LOCavore

Eat Local, Taste Local

Animal

Travelled

60 km

portions

2,169 fed

Why put earth first?

Reimagining the food we eat

We all know that food direct from the garden or farm tastes better - something that celebrated New Zealand chef Ben Bayly knows more than most. As a culinary expert, Ben insists on using locally-sourced ingredients that are grown and raised with care. He is on a mission to define New Zealand's cuisine by celebrating local produce and supporting our producers.

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To demonstrate the difference between locally and commercially sourced food, Ben teamed up with Josh from JoBros Burgers to redefine the ubiquitous McDonald's Kiwiburger. For the hero ingredient, Ben sought out the most local and highest quality meat he could find. He discovered Mike McCools purebred grass-fed wagyu beef, farmed without artificial fertilisers, just 40 minutes away. The lettuce, cheese, onion, and beetroot were also sourced locally.

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To get the wagyu from Mikes gate to the grill plate, Ben used Earth First Food to process the animal on farm, with the least stress, resulting in the best possible tasting meat.

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taking action

Applause burger trio.

The burger pictured above literally got a round of applause. The reimagined Kiwi burger, a collab between Ben Bayley, Josh at JoBro’s, and Earth First Food. It was served at the after-function of the TEDxAuckland matinee session in 2021.

Challenge

Limited availability of locally-sourced, high-quality ingredients in commercially produced food.

Goal

To define New Zealand's cuisine by celebrating local produce and supporting local producers.

Solution

Working with leading chefs and local producers to source the highest quality, locally-sourced ingredients and using innovative, sustainable solutions like Earth First's mobile abattoir to process meat on farm with minimal stress for the animal.

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Deep Dive.

Buying meat directly from farmers is difficult, making it challenging to know the source and conditions of the meat. We're here to fix that.

What farmers say

Greg Hart shares his vision of restoring paradise through regenerative agriculture in New Zealand. His farm is close to carbon neutral, has increased biodiversity, and optimises life, builds resilience and integrates animals. He stresses the importance of the food system in reversing global warming and restoring human health.

How this little Wagyu got to market

A group of Earth First friends embarked on a mission to demonstrate a better food system through collaboration and ingenuity. Their success with Wagyu #1 fed 2,169 people and inspired a movement towards a more sustainable and ethical food system.

Why does soil health matter?

Soil health is complex, with physical, chemical, and biological aspects that affect fertility and ecosystem processes. Intensive agriculture and synthetic chemicals disrupt soil microbiomes, leading to degraded soil health and reduced food quality. Alternative practices like regenerative agriculture promote soil health and sustainable food production.