Building Sustainable Food Security through Disaster Preparedness with Local Strength

In an innovative approach to disaster preparedness, Food Bank Aichi is pioneering a circular model that utilizes excess disaster food supplies set to expire. As companies and local governments often face the challenge of discarding meals as they reach their expiration date, this initiative aims to explore ways to recycle those foods effectively while supporting community needs. The operation often results in the disposal of hundreds or even thousands of meals each year, accumulating significant processing costs that can sometimes reach hundreds of thousands of yen.

To showcase this effective model, Food Bank Aichi will participate in the Disaster Preparedness Forum 2025, where the organization will introduce its unique mechanisms that allow the acceptance of food supplies of various types and quantities, thereby reducing disposal costs and minimizing the workload for managing disaster preparedness efforts.

About the Disaster Preparedness Forum 2025

The Disaster Preparedness Forum is an annual gathering in Chiyoda, Tokyo, hosted by Seiwa Business Co., Ltd. It encourages collaboration between companies and governmental entities focused on emergency preparedness, ranging from the acquisition of essential supplies to BCP establishment and management. This event aims to elevate disaster resilience by sharing valuable information among stakeholders.

Food Bank Aichi will focus its presentation on the theme of “Reuse During Food Supply Replacement,” addressing significant issues that both businesses and governments face regarding food stocks.

Key Challenges Faced by Businesses and Local Governments

For many organizations, managing disaster food supplies poses four critical challenges:

1. Disposal Costs: The process of disposing of large volumes of food not only incurs costs related to waste management but can also escalate to millions of yen depending on the quantity.
2. Environmental Impact: Food waste contributes to carbon dioxide emissions, raising concerns relative to CSR and SDGs initiatives.
3. Social Image: The societal backlash against discarding still-edible foods can create cognitive dissonance among employees and present a significant psychological burden on staff.
4. Administrative Burden: Many charitable organizations request specific items in small quantities, making coordination burdensome. Auditing and identifying potential donation recipients also requires considerable time.

Conversely, many food banks, including Food Bank Aichi, frequently encounter constraints, such as insufficient warehouse space or limited types of accepted items, leading to missed opportunities for donations. With its extensive network, Food Bank Aichi is equipped to handle large donations and can facilitate connections with nearby food banks. This forum is an opportunity to introduce a system that prevents waste and fosters support for those in need.

Features of Food Bank Aichi

Based in Aichi Prefecture, Food Bank Aichi is dedicated to simultaneously reducing food waste while supporting those in need. Here are some key features:

- Network Strength: They collaborate with food banks nationwide, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, efficiently accommodating large donations.
- Diverse Support Recipients: This includes child meal programs, single-parent households, low-income individuals, welfare facilities, students in need, international students, and emergency support during disasters.
- Flexibility: The organization works closely with donating companies and municipalities, achieving optimal distribution based on their specific circumstances.

Their robust system serves as a lifeline for businesses and governments looking to donate disaster preparedness supplies responsibly. Donations accepted must meet safety and quality standards: they should be unopened, properly stored, and have at least three months until the expiration date. Organizations may also discuss options for near-expiration items based on their specific situations.

Food Bank Aichi’s Booth at the Forum

At their booth during the Disaster Preparedness Forum, Food Bank Aichi aims to convey the following essential messages to attendees:

- The process of donating disaster foods (from businesses and local governments to food banks and community support).
- An introduction to the rolling stock model beneficial for businesses and local governments, increasing the variety of supplies.
- Strategies to tackle food waste while simultaneously supporting local communities.
- Real-life case studies showcasing how donated disaster preparedness foods have made a tangible impact in support projects.
- Sample activity reports detailing who received donations and the outcomes.

Visitors will have the chance to learn about a streamlined mechanism that turns food supplies, previously challenging to dispose of, into valuable community resources.

Event Overview

Event Name: Disaster Preparedness Forum 2025
Date: October 10, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Venue: “UN:O” Seiwa Business Satellite Office, 2-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo
Event Website: Disaster Preparedness Forum 2025
Organizer: Seiwa Business Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: 4-3-18 Nihombashi Muromachi, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
CEO: Hiroshi Katsumoto
Business Scope: Solutions for building environmental spaces, procurement through Askul.
Website: Seiwa Business

Once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity to Learn and Collaborate

The Certified Non-Profit Organization Food Bank Aichi welcomes individuals for interviews and discussions at their booth, and photographic documentation of their displays (samples of emergency food, reports, and network diagrams) is permitted. Prepare by reserving your spot ahead of the event.

Organization Overview

Name: Certified Non-Profit Organization Food Bank Aichi
Location: 18 Takadaji Sandaba, Kitanagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Director: Hisako Miyao
Business Scope: Pantry operations, food bank services, support for child meal programs, and matching donated goods from companies or individuals to aid organizations.
Established: June 26, 2019
Website: Food Bank Aichi