Food waste is a huge issue locally and globally. The recent proliferation of apps focused on food sharing and food waste reduction (e.g. Olio, Too Good To Go, Casserole Club and FoodCloud) shows that people are finding exciting new ways to tackle it.

But there are recurring questions:

Who is really benefiting?

Are we creating solutions simply for the digitally connected and technologically privileged?

Is there a way to harness the excitement and gratitude from receiving free/cheap food through these apps to connect with people/projects who are not benefiting?

Can digitally-enabled food sharing encourage and translate into face-to-face meal-sharing?

Whose voices are missing from these discussions?

How can we ‘design in’ the face-to-face and use digital with the most vulnerable people?

For BDF 2016, ONCA , Brighton & Hove Food Partnership and MakerClub will bring makers, developers and young people together with people using these services to explore solutions to these questions at a Harvest Hack. What socially-beneficial possibilities might they discover through a combination of creativity, innovative problem solving and technology? With the help of volunteer mentors, participants will gain all the skills they need to turn their ideas into reality.

In the weeks leading up to September 24-25, we will engage MakerClub Brighton’s after-school club in food sharing-inspired questions, and create open spaces for young people to work in small teams to explore the aspects of the issue that interest them. Mentors will help participants move from brainstorming into rough prototyping. On September 24-25, participants will put the finishing touches to their ideas – whether these be apps, pieces of music, or robots. Each participant/ team will present their project to a BDF panel . Participants will leave their prototypes / inventions at ONCA as part of an exhibition during the rest of BDF.

Exhibition / 24th – 27th Sept, Sat & Sun 11am – 6pm, Mon & Tues 12 – 7pm