Bonito is in the final steps of becoming a non-profit foundation and is finalizing our registration with the Swedish authorities. We’re at the end of some lengthy bureaucracy, getting close to kick-off, and what you see now is a minimal preview of what’s coming.

Read our Upprop / Announcement (Swedish and English)

First up for the Bonito platform are an editorial website and a community. Our editorial website champions the Football for Good movement by telling stories, providing knowledge, fostering engagement, and inspiring others. Our community will bring people from the Football for Good sector together, empowering and supporting their important work.

Learn more about us here. When fully registered as a foundation, we’ll tell you more about our story and where we’re going. Until then, please subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.

That’s it for now. Beware of bugs and glitches. Enjoy, and stay tuned!

It is becoming a universally accepted notion that our food systems are broken. Currently (especially in the west), food production creates a massive negative impact on the environment and has taken us to the verge of global food insecurity. The positive of this newly accepted notion is the opportunities that it allows for tech, data, innovation and new models to  create a healthier food system and a value and power transfer for the planets largest sector. In short there are massive opportunities to achieve a sustainable and healthy transformation of the food system. 

17 Sport’s latest article , “How Sports Lead the Way in Sustainable Food Choices”, explores the growing connection between the sports industry and sustainable food practices. It highlights how sports organizations, from stadiums to athletes, are leveraging their platform to advocate for healthier, eco-friendly food choices. This movement is driven by the realization that food production has a significant environmental impact, and sports entities are uniquely positioned to lead by example due to their large, global audiences.

Key examples include stadiums adopting plant-based menus and reducing food waste through initiatives like composting and redistribution to communities in need. The article also discusses how high-profile athletes are advocating for sustainable diets, using their influence to inspire fans and the general public to make more responsible food choices. These efforts show that the sports world can play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable consumption, given its cultural influence.

By aligning sustainability with the excitement of sports, the article suggests that the industry can drive significant behavioral change. This growing movement underscores the importance of integrating sustainability into every aspect of the sports ecosystem, from corporate responsibility to fan engagement, to create a more environmentally conscious future.

In countries around the world food and technology is becoming an ever increasing partnership for addressing planetary concerns- could football as a truly global game make this a truly unique value proposition which also could have a tremendous impact on communities around the world.

Football clubs have a unique position- when Cristiano Ronaldo says no to a cola and promotes that young people drink water- it gets attention. Could big football clubs, make strategic partnerships with food and technology to deliver another element to sustainability? UEFA recently made news with there first sustainable catering guidelines for food and beverage concessionaries recognizing that their operations can have a significant impact on not only fan experience but fan health and environmental footprint.

The European Football Development Network (EFDN) also has highlighted the importance and impact of food by taking part in the Consumers Understanding of Eating Sustainably (CUES) project.

Food and sports are in many ways inseparable. the young footballer is fueled by the nutrition their diet accounts for as they step on the pitch. Just as a healthy football fan into their later years will depend on their health to be able to follow their favorite team at a ripe old age. Not to mention the edge our favorite athletes get when their diet is orchestrated by a keen maestro with an eye to nature and sustainable processes. In many ways, we in the sports world are natural ambassadors for this food revolution.

Could food be the hook where football and latch onto to make a real and tangible difference in the global goals?

For more details, you can check the original article here.

Read more about the EFDN CUES Project here

UEFA catering guidelines

 

As the world recently marked the International Day of the Girl on October 11th, a groundbreaking initiative called Equal Play Effect Africa is making waves by promoting gender equity through sports. The movement is built on the belief that sports can empower girls to achieve their dreams and is leading the charge across the continent by providing girls with the opportunity to thrive both on and off the field.

A recently released video titled “Moving Africa – Gender Equality in and Through Sport” illustrates how this initiative is impacting communities across Africa. The video shows the transformative power of sports, highlighting how girls are gaining confidence, leadership skills, and opportunities through participation in football.

Equal Play Effect Africa isn’t just a one-off project. It’s a scalable and adaptable model designed to advance gender equality across Africa. Supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and spearheaded by Common Goal, Soccer Without Borders (SWB), and Moving the Goalposts, the initiative is driving systemic change both within organizations and across local communities.

Operating with over 100 stakeholders from 45 organizations across 24 African countries, the movement has made significant strides in pushing for gender inclusivity. These efforts are rooted in the belief that collective action can foster safer and more equitable environments for all.

Regional Hubs with Local Solutions

The initiative is organized around four regional hubs in Africa, each tailoring its approach to local needs. These hubs include:

• North Africa, led by Tibu Africa in Morocco,
• East Africa, led by SWB Uganda,
• Southern Africa, led by Kick4Life in Lesotho,
• West Africa, led by Tackle in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.

Each hub works to increase girls’ participation in football, develop leadership opportunities, and address unique regional challenges, while promoting systemic change.

SWB Uganda’s Role in East Africa

As the lead organization for East Africa, SWB Uganda is playing a pivotal role in executing this initiative. With a strong track record of using soccer as a tool for education, leadership, and community building, SWB Uganda is well-positioned to create meaningful outcomes through the Equal Play Effect.

In Uganda, SWB focuses on creating safe spaces where girls can engage in soccer, boost their self-confidence, and develop crucial leadership skills. This aligns with SWB’s long-standing commitment to ensuring that all youth, regardless of gender, background, or culture, can access opportunities to reach their full potential.

The Equal Play Effect Africa initiative continues to build momentum, with partnerships across the continent striving to turn gender equality in football from a vision into reality.