As food prices soar, a growing number of foods become genetically modified or sprayed with pesticides and nutrient content in our fruits and vegetables drop, its no surprise that food gardening is experiencing a renaissance. So it should come as no surprise that one of the world’s largest hotel chains plans to grow its own vegetables at 1,000 hotel locations to cut food waste and increase food sustainability.

The Paris-based AccorHotel chain includes: Novotel, Ibis, Pullman, Sofitel and Mercure. The company estimates that growing its own fruit and vegetables will cut its food waste by 30 percent with a goal of cutting food waste entirely.

What the company cannot grow at its 1,000 urban hotel gardens, it intends to source locally, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility commitment. Called Planet 21, the companys attempt to cut food waste by growing its own produce is just one of the areas it intends to become greener, increasingly sustainable and more community-focused.

Additionally, it intends to renovate or build new buildings as low-carbon buildings, increase innovations to boost sustainability and improve its engagement at the community level, among other goals.

According to a news story, AccorHotel has already cut water consumption by nearly 9 percent, energy consumption by 5.3 percentand carbon emissions by 6.2 percent over the last 5 years.

Obviously food waste and food security are major issues that both corporations and individuals need to address. As someone who already maintains a large fruit and vegetable garden and is in the midst of removing my front lawn to grow more produce, I know from experience that the current state of our food supply has been a big motivator for me. Im increasingly disturbed by the amount of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) in a large volume of produce available at grocery stores. And Im equally concerned about the pesticides that have been linked to brain diseases like Parkinsons, Alzheimers and Lou Gehrigs Disease (known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS).

Now, lets hope that many other hotels, restaurants, cafes, other businesses and individuals chime in to do their part to improve food security and to reduce food waste. While there are countless things we can all do to green up the planet and transform the quality and scarcity of our food and resources, here are a few suggestions to get started:

* Replace some or all of the lawn in your yard with fruit trees, vegetables, culinary or medicinal herbs. Of course, be sure to check bylaws in your area to ensure there are no legal issues, particularly if you dig up your front yard. Most food plants look lovelier than the monoculture we call grass and contribute far more to our health and the health of the planet.

* If you dont have a lawn or garden area you can still grow more of your own food in pots on a balcony or as part of a rooftop garden. These gardens not only boost our food supply and reduce transportation costs and carbon emissions from food transportation, they also help to create beautiful sanctuaries where we can get some relaxation in our hectic lives.

* Choose organic food as much as possible. Organic is less polluting to the environment and our bodies and doesnt contain GMOs. Plus, its how things grew for thousands of years. Pesticides and GMOs are recent phenomena that, contrary to what the companies manufacturing them may tell you, have not proven themselves to be worthy additions to agriculture or gardens.

Id love to hear your suggestions as to how we can boost our food independence, security, and reduce waste. How are you taking steps toward food independence?

Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM is a certified herbalist and international best-selling and 19-time published book author whose works include: Be Your Own Herbalist: Essential Herbs for Health, Beauty, and Cooking (New World Library, 2016).

Related:
The Top U.S. Cities for Urban Farming
The Secret Intelligence of Plants
Permaculture: Landscaping That Works With Nature

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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Hotel Chain to Grow Its Own Produce at 1,000 Locations