Campus foodscapes as sites of transformation: mapping policy and projects in US universities envisioning just, sustainable and healthy food systems
University of California, Berkeley, University of Melbourne
Description
Globally universities have expanded their mission beyond teaching and research: recognising their broader responsibilities to their students, communities and civic neighbours, and to sustainable operations and infrastructure. This research considers the emergence of policies and projects to envision and enact more just, sustainable and healthy campus foodscapes. Over the past decade there has been a ‘thickening’ of action in campus foodscapes, however, little research exists to fully understand the activities, stakeholders, communities of practice and processes underlying these developments. This research draws on extensive content analysis, fieldwork and in-depth interviews to define, map and better understand how campus communities are modelling food system transformations for themselves and for the benefit of broader society. Alongside data collection, research and analysis this thesis presents 22 maps illustrating components of campus foodscapes, exemplar projects from campuses across the US and networks that work within and between higher education foodscapes across the US. It presents insights from practitioners and case studies of student action against corporate incursions into higher education foodscapes.