stores from hotels or from healthy conscious consumers that are growing the
conscious consumers that are growing the
conscious consumers that are growing the mountain Hong Kong about the safety and
mountain Hong Kong about the safety and
mountain Hong Kong about the safety and the quality of the food that we getting
the quality of the food that we getting
the quality of the food that we getting most in foreign lands
most in foreign lands
most in foreign lands and people are simply demanding for food
and people are simply demanding for food
and people are simply demanding for food that’s safe that’s healthy thats
that’s safe that’s healthy thats
that’s safe that’s healthy thats nutritious that’s locally produced and
nutritious that’s locally produced and
nutritious that’s locally produced and that’s wrong in a sustainable way so in
that’s wrong in a sustainable way so in
that’s wrong in a sustainable way so in meeting this demand for local food we
meeting this demand for local food we
meeting this demand for local food we can actually empower local communities
can actually empower local communities
can actually empower local communities and transform our food system an urban
and transform our food system an urban
and transform our food system an urban farming we can do so we can do that in a
farming we can do so we can do that in a
farming we can do so we can do that in a couple of ways one load bed urban
couple of ways one load bed urban
couple of ways one load bed urban farming promotes the local economy this
farming promotes the local economy this
farming promotes the local economy this is pretty pretty straightforward a
is pretty pretty straightforward a
is pretty pretty straightforward a dollar spent on local food and with a
dollar spent on local food and with a
dollar spent on local food and with a local farmer or with the local business
local farmer or with the local business
local farmer or with the local business in turn this farmer might use this
in turn this farmer might use this
in turn this farmer might use this daughter to buy compost from a nearby
daughter to buy compost from a nearby
daughter to buy compost from a nearby facility or buy tools from a local store
facility or buy tools from a local store
facility or buy tools from a local store the more these dollar changes hands
the more these dollar changes hands
the more these dollar changes hands locally the more wealth we’re creating
locally the more wealth we’re creating
locally the more wealth we’re creating locally and I said local farming or
locally and I said local farming or
locally and I said local farming or retirement can also create jobs is
retirement can also create jobs is
retirement can also create jobs is increasing demand for local food is
increasing demand for local food is
increasing demand for local food is bringing new opportunities for local
bringing new opportunities for local
bringing new opportunities for local farmers and for food starters right
farmers and for food starters right
farmers and for food starters right ourselves and in turn we’re creating new
ourselves and in turn we’re creating new
ourselves and in turn we’re creating new jobs but to capitalize on this market
jobs but to capitalize on this market
jobs but to capitalize on this market opportunity with it a new generation of
opportunity with it a new generation of
opportunity with it a new generation of urban farmers and then we can offer I
urban farmers and then we can offer I
urban farmers and then we can offer I alone and attractive employment for the
alone and attractive employment for the
alone and attractive employment for the most underprivileged methods of
most underprivileged methods of
most underprivileged methods of opportunity if we have the right
opportunity if we have the right
opportunity if we have the right resources the right policy the right
resources the right policy the right
resources the right policy the right training we can empower these
training we can empower these
training we can empower these communities to learn not only about
communities to learn not only about
communities to learn not only about urban farming but also about
urban farming but also about
urban farming but also about sustainability about business management
sustainability about business management
sustainability about business management about marketing but construction about
about marketing but construction about
about marketing but construction about irrigation about design all of these
irrigation about design all of these
irrigation about design all of these skills will be useful will be profitable
skills will be useful will be profitable
skills will be useful will be profitable to work in the urban farming industry
to work in the urban farming industry
to work in the urban farming industry but also can be unbelievable too many
but also can be unbelievable too many
but also can be unbelievable too many other spheres of our local economy in
other spheres of our local economy in
other spheres of our local economy in Hong Kong the most unequal society among
Hong Kong the most unequal society among
Hong Kong the most unequal society among developed countries we are trying to
developed countries we are trying to
developed countries we are trying to make this a reality and over the last
make this a reality and over the last
make this a reality and over the last couple of months we’ve been working with
couple of months we’ve been working with
couple of months we’ve been working with silence
silence
silence local NGO here supporting the Beast
local NGO here supporting the Beast
local NGO here supporting the Beast hearing-impaired to trade nine of their
hearing-impaired to trade nine of their
hearing-impaired to trade nine of their beneficiaries to become the urban
beneficiaries to become the urban
beneficiaries to become the urban farmers of tomorrow they’ve been trained
farmers of tomorrow they’ve been trained
farmers of tomorrow they’ve been trained by our professional organic farmers it’s
by our professional organic farmers it’s
by our professional organic farmers it’s been incredible towards the progress as
been incredible towards the progress as
been incredible towards the progress as a result of the program we know I have
a result of the program we know I have
a result of the program we know I have learned some very cool sign language
learned some very cool sign language
learned some very cool sign language attention to this means organic farming
attention to this means organic farming
attention to this means organic farming in sign language but most importantly we
in sign language but most importantly we
in sign language but most importantly we are thrilled to see that five out of
are thrilled to see that five out of
are thrilled to see that five out of this nine participants actually
this nine participants actually
this nine participants actually seriously taking up urban farming as a
seriously taking up urban farming as a
seriously taking up urban farming as a career and we already employ one of them
career and we already employ one of them
career and we already employ one of them to manage one of the farms that have
to manage one of the farms that have
to manage one of the farms that have recently set up a tie pushing but of
recently set up a tie pushing but of
recently set up a tie pushing but of course this is only a small step we need
course this is only a small step we need
course this is only a small step we need to concern effort from all of us to
to concern effort from all of us to
to concern effort from all of us to scale up this book man and you can get
scale up this book man and you can get
scale up this book man and you can get involved with urban farming in several
involved with urban farming in several
involved with urban farming in several different ways and I’ll suggest you
different ways and I’ll suggest you
different ways and I’ll suggest you three tonight one grow your own at home
three tonight one grow your own at home
three tonight one grow your own at home in to school in your office within your
in to school in your office within your
in to school in your office within your community in your neighborhood to take a
community in your neighborhood to take a
community in your neighborhood to take a stand the man our local government to do
stand the man our local government to do
stand the man our local government to do more to take action the help our food
more to take action the help our food
more to take action the help our food system become more sustainable 30 with
system become more sustainable 30 with
system become more sustainable 30 with your fork sometimes we feel powerless
your fork sometimes we feel powerless
your fork sometimes we feel powerless and we feel helpless when it comes to
and we feel helpless when it comes to
and we feel helpless when it comes to addressing big complex global challenges
addressing big complex global challenges
addressing big complex global challenges like climate change but as consumers we
like climate change but as consumers we
like climate change but as consumers we have at least three boats per day so we
have at least three boats per day so we
have at least three boats per day so we can choose which foot systems are we
can choose which foot systems are we
can choose which foot systems are we supporting so use your form and support
supporting so use your form and support
supporting so use your form and support local farmers and now I’d like to leave
local farmers and now I’d like to leave
local farmers and now I’d like to leave you with a vision for a future Hong Kong
you with a vision for a future Hong Kong
you with a vision for a future Hong Kong a city where we grow our own food where
a city where we grow our own food where
a city where we grow our own food where we know how our meals make it to our
we know how our meals make it to our
we know how our meals make it to our dinner tables a Sydney where we feel
dinner tables a Sydney where we feel
dinner tables a Sydney where we feel connected with what we need and we know
connected with what we need and we know
connected with what we need and we know our farmers
our farmers
our farmers and we’re strong and inclusive
and we’re strong and inclusive
and we’re strong and inclusive communities are nourished this journey
communities are nourished this journey
communities are nourished this journey starts with a single mouthful the ends
starts with a single mouthful the ends
starts with a single mouthful the ends with a healthier cleaner and fair city
with a healthier cleaner and fair city
with a healthier cleaner and fair city thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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