Food consumption dynamics among the urban middle classes in South and Southeast Asia
These films are based on a two-year research project titled (Un)Sustainable Food Consumption Dynamics in South/Southeast Asia: Changing patterns, practices and policies among “new consumers” in India and the Philippines. The project was funded by the Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS) and co-coordinated by the University of Lausanne and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, both in Switzerland.
The goal of this film series is to reveal the complexity of food consumption dynamics among the middle classes in two rapidly changing, urban centres: Metro Manila, the Philippines and Bangalore, India. Based on a two-year academic research project, the six films highlight the changing patterns, practices and policies related to food consumption in these two mega-cities. Two films are currently available for viewing now and will be showcased at the conference:
1. Eating in and food waste in Bangalore
This film considers food consumption in the home among middle-class Bangalore household, in relation to the growing issue of food waste. Household food waste tends to be less among Indian households, compared to Swiss households. Some of this has to do with domestic helpers, who better manage food stocks in the home. Some of this has to do with the availability of fresh produce at all hours, making it easier to buy food when it's needed.
2. Eating out and food waste in Metro Manila
Eating out is a major trend in Metro Manila, as is the case in other urban centres in rapidly developing Asia. This film considers food waste in the service sector. While people have a role to play when they order food, the service sector could also play a more important role. We show two best practice examples: a restaurant where food waste has been reduced to a minimum, and a school campus where food waste has been dramatically reduced.
Coming soon: Eating out and food waste in Bangalore; Community composting in Bangalore; Food flows and related impacts in Metro Manila; Organic food in Metro Manila.
Film credits:
Director & editor: Helena Ziherl
Director & editor: Reto Steffen
Director: Marlyne Sahakian
Assistance with on-location shooting:
Bangalore: Gopal Karanth and Megha Shenoy
Metro Manila: Pia Faustino, Abigail Marie Favis and Christine Camata
Voiceovers: Czarina Saloma and Megha Shenoy
With wish thanks to all those interviewed for this project, all the locations that allowed us to film, as well as all the researchers who helped develop the films.
Produced by the SNIS (www.snis.ch)
The research project on which these films are based included the following core research team:
- Coordinators: (Coordinator) Suren Erkman, (Co-coordinator) Shalini Randeria and (Co-coordinator) Marlyne Sahakian
- Metro Manila: Czarina Saloma, Lorraine Mangaser, Abby Favis, Christine Camata
- Bangalore: Christine Lutringer, Sunayana Ganguly
- Material Flow Analysis in Metro Manila and Bangalore: Laura Burger Chakraborty
Other researchers associated with this project include:
- Gopal Karanth, Malavika Belavangala, Megha Shenoy, Loïc Leray and Tiphaine Leuzinger
The main academic partners:
The University of Lausanne
The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo de Manila University
The international organization partners:
Uma Rani, International Labor Organization (ILO)
Garrette Clarke, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
For questions regarding the research project and the use of these films for teaching purposes, please contact: Marlyne.Sahakian@unil.ch