Rice Villa Utsav Season 9 was held successfully on 9th November at Hotel Hindustan International (HHI) in Kolkata with the powerful theme ‘Be RICEponsible’, a call to stop food wastage and take responsibility for the food we consume. The event was attended by 400 distinguished guests from the food industry across India, with special appearances by Mr. Ajay Thakur, Former Head of BSE SME & Start-up and presently CEO & Managing Partner, TGI SME Capital Advisors LLP; Mr. Samrat Rahi, Hon. Deputy Chairman, Kolkata Port Trust.
The event focused on raising awareness about the massive issue of food wastage and presented actionable solutions.
The event kicked off with an emotional live dance performance portraying Mother Earth herself, who appealed to the audience through a moving documentary. She urged humanity to stop wasting the food she produces for us, emphasizing the environmental and social consequences of food wastage.
Rice Villa launched an impactful documentary showcasing their collaboration with ‘Robinhood Army’ and ‘Food ATM’. These initiatives are helping the nation reduce food wastage by redistributing excess food to those in need.
The event also featured a detailed presentation on the three primary stages of food wastage:
1. At Warehousing & Supply Chain: Wastage during storage and transportation.
2. At HORECA Segment (Hotels, Restaurants, Catering, and Large Gatherings): Focused on the excessive food waste at weddings and events.
3. At Household Level: Highlighting food wastage at the consumer level in households.
The event concluded with a heartfelt appeal to all of India: “Let’s Be RICEponsible Together” a call for everyone to take collective action and stop food wastage. The message was clear: by being more mindful of food consumption, we can all contribute to saving resources, reducing environmental damage, and ensuring food reaches those who need it.