Food Hackathon Aims to Build a Happier, Healthier & Tastier World

Guest post by Tim West

So often talent is wasted in Silicon Valley. It is commonplace for developers to build games that throw birds at walls, but what if that energy could be focused on solving local, regional and national food problems? Our local economies are suffering; our environment is in peril; and heart disease, diabetes and obesity rank as some of the greatest challenges of our time. It is safe to say that our food system is broken. On April 6th and 7th, 2013, I will launch Food Hackathon with the goal of gathering some of our best and brightest minds to hack our food system.

This marathon of hacking, creating and collaborating will be a place for everyone (civilians, corporations, gov’t, etc.) to come together for a greater good. This first Food Hackathon is meant to catalyze further civic engagement for a follow-up Food Hackathon 2.o event on June 1st and 2nd, taking place as part of the National Day of Civic Hacking, a day where communities across the country will come together to build solutions using publicly released data.

We tweet, text, post, snap, click and pop thousands of times per day. We live in a time of unimaginable opportunity, where information is easier to access than ever before in history. But despite the availability of these amazing technologies, our kids are still, for the most part, growing up without an education of where their food comes from or why it matters.

Food is our greatest common denominator. If we begin to address the challenges in our food system, then we will begin to solve the problems in our economy, our environment and our healthcare all while building community. After all, community is the X-factor. With community we can grow. With community we can educate each other. With community we can live in peace.

Join us now in launching www.FoodHackathon.com to build a happier, healthier and tastier world. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities here.

Can’t make it to San Francisco? Join our Google Hangout, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

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Tim West is a Slow Food chef turned Social Entrepreneur. He is passionate about combining technology with human networks to make the world a happier, healthier and tastier place. Tim is a culinary cross pollinator with 10+ years of experience in sustainable food service and event production. He has founded two food and technology companies and FoodHackathon.com while living in Silicon Valley. His favorite animal is the earth worm.