Carla Pelligrini, the Executive Director of Food Stash Foundation in Vancouver, Canada, reflects on the staggering scale of global food waste—equivalent to 200 million elephants or tons of wasted food annually. She challenges viewers to envision their contribution, emphasizing the environmental impact and the ranking of food waste as the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases worldwide. Through engaging anecdotes, Carla exposes three culprits: aesthetic standards, misunderstood date labels, and overconsumption. With practical tips on mindful shopping and efficient meal planning, she inspires a collective effort to reduce avoidable food waste, presenting it as a tangible and impactful step towards combating climate change. Carla invites viewers to reconsider their relationship with food, advocating for a more sustainable and responsible approach. Carla Pellegrini, with a career spanning 15 years, has devoted her professional journey to fostering positive social change. As the Executive Director of Food Stash Foundation, a Vancouver-based charity, she orchestrates initiatives preventing food waste and ensuring dignified food access. Under her leadership, Food Stash rescues over 120,000 pounds of food monthly, distributing it through various channels, including nonprofits, home delivery for individuals with disabilities, and a weekly affordable market. Carla's background includes roles in community development, social finance, and operations management. Her experience encompasses international work in Kenya, Zambia, and Nicaragua, coupled with an MPA in international development from Columbia University and a BA in political science from Boston College. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at

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With no federally mandated school food program in Canada, a new group of activists, parents and local chefs are on a mission to provide the students of Vancouver’s Lord Roberts Elementary with a hands-on and holistic food-based education. 

Partnering with local non profits, supported by the school community and emboldened by a broader national movement, the team behind LunchLAB set out to not just feed students but engage them and in the process have created a groundbreaking school lunch program.

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The Coalition for Healthy School Food in the News

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In Planet Wonder, Johanna Wagstaffe asks unexpected climate questions, on a journey of discovery through science, connecting perspectives on and solutions to climate change.

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Did you know that in Canada, roughly 50% of the food produced is lost or wasted? In the latest episode of the Beyond Research Podcast, we’re exploring the ways scientific advancements in nutrition and food science are helping the agri-food industry better manage this growing problem. Listen to learn how local researchers Dr. Darren Burke of Outcast Foods and Dr. Marcia English of St.FX are working directly with the people who produce our food to create new products and generate new markets using food waste and by-products.

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The Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems’ (LCSFS) podcast Handpicked: Stories from the Field explores how sustainable food system research can change how we produce, get, eat and understand our food. Handpicked is hosted by Amanda Di Battista and Laine Young, PhD Candidate in Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, and produced by Charlie Spring, Postdoctoral Fellow with the LCSFS.

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