SMU grows crops; Students from 12 countries advocate the need to cherish food

SMU launched a pilot project to recycle food waste on campus, which aimed to get its students to think twice before wasting food. As part of the initiative, unwanted food from its food courts will be collected and taken to a machine at SMU’s bin centre to be converted into bio-fertilisers, which will then be used for its urban farming initiative. SMU Office of Global Learning Director Bernadette Toh noted that the most important thing is to bring about the awareness and consciousness about wanting to be mindful about the food, and to put that waste to better use, instead of sending it to an incinerator. SMU’s International Connections student group also planted 12 seedlings, representing different countries, on campus. Fourth-year Information Systems student Michelle Teo said that she chose the tapioca plant to represent Singapore as it is used in local dishes, and nourished Singaporeans in World War Two.