"Eating is political": Debate with MDEP and top chef Sarah Wiener

On the occasion of the celebrations for Europe Day on 09th of May 2022, it was a great honor for Europanetzwerk Deutsch to invite MEP Sarah Wiener to an exclusive discussion group in the Freiraum of the Goethe-Institut Brussels. Sarah Wiener, who in addition to her function as MEP, is also a star chef, entrepreneur, organic farmer and hobby beekeeper, spoke to about 35 guests, alumni and friends of the Europanetzwerk Deutsch, on the topic "Eating is political".

By Europanetzwerk Deutsch

In conversation with Franziska Humphreys, representative of the Europanetzwerk Deutsch, Sarah Wiener presented the focal points of her political commitment. At the European level, she is committed to providing access to high-quality and sustainably produced food for the broader society. Raising awareness of healthy nutrition at an early age is crucial for the well-being and ecological awareness of future generations, but also for the preservation of biodiversity and species-appropriate animal husbandry.

Thus, Sarah Wiener does not only focus on food and nutrition, but also on landscape conservation and environmental protection. Wiener is firmly opposed to monocultures, since on the one hand their susceptibility to pests requires increased pesticide treatment, and on the other hand the one-sided presence of nutrients makes fertilizing indispensable, which in turn has a negative impact on the soil and groundwater. As a result, a safe and healthy food chain cannot be guaranteed.

Sarah Wiener promotes awareness of healthy and sustainable nutrition with the foundation named after her, which offers practical nutrition education for children and young people to impart knowledge about food origins and its preparation in a playful way. Balanced nutrition and cooking skills are part of a food culture that ultimately has an impact on the preservation of biodiversity and puts the enjoyment of food back in the spotlight.

The occasion for this discussion group with MEP Sarah Wiener was the publication of a cookbook designed by the Europanetzwerk Deutsch and for which Sarah Wiener had assumed patronage. Europe is diverse and hospitable: this idea guided a recipe contest that was launched among alumni and friends of Europanetzwerk Deutsch on the occasion of Europe Day 2021 and the results of which were now presented by Sarah Wiener on Europe Day 2022 under the title "The European Cookbook - a culinary journey through Europe". In her greeting, she states:

"Like a common language, food connects people and brings them together regardless of their origin or status. The programme Europanetzwerk Deutsch has not only combined these two components since 1994, but also facilitates lasting encounters and contacts that span across Europe."

If you now have an appetite for one of the diverse recipes in the European Cookbook, you can download it as a PDF and immediately get a taste of Europe's colorful cuisine!