Healthy, planet-friendly nutrition? Let's green our health!


Can we cook in a way that is healthy for our bodies and our planet? The answer is yes! You may think we are talking about vegetarian and vegan diets: instead, we are talking about food waste. How much food ends up in our bins every day? How often do we let the food in our pantry or fridge expire due to carelessness? How often do we throw away the parts that seem less noble or waste rather than thinking about reusing them? Today we are going to help you understand how to avoid this with some simple measures, that will not only be good for your health, but also for the environment and, why not, for your finances.

Food waste is one of the most impactful phenomena worldwide, a symptom of poor management and distribution of food resources. According to the FAO, food losses account for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, an important percentage considering that the global food supply chain is responsible for more than a third of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The Food Waste Index 2021, the United Nations' report on food waste, shows that most of the losses occur at a household level: every single person globally wastes 121 kilos of food per year, a staggering number!

"Mens sana": the importance of listening to yourself


 

How many times have we read and heard the Latin phrase “mens sana in corpore sano”? But how many times have we really pondered its real meaning? How much importance do we give to our mental well-being? How often do we tend to put it in second place to our physical health?

Focus on reciprocity - New Welsh International Learning Exchange scheme


 

On Sunday, March 21st, the Welsh Government announced the launch of an International Learning Exchange Programme for Wales. Following the UK Government’s decision to withdraw from the Erasmus+ scheme, Wales has been investigating “alternative approaches to build on existing, and develop new, international learning partnerships, based on reciprocity and mutual respect.”

Erasmus+ annual work programme 2021


It all starts here.

On March 25th, the European Commission adopted the first annual work programme of Erasmus+ 2021-2027.

With a budget of €26.2 billion (compared to €14.7 billion for 2014-2020), complemented with about €2.2 billion from EU's external instruments, the new and revamped programme aims to fund learning mobility and cross-border cooperation projects for 10 million Europeans of all ages and all backgrounds. It will seek to be even more inclusive and to support the green and digital transitions, as set out in the European Education Area. Erasmus+ will also support the resilience of education and training systems in the face of the pandemic.

The Erasmus Student Network has previously pointed out that there are mostly positive news with the new Programme, but also that there is not enough money available to achieve the ambitious goals. After a year of decreased mobility as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions, ESN now stands ready to help a new generation of young students integrate into their new host country.