Winning Team Proposes an Innovative Model to "Taste the World, Feed the World"

On June 24, the EWKLP Spring 2009 students presented what they learned throughout their program at the Model for Innovation Final Competition. Out of eleven teams, six teams were chosen to advance to the final round. The students integrated key learnings from their courses with their individual knowledge and work experiences to create an innovative plan and accompanying “hybrid model.”

The winning team proposed a model named, “Taste the World, Feed the World.” Team members Maximillian Ventura (Philippines), Pittinum Pittayavivit and Narumon Nualplaud (Thailand) were inspired to create their model to put an end to hunger caused by poverty that they saw occurring in their home countries. “The current economic situation is leading to an increased poverty and hunger rate,” they stated.

The team planned to follow a similar structure set by the existing non-profit food rescue organization called City Harvest, which collects leftover food products from hotels, restaurants, school cafeterias, supermarkets, etc., and distributes them to shelters in New York. The team proposed to combine this structure along with a “restaurant model” where institutional and individual donors could donate to the cause. The envisioned restaurant serves as the main source of revenue to keep the organization running. It will be the anchor for the organization’s marketing campaign and will feature an international menu showcasing cuisine from featured chefs. By eating at the restaurant, diners will be generating revenue to enable the organization to continuously provide food to the hungry and less-fortunate.

Blair Odo and team members of "Taste the World, Feed the World,"
from L-R: Pittinun Pittayavivit, Maximillian Ventura, and Narumon Nualplaud