How does what we know about food impact what we throw away?

At FoodMesh, we are constantly looking for ways to bridge the gap between understanding food waste and taking meaningful action to prevent it. That’s why we are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming webinar, "Feeding knowledge, cutting waste: The influence of food literacy on household food wasting in Canada."

Led by our very own Haley Everitt, Ph.D., this session will dive deep into the complex relationships between how we interact with our food and why so much of it ends up wasted at home.

What to expect

Drawing on a recent report FoodMesh authored, commissioned by Environment and Climate Change Canada, this webinar will present key insights into what actually drives household food waste. We will highlight practical, real-world reduction interventions that have been pilot-tested right here in Canada over the last five years.

Our panel of experts will discuss:

  • The hidden drivers, barriers, and trends influencing household food waste.
  • Perspectives on how we can deepen our collective understanding of food wasting.
  • How to design highly effective policies, programs, and initiatives to reduce waste at the household level.

Webinar details

  • Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026
  • Time: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. PT | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET
  • Language: Conducted in English, with French closed captioning available.

👉 Reserve your spot today!

Can’t make the live session? You can still dive into the data by reading the full report here.

Meet the panelists

We are incredibly excited to bring together a brilliant panel of researchers and sustainability practitioners who are at the forefront of food systems and waste reduction:

Belinda Li

Co-Founder of the Food Systems Lab & Ph.D. Candidate | Simon Fraser University

‍Belinda is a Professional Engineer specializing in zero-waste consulting. Combining her background in sustainable development, research, and grassroots organizing, she uses participatory design and data-driven approaches to improve food system sustainability from farm to fork. Notably, Belinda conducted the original food waste data analysis for Love Food Hate Waste Canada, and her research includes testing household interventions in Toronto and conducting large-scale food waste audits across North America.

Dr. Jess Haines

Professor of Applied Nutrition | University of Guelph

‍Jess Haines, PhD, MHSc, RD, works alongside an interdisciplinary team to test interventions designed to promote sustainable, healthy eating among families. She is also the co-director of the Guelph Family Health Study, a longitudinal family-based cohort exploring long-term nutritional and behavioral habits.

Tomi Ladele

Environmental Sustainability Specialist | City of Barrie

‍Tomi manages municipal programs covering waste audits, public space bins, multi-residential waste, and textile diversion. In his role, he works to introduce organic waste solutions to programs currently lacking them and strives to boost organic diversion through targeted community education and outreach.

Mina Mehnati

Ph.D. Candidate | Dalhousie University

‍Mina’s research focuses heavily on the psychological and behavioral determinants of household food waste. She looks closely at how identity-related factors shape consumers’ day-to-day food management practices and choices.

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