Every day, tons of food are thrown away even as millions go hungry. Globally, around 931 million tons of food—or 17 percent of all food available to consumers—was wasted in 2019 alone, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, 2021). This contradiction—abundance on one hand and scarcity on the other—makes food waste one of the most urgent social issues of our time. Beyond the moral dilemma, food waste also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, strains natural resources, and weakens already vulnerable food systems. Addressing it requires not just individual action but systemic solutions informed by research, innovation, and collaboration.
This is where the principles of circularity and regenerative food systems come in. Circularity means rethinking the food value chain so that waste is not an endpoint but a resource that re-enters the cycle (Fishbein et al., 2021). Regenerative systems, meanwhile, go beyond sustaining what exists. As Loring (2021) explains, they focus on supporting resource diversity, ecosystem health, and livelihood flexibility. These ideas are at the heart of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Against this backdrop, the 3rd International Forum on Sustainability Science (IFSS) 2025 was held on September 17–18 in Bacolod City, organized by the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology-Negros Island Region (DOST-NIR), the Technological University of the Philippines Visayas (TUPV), and STI West Negros University (STIWNU). Professors from STIWNU and TUPV also served as moderators in several sessions.
The forum opened with a call to action from DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Leah J. Buendia, who affirmed the agency’s commitment to food sustainability through its programs and councils. “The future of food is not written yet,” she said, “it is ours to design.” Messages of support came from DOST-NIR, TUP-V, STIWNU, Negros Electric and Power Corporation, and the City of Bacolod.
UPOU Chancellor Joane V. Serrano declared the forum open, stressing that “Transforming our food systems, therefore, is not just an academic concern—it is an urgent, lived reality that affects communities, economies, and cultures.” She highlighted circularity, renewability, and regeneration as essential foundations for food systems that allow communities to thrive across generations.
In his message delivered through Dr. Francess Mae Llamas, Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya affirmed how these principles are relevant for local governments, particularly in Negros Occidental, where sugarcane fields dominate the landscape. “The global challenges of climate change and food security compel us to think differently… With our vast sugarcane fields, this means exploring biofuel production, green energy, and other renewable sources that can power our communities and industries,” he said.
The two-day forum featured plenary, panel, and parallel sessions tackling a wide range of sustainability issues. On the opening day, Dr. Yong-Chao Su of Kaohsiung Medical University spoke on the interrelationship of bees, humans, and food sustainability, while Katherine Viñegas of GIZ discussed food system resilience in a BANI (brittle, anxious, non-linear, incomprehensible) world and ASEAN biodiversity initiatives. Sessions also delved into nutrition and agriculture, agri-food landscapes as part of a circular economy, digital innovations, and regenerative practices.
Day 2 focused on circular and just transitions, with Abigail E. Marcos sharing how food manufacturers like Monde Nissin embed sustainability in operations. Later sessions tackled natural products for wellness, community-based food forests, local food policy hack labs, and the role of bio-innovation and cultural diversity.
The forum closed with the plenary “Sustainability Science: Urgent Global and Local Challenges,” where Dr. Naomi Cosette R. Luis of DOST-NIR presented a roadmap to regenerative futures, stressing the role of science, technology, and innovation in advancing the sustainability agenda of the Negros Island Region.
For me, the forum was also deeply personal. As a Doctor of Communication student at UPOU, it was the first time I met my classmates and professors from the Doctor of Communication and Doctor of Sustainability programs face-to-face. Coming together not just as students but as collaborators underscored the spirit of SDG 17—proving that meaningful partnerships, whether among institutions or individuals, are vital in driving sustainable change.
In the end, IFSS 2025 reminded everyone that sustainability is not just about maintaining current conditions but about creating abundance that future generations can inherit and build upon.*
