Who Feeds Bengaluru (WFB) is an exploratory research project to understand the different forces that shape the way Bengaluru city eats.
Although it’s taken a pandemic for us to closely examine our ways with food, food in Bengaluru has been evolving since the city was born. Through this public participation project, with collective dialogue and activity fuelled by strong doses of curiosity, we aim to get a clearer idea of where systems and culture meet to feed the city of Bengaluru.
Why Bengaluru?
Bengaluru city is dynamic and diverse; it is old and still new. The city is renowned as a hub of technological innovation in India, as well as a garden city with numerous green zones. Bengaluru is also one of the largest cities in the country with an estimated population of over 11 million. Over the last few centuries, Bengaluru has seen influxes of migrants caused by external historic events – religious persecution, colonial rule, employment and recently the “Silicon-Valley-ization” of the city. This diversity vibrantly reflects in the food culture and habits across the city, and we believe this is worth exploring more closely!
Why Food?
Food is the invisible thread that is connecting all of us together. And now, in the time of a global pandemic, more so than ever. Chefs have quite literally opened up their kitchen to us, farmers have begun directly supplying to our homes and communities, some of us have begun growing our own food, and most of us have stepped into the kitchens with newfound determination! Be it the ritual of gathering around the table with your family, or virtually catching up with friends over a meal, it’s all reinstating the power of food in our lives. Now is the perfect time to think about our relationships with food, learn about the important roles we all play in the food value chain, and about those who work hard to put food on our tables. How can we make smart food choices that help the planet and ourselves?”
Why People?
People are at the centre of this project. Those who grow food, those who eat food, and everyone else in between! Through the course of this exploratory research project, we’ll record dialogue and interviews with various members of our food system, listening for insights into the way the city of Bengaluru eats.
Who Feeds Bengaluru @ Science Gallery Bengaluru
Watch our 2-day workshop series of talks and events at Phytopia:
Day 1: https://bengaluru.sciencegallery.com/phytopia/workshop-registrations/wfb1 Day 2: https://bengaluru.sciencegallery.com/phytopia/workshop-registrations/wfb2
The four tracks of research
Urban Food City – This track is about understanding how the city feeds itself – where our food comes from, how it moves within the city, and how we interact with it at various points.
Food Culture & Identity – This track is about understanding the identities and ethnographic influences that shape the food culture of Bengaluru.
Food Service & Food Care – This is about understanding how food plays a major part in most social settings, across sectors including restaurants, schools and hospitals.
Food Tech – As the Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru is home to many food tech companies. This track is about understanding how the Silicon-Valley-ization of the city has influenced its food habits and systems.
Connect with the project
Visit the project website whofeedsblr.city or follow us on Instagram @whofeedsblr. You can also write to us at whofeedsblr@gmail.com
Stay connected to the Indian Food System 