PT - Community Fermentation Workshop

Thematic: Food Waste

The session “Families in Action Against Food Waste” brought together parents, students, and teachers for an interactive workshop focused on reducing food waste in everyday life. The event began with a brief introduction to the PLAYFOOD project and its objectives, followed by an overview of food waste in Europe and Portugal. Participants explored the environmental, social, and economic impacts of food waste and received practical guidance on simple actions families can take to reduce waste at home.

The core of the session was a hands-on workshop led by expert Helena Loução, who introduced families to fermentation as a sustainable way to preserve food and reduce waste. Using local and organic ingredients, children and adults worked together to prepare a fermented recipe inspired by kimchi, while discussing creative ways to make better use of food and minimise waste in their daily lives.

The event concluded with a tasting session and an opportunity for participants to reflect on what they had learned. Each family received educational materials and a jar of fermented vegetables to continue the experience at home. By combining practical skills with shared learning, the workshop strengthened community engagement and encouraged families to adopt more sustainable food habits.