At the World Economic Forum last week in Davos, Switzerland, a special bonbon was served by Spain’s Roca brothers for a very specific purpose.
The confection consisted of normal ingredients, except for one unusual inclusion – dried tomatoes. The Bombon Kaduna (as its called) is meant to raise awareness for food waste and hunger. Bombon is the Spanish spelling of bonbon and Kaduna is a region in Nigeria where many tomatoes are grown.
The Roca brothers, all chefs from Spain, happen to be United Nations goodwill ambassadors. They are working with the Sustainable Development Goals Fund, which was created by the U.N. to support sustainable development activities through integrated and multidimensional joint programs. "We are exploring food preservation techniques, such as the dried tomatoes used in this chocolate that can reduce food waste and create new market opportunities for young farmers. Preserving tomatoes is our first goal," Joan Roca says.
They named the chocolate creation after the Nigerian region of Kaduna because up to 75 percent of the 1.5 million tons of tomatoes harvested in Nigeria each year are lost due to falling off trucks, field rotting, and other wasting.
While many food experts disagree over the effectiveness of the Bombon Kaduna’s public awareness campaign, the U.N. argues that it has been very effective because it has gotten people talking about these issues.
The brothers believe that, in their words, “the food industry should not be a threat to sustainability, but a source of sustainable development.”
