In our latest edition of “8Shades of…” – where we get up close and personal with new and known faces in the sustainability field – we caught up with Amy Tsang of the Hong Kong Agricultural Development Association (HKADA), which is looking to make Hong Kong more self-sufficient in terms of food production.
You may recognise the HKADA as our most recent giveaway sponsor for the #8Shades8Weeks Challenge! If you haven’t yet completed the easy challenge, what are you waiting for? Sign up here!
We played a round of eight quick-fire questions with Amy – read on to find out her best (and worst) eco-habits, her favourite veggie dish and best sustainability hacks.
1. In one sentence, tell us what you do?
Hong Kong Agricultural Development Association (HKADA) aims to promote the development of agriculture in Hong Kong and regain self-sufficiency as the final goal.
2. Why are you an 8Shader?
I believe that the environment plays a huge role in our overall health and it affects the quality of our food too. In order to be sustainable, we need to make good choices in our daily life such as using less plastic, being more eco-friendly, reducing food waste and consuming more local seasonal farm products. At the end of the day, the way we treat nature now will affect the lives of generations to come. The sooner everyone starts to change their mindset, the better.
I have been living an eco-friendly lifestyle since I was a kid. I used to go out to different local farms with my family and we rented a very small piece of farmland in Fanling where we planted different organic vegetables and learnt some basic farming skills and knowledge.
3. Your best green habit?
I always buy organic veggies from local farms. Organic farming methods for both crops and animals have a much lower negative impact on the environment as there are no synthetic inputs. Pesticides and fertilisers can create a host of environmental issues; certain pesticides can poison non-target organisms such as birds, fish and plants, and harm organisms of special ecological importance, such as bees and algae. By purchasing local farm products, I reduce my carbon footprint.
4. Guilty not-so-green habit?
I travel quite a lot, and we know that aviation contributes about 2% of the world’s global carbon emissions. Travelling by air is definitely not that eco-friendly.
5. Fave eco-friendly product?
Natural laundry detergents, where the detergents are packed in recyclable bottles without chemicals.
6. Favourite veggie dish/restaurant in HK?
Homemade stewed potato and tofu puffs with tomato by my mom, the best in the world!
7. What is your best sustainability tip for our readers?
Start a plant-based diet. Eat local by simply buying local farm products, which will reduce your carbon footprint and support the local community. Overall, animal-based foods tend to have a higher footprint than plant-based foods, so the more “green food” you purchase, the smaller your carbon footprint and the more healthy your lifestyle.
Also, try to avoid air-freighted foods whenever you can, like asparagus, green beans and berries which need to be flown in and eaten soon after they have been harvested.
8. What shade of green are you?
Normal green. I always think before I buy anything, and make sure every purchased item is reusable or are at least made from recyclable materials. I also always buy local farm products. During weekends, I choose to travel by foot or bicycle only.
About the Hong Kong Agricultural Development Association (HKADA)
Hong Kong Agricultural Development Association (HKADA) aims at promoting the development of agriculture in Hong Kong, providing Hong Kongers with high quality and healthy food and uniting them with nature. Learn more here.
Next: Check out 8Shades Of Christian Yan, Co-founder of energy-efficient lighting company Nanoleaf.
