Ronni Kahn

Last updated

Ronni Kahn
Ronni Kahn at the Australia Day ceremony in Wagga Wagga.jpg
Kahn at the 2012 Australia Day ceremony in Wagga Wagga
Born
Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality Australian / South African / Israeli
Occupation Social entrepreneur
Known forFounder of the Australian food rescue charity OzHarvest

Ronni Kahn AO is an Australian social entrepreneur, best known for founding the food rescue charity OzHarvest.

Contents

Born in South Africa, Kahn moved to Israel where she lived on a kibbutz for many years before immigrating to Australia in 1998 and starting an events management business. [1] Whilst on a holiday to South Africa, she was galvanised into action by a friend when visiting Soweto who told her that "she was responsible for electricity in Soweto". Kahn recalls that was the moment her life of purpose began. I knew I had to come back and do something meaningful for other people..." [2] Building on her experience in corporate hospitality, she was shocked by the amount of food waste, although not initially aware of the relationship between food waste and environmental problems. [3]

OzHarvest

OzHarvest truck, in distinctive yellow and black branding, delivering food to St James' Church, Sydney supporting the church's Sister Freda Mission to provide for those in need of food. 2021.01.03 Oz Harvest at St James.jpg
OzHarvest truck, in distinctive yellow and black branding, delivering food to St James' Church, Sydney supporting the church's Sister Freda Mission to provide for those in need of food.

Kahn founded OzHarvest in 2004, initially with the support of people in the restaurant and catering industries in Sydney. [1] It is a non-denominational charity that rescues excess food which would otherwise be discarded and distributes it to charities supporting the vulnerable around Australia. [4] After lobbying for changes to civil liability and health legislation that prevented food donors from supplying excess food, the legislation was changed in four Australian states starting in New South Wales in 2005. [5] Kahn says OzHarvest "delivers the equivalent of 25 million meals a year that would otherwise be dumped". [3] Kahn was behind the creation of the NEST [6] program – Nutrition, Education & Sustenance Training – which aims to educate vulnerable Australians about nutrition and healthy eating, providing valuable life skills to disadvantaged and marginalized communities.

In her advocacy, Kahn highlights the broader global issues affecting food waste. In 2017 OzHarvest for the fifth year partnered with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) on the Think.Eat.Save Campaign. In December 2014 Ronni traveled to attend the Sustainable Innovation Forum in Lima, Peru as part of the Think.Eat.Save campaign - held at the margins of the UNFCCC Climate Change Conference. The event served to remind delegates of the level that food waste contributes to dangerous greenhouse gasses which affect climate change and the amount of resources squandered when food is wasted. She has said that "If food waste was a country, it would be the third biggest emitter of carbon and methane gas after the US and China". [3]

In 2018, Kahn was looking for a location in Sydney to establish a refettorio in collaboration with Italian chef and restaurateur Massimo Bottura, whom she had met in 2016 and who established a series not-for-profit restaurants that aim “to empower communities to fight food waste through social inclusion”. The plan is for OzHarvest to look after the site, operations, volunteers and supply of rescued food as well as communicate with agencies that supply food to people in need. [7] In 2020, the chosen site for the OzHarvest Refettorio was announced as 481 Crown Street, Sydney. [8] In 2022, OzHarvest served its 50 millionth donated meal. [9]

Food Fighter (2018)

A biographical/documentary film about Kahn's crusade to reduce food waste was released in 2018. It was produced and directed by Daniel Goldberg over two years and covers Kahn's efforts in Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Thailand. [10]

A Repurposed Life (2020)

Kahn's memoir A Repurposed Life was released in 2020. [11] Kahn said: “I didn’t grow up being ambitious about anything, but when you find your calling, then you are empowered by a force that is unstoppable.'' [12]

Awards

Ronni Kahn has been acknowledged as a leader in the fields of entrepreneurship, social impact and innovation. Her contributions have been widely recognised through numerous awards including:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Oliver</span> British chef and restaurateur (born 1975)

James Trevor Oliver MBE OSI is an English restaurateur and cookbook author. He is known for his casual approach to cuisine, which has led him to front numerous television shows and open many restaurants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Gilmore</span> Australian poet (1865–1962)

Dame Mary Jean Gilmore was an Australian writer and journalist known for her prolific contributions to Australian literature and the broader national discourse. She wrote both prose and poetry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis Stone</span> Australian chef, author and television personality (born 1975)

Curtis Travis Stone is an Australian celebrity chef, author and television personality. Stone has been the fresh food and recipes ambassador for Coles Supermarkets in Australia since 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feeding America</span> US nonprofit organization and food bank network

Feeding America is a United States–based nonprofit organization that is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies. Forbes ranks it as the largest U.S. charity by revenue. Feeding America was known as America's Second Harvest until August 31, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Project Angel Food</span> Nonprofit organization in the U.S.

Project Angel Food is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Los Angeles County which provides free meals for people too sick to shop and cook for themselves. Project Angel Food serves the majority of Los Angeles County with South Los Angeles and Metro Los Angeles being the two largest service areas for the organization. As of 2017, their clientele is 39% Hispanic and Latino, 29% African-American, 21% non-Hispanic White, and 11% from other races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food rescue</span>

Food rescue, also called food recovery, food salvage or surplus food redistribution, is the practice of gleaning edible food that would otherwise go to waste from places such as farms, produce markets, grocery stores, restaurants, or dining facilities and distributing it to local emergency food programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maggie Beer</span> Australian chef, food author, restaurateur, and food manufacturer

Maggie Beer is an Australian chef, food author, restaurateur, and food manufacturer. Beer is one of the judges on The Great Australian Bake Off alongside Matt Moran and is also a regular guest on MasterChef Australia.

FareShare is an Australian not-for-profit food rescue organisation that operates Australia's largest charity kitchens located in Melbourne and Brisbane. Its mission is to mobilise volunteers to cook delicious, free meals from rescued, donated and homegrown ingredients to improve the lives of Australians in hardship.

Mandelbaum House in Sydney, Australia, is a Jewish residential college open to both men and women, regardless of religion or nationality, affiliated with the University of Sydney. The college accommodates approximately 38 residents, mainly undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as visiting academics. Opened on 18 February 1996 on a site donated by the University of Sydney, it is the youngest college on campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gina Keatley</span> American actress

Gina Keatley is an American nutritionist, media personality, and television host. She is better known for her food-focused television shows and her approach to health and weight loss. Gina was awarded The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition Community Leadership Award in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massimo Bottura</span> Award-Winning Chef, Restaurateur

Massimo Bottura is an Italian restaurateur and the chef patron of Osteria Francescana, a three-Michelin-star restaurant based in Modena, Italy ranked No.1 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list twice and currently part of the Best of the Best list.

City Harvest is one of New York City's largest food rescue organizations. The organization collects food waste from restaurants, bakeries, and cafes.

The MAD Symposium is an annual symposium held in Copenhagen, Denmark consisting of

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Purchese</span> British pastry chef, author and television personality

Darren Purchese is a British pastry chef, author and television personality. He is the creator of the popular cake and dessert business, Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio, in Melbourne, Australia. Darren is a regular guest chef on Network 10's Masterchef Australia. He is scheduled to judge The Great Australian Bake Off starting in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nadia Lim</span> New Zealand celebrity chef, entrepreneur, food writer and television personality

Nadia Rui-chi Lim is a New Zealand celebrity chef, entrepreneur, food writer and television personality. Lim is known as the self-proclaimed "Nude Cook" as an advocate of natural, unprocessed foods, and for creating healthy, nutritious recipes by putting a health focus behind food, which is influenced by her background as a clinical dietitian.

Julia Hasting is a German graphic designer. She is the Creative Director of Phaidon Press, head of the design department. She is known for the many best-selling books she designed such as Andy Warhol Catalogue Raisonné, magnumº, A Day at elBulli, and Bruce Nauman: the True Artist.

Lauren Murdoch is an Australian head chef.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meal kit</span> Subscription service–foodservice business model

A meal kit is a subscription service–foodservice business model where a company sends customers pre-portioned and sometimes partially-prepared food ingredients and recipes to prepare home-cooked meals. Services that send pre-cooked meals are called meal delivery services. This subscription model has been cited as an example of the personalization of the food and beverage industry.

Felix Project is a United Kingdom charitable organization that saves surplus food from suppliers and redistributes it to charities. It has the dual aim to help reduce food surplus. The Waste & Resources Action Programme estimate that 10 million tonnes of food was thrown away in the UK in 2016 and help relieve food poverty (Sustain estimate 18% or one in five London pupils are at risk of hunger every day.

City Harvest London is a charitable organisation focused on alleviating food insecurity and food waste across London. City Harvest feeds over 12,000 Londoners a day with quality, nutritious, surplus food from a myriad of food producers. City Harvest delivers food to over 350 organisations and projects in London that serve almost every vulnerable group in the capital including but not limited to; children, refugees, families, women facing domestic violence, the homeless. Food often acts as a tool that breaks down barriers between organisations and their users and becomes a gateway to services which address other societal issues.

References

  1. 1 2 "Australia Day 2012". Wagga Wagga City Council. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  2. "Ronni Kahn" (streaming video). The Enriched List. 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 Wood, Stephanie (1 June 2019). "'We are gluttons': our excessive food habits are creating a global wasteland". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  4. "Rich harvest: Ronni Kahn, Founder of OzHarvest". Women in Focus. Commonwealth Bank. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  5. NSW Civil Liability Act 2002 - Sect 58C
  6. wearethenest.com.au, The Nest -. "NEST - Nutrition Education Sustenance Training - OzHarvest". OzHarvest. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  7. Spring, Alexandra (4 April 2019). "Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura to open community restaurant for homeless in Sydney". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  8. Bolles, Scott (6 July 2020). "Top Italian chef Massimo Bottura to open OzHarvest Refettorio in Sydney". Good Food.
  9. "Food charity group OzHarvest dishes up its 50 millionth meal as grocery bills skyrocket". ABC News . 27 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  10. "Food Fighter (2018)". IMDb. 2018.
  11. Kahn, Ronni; Chapnik, Jessica (2020). A Repurposed Life. Crows Nest, N.S.W. Australia: Murdoch Books Australia. ISBN   9781760525903.
  12. McManus, Bridget (26 December 2020). "Keeping treasurers and celebrity chefs onside in the war on food waste". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  13. "Ronni Kahn 2010 Local Hero Award". National Australian Day Council. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  14. Patten, Sally (17 October 2018). "Women of Influence 2018 winner fights for recognition of Indigenous Australians". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 18 October 2018.