Scholars of Sustenance

Scenario

According to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council of Thailand (NESDC), the data report showed a poverty reduction in the last two years (since 2020) of 7.46 percent and 4.4 million Thais live below the poverty line (SOS, 2022). The poverty problem relates to the state of hunger and food insecurity in Thailand: according to a 2020 World Bank survey, 6.2 million people in Thailand, or 9 percent of the country’s total population, do not receivesufficient food. This is due to bothrising foodprices and a lack of understanding of nutrition. Low-income households are more likely to have a poor understanding of nutrition, which leads to unhealthy eating practices and preparation of non-nutritional foods (Stephanie C., n.d.).

Another key problem is food waste, which is becoming increasingly serious, especially in urban areas and tourist cities. The United Nations Environment Program’s (UNEP) Food Waste Index Report 2024 shows that Thais create an average of 86 kilograms of food waste per year, an increase of 10 kilograms from the previous year.

In addition, according to UNEP’s first Food Waste Index 2021 report, food waste accounts for 10 percent of the world’s greenhouse effect, causing significant biodiversity loss and impacting the global economy

Description

According to the Department of Pollution Control, nearly 70 percent of Thailand’s total waste is food waste. The Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Foundation was established in 2016 to eradicate hunger through the redistribution of surplus food to communities in need, such as orphanages and shelters. It is one of the oldest food banking initiatives in Thailand and operates in Bangkok, Phuket, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and many other areas. The SOS Foundation also runs other programs to help reduce hunger. The Rescue Kitchen program works with community kitchens to transform surplus food into hot, nutritious food to be served to undernourished communities. The Remote Community Food Program employs networks of military personnel and volunteers to deliver food across mountainous terrain, providing food to isolated rural communities. The Healthy School Lunch program promotes food security and nutrition for malnourished children in school by providing them with fresh vegetables for lunch.
In addition, SOS Bangkok has formed a formal partnership with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to launch the BKK Food Bank Project. This initiative is the first prototype of a citywide food bank program, which will eventually lead to the establishment of a national network of food banks under the leadership of SOS as part of the “BKK” project.