Terry Xiao
VegeMe
This project is a personal journey to discover and learn about the process of becoming a vegetarian or vegan and what it takes to be as close to carbon neutral as possible by changing our eating habits. As someone who loves all kinds of food, I would be supporting the meat and poultry industry. I am aware that my diet is contributing to climate change, therefore I want to research and design a solution for other like-minded people who is also aware of this issue and wants to be proactive and take action. I was once a cafe chef and from this experience, I am troubled about the future of the food industry and its contribution to climate change. This project is my step forward to take action for a better future.
We are currently facing an unprecedented climate change issue as we experience unpredictable weather and record-breaking climate across the globe. But climate change is a wicked problem that cannot be solved with one singular solution, but reducing our meat consumption can help. The farming and agriculture industry within New Zealand produces 50% of the total greenhouse gases compared to other sectors, but it only makes up 5.7% of the total GDP. This project tackles this problem by assisting users to reduce their meat consumption and lessen stress and demand within the agricultural sector.
The solution I have developed for this project is an app with a personalized experience for users to switch to plant-based alternatives by providing the user suggestions for plant-based recipes based on their taste. This allows users to be more confident in choosing a carbon-friendly option and still taste the flavours they love while feeling better about their impact on the environment. The app provides users the ability to track and manage their protein intake and carbon footprint for the food they eat to stay informed about their personal protein needs.
