Food, The Ultimate Social Mediator

Learning how to make a recipe from your family — honing a technique to then pass it down to later generations — is one of the oldest traditions of mankind. This is what makes food so special: it is at the center of all cultures, friend and family gatherings, special events and celebrations. Many of our biggest moments in life are centered around either preparing or sharing a meal. Memories are often made while sitting around the dining table.

It is within a framework of sharing and gathering that world leaders adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals at the September 2015 United Nations Summit. The goals call all countries to work together to end all forms of poverty, achieve food security, fight inequalities, combat climate change, promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and more. Food is a powerful tool to help achieve these goals: cooking with friends, family, and even strangers brings people together to exchange ideas and share their culture and heritage through food. Coming together and sharing a meal is a communal tie that binds almost everyone, the world over — when that meal includes foods from other cultures, the opportunity for social cohesion is even stronger.