Kroger Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation sponsors National STEM Festival
Kroger Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation is sponsoring the 2024 National STEM Festival co-presented by EXPLR and the U.S. Department of Education April 12-13 in Washington, D.C. The festival is a nationwide initiative intended to foster creativity, critical thinking and a passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects among middle and high school students.
"We are excited to meet the talented young minds behind the innovations changing the future of food," said Tim Massa, senior vice president and chief people officer at Kroger. "For 140 years Kroger has been at the forefront of food innovation driven by the passion of our people like these STEM Champions. Cultivating this talent is an investment in our future and critical to our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste vision."
Last fall, The National STEM Challenge invited students in grades 6-12 from across the U.S. and its territories to conceive and submit STEM innovations, inventions and research across six categories: Environmental Stewardship, Future Foods, Health and Medicine, Powering the Planet, Space Innovation and Tech for Good. In February, 126 STEM Champions were invited to attend and showcase their projects at the festival.
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The Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, a nonprofit public charity established to direct charitable funds to organizations and innovators aligned with Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste impact plan, is sponsoring the Festival's Future Foods pillar. Students were challenged to research, design and propose practical ideas for more sustainable and equitable food production, distribution and consumption, considering factors such as food security, resource conservation and a changing climate.
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"The students participating in the STEM Festival have world-changing ideas, from innovative solutions to reduce food waste to advancing climate research," said Keith Dailey, group vice president of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer for Kroger. "We are so inspired and energized by these outstanding students and look forward to celebrating their work in Washington, D.C."
Noting that it is recognized for its culture and commitment to creating a workplace that respects and values every community, Kroger shared that it has opportunities for Future Foods-related STEM jobs across the company – from culinary innovation for planet-forward foods to leading in-house finance, technology systems and supply chain teams.