|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Crescendo Foods announces the launch of its inaugural Plate2Plate culinary exchange program in West Africa. In partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Crescendo Foods will offer a two-week culinary exchange in Ghana for five participants from underrepresented communities in the United States.
“The creation of Plate2Plate represents a pivotal step in addressing food security challenges through cultural exchange and shared knowledge between Ghana and the United States. By bringing together diverse culinary voices from both nations, we’re not just sharing recipes – we’re building resilient food systems that can withstand the pressures of climate change. This program embodies our belief that sustainable solutions to food insecurity must be rooted in community wisdom and cross-cultural collaboration,” says Dr. Wanida Lewis Crescendo Foods founder and executive director.
Plate2Plate is designed to bring together food industry professionals, traditional food experts, and academics to drive research and sustainable innovation in local food systems while uplifting the rich culinary cultural heritage of the African diaspora.
RELATED: Africa Goodnest Connects the Goodness of Africa to the World
Plate2Plate’s Exchange of Food and Agroforestry
As Africa’s first food innovation hub, Crescendo Foods is uniquely positioned to support the solutions that create a resilient path toward food security. Plate2Plate will foster cultural understanding and knowledge exchange between underrepresented American culinary professionals and Ghanaian food experts, focusing on the food service sector and its role within the broader food system.
Taking Ghana’s Forest Investment Program (GFIP) initiative—which combines agroforestry practices with community-led conservation—as a case study, program participants will explore how sustainable models, such as the Community Resource Management Areas (CREMA), can coexist with steady revenue growth. The program aims to highlight the potential for balancing livelihoods with ecosystem health, demonstrating that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.
Dr. Lewis encourages other culinary or food science professionals to support Plate2Plate by applying to participate in the program’s inaugural cohort or volunteering to lead a Plate2Plate program workshop. With the support of donors and partner organizations, she looks forward to Plate2Plate’s future expansion to more communities.
The fully funded travel program covers round-trip airfare, local accommodations and transportation, and meals for participants. To ensure a truly immersive and transformative experience, the program is divided into two phases: a virtual training and educational program scheduled for February through May 2025 and an in-person residency that will commence in Accra, Ghana, on June 15 and run through July 4, 2025.
Applications for Plate2Plate’s first cohort are currently open and will close on Monday, December 30, 2024. Selected participants will be notified in January 2025. To learn more about Plate2Plate and to submit your application, visit the program’s website.
For questions and additional information, email hello@crescendogh.com.
