Food & Dining
Introduction
Modern industrial food production often has deleterious environmental and social impacts. Institutions can use their food purchases to support their local economies; encourage safe, environmentally friendly and humane farming methods; and help eliminate unsafe working conditions and alleviate poverty for farmers. These actions help reduce environmental impacts, preserve regional farmland, improve local food security, and support fair and resilient food systems. Dining services can also support sustainable food systems by preventing food waste and diverting food materials from the waste stream, by making low impact dining options available, and by educating its customers about more sustainable options and practices.
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The ripple effect: Hydo-Aeorponics growing on campus
- Missouri Southern State University (MO)
- Chartwells Higher Education (NY)
In August of 2016 Missouri State University brought 2 zip grow towers( a Hydo-Aeorponics vertical grow tower system) to campus in partnership to display a hyper-local growing option for produce. …
- Posted May 11, 2018
- Case Studies
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The Razorback Food Recovery
- University of Arkansas (AR)
Food recovery – the practice of preventing surplus foodstuffs from being dumped in the trash – takes numerous forms and provides a variety of social, economic, and environmental benefits. According …
- Posted May 11, 2018
- Case Studies
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Going Without: An Exploration of Food and Housing Insecurity Among Undergraduates
- Temple University (PA)
- University of Iowa (IA)
The rising price of higher education and its implications for equity and accessibility have been extensively documented, but the material conditions of students’ lives are often overlooked. Data from more …
- Posted May 8, 2018
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Where does it go? Composting at GWU
- George Washington University (DC)
In February 2018, the George Washington University’s Office of Sustainability and Campaign GW embarked upon a new, risk-taking endeavor to expand access to composting and sustainable food waste across its …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Earth Week at Universidad de Monterrey
- Universidad de Monterrey
During Earth Week at UDEM, students and staff have the change to participate in different workshops, keynotes and activities that promote the three main topics for this year's Earth Week …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Photographs
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Composting for a Greener Campus: the Texas State University Bobcat Blend program
- Texas State University, San Marcos (TX)
Bobcat Blend is a faculty managed, student-run and grant-supported research and teaching-oriented waste management campus composting program at Texas State University. The goals of the organization are to teach students, …
- Posted May 2, 2018
- Case Studies
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Permaculture and Community at WCSU
- Western Connecticut State University (CT)
The Jane Goodall Center for Excellence in Environmental Studies is a unique partnership between Western Connecticut State University and The Jane Goodall Institute, a private non-profit organization dedicated to wildlife …
- Posted May 2, 2018
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Zero Waste Pilot at Earth Day Conference, Madison, WI
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
UW-Madison Office of Sustainability (OS) interns Anna Weinberg, Ally Burg, and Noemy Serrano monitor a zero waste station during the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Earth Day Conference at Monona …
- Posted April 25, 2018
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AUC EarthWeek 2018: “Collaborate, Create, Cultivate": Growing Green Culture at AUC”
- American University in Cairo (Cairo)
All Week: - RISE Greenhouse and Aquaponics Display - Description: Have you always wanted to have a green thumb? Come check out what AUC’s brilliant growers at RISE have been …
- Posted April 24, 2018
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UT Dallas Earth Week
- The University of Texas at Dallas (TX)
Each year, the UT Dallas community comes together to celebrate sustainability and environmental practices through interactive and educational events and programs during Earth Week.
- Posted April 23, 2018
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Earth Day Garden Preperation
- St. John's University, New York (NY)
Earth Day celebration incorporates Academic Service Learning for students to work in the Student Community Garden on the Queens Campus. During the growing season, student workers maintain, harvest and transport …
- Posted April 23, 2018
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Creighton University Leads Pledge to End Plastic Pollution
- Creighton University (NE)
During its Earth Week celebrations, Creighton University's Office of Sustainability Programs led a pledge to end plastic pollution campaign. Earth Day Network's global theme for Earth Day 2018 is End …
- Posted April 23, 2018
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UConn Earth Day Spring Fling
- University of Connecticut (CT)
Earth Day Spring Fling is UConn’s largest annual environmental awareness event and celebration. This year’s event took place on April 18th from 11am-2pm on Fairfield Way, the heart of UConn’s …
- Posted April 23, 2018
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Agricultural Sustainability & Food Biosecurity Certificate
- University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
The USDA recognizes the need to ensure a competent, qualified, and diverse workforce to serve the food and agricultural sciences and improve the economic health and viability of rural communities. …
- Posted April 12, 2018
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Sustainable Food Concentration
- Smith College (MA)
The Sustainable Food Concentration lets students engage in an interdisciplinary exploration of food and the many issues involved in sustainability. Whether students are interested in global food distribution systems, the …
- Posted April 12, 2018
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Sustainable Food Crop Production
- University of Connecticut (CT)
This minor provides an overview of issues related to sustainable food crop production within the context of environmental stewardship.
- Posted April 12, 2018
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Organic Production Concentration, Plant Sciences BS
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
The organic production concentration is designed to create leaders in the field of organic and sustainable agriculture. Students will gain the knowledge and skills for production and management of organic …
- Posted April 12, 2018
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Food & Agriculture (BA)
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
Geographers engaged in the study of Food and Agriculture at Indiana University focus on agricultural decision-making, agricultural and food policy, consumer choice and taste, food security, food systems governance and …
- Posted April 12, 2018
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Food System Sustainability Certificate
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Food systems are particularly important for human societies to sustain; however, these systems are particularly vulnerable to multiple threats. Many students from a wide variety of disciplines are interested in …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Meat Consumption as a Wicked Problem: Evidence from Data and Policies
- University of Turku
Sustainable food production and consumption is fundamental to the achievement of the worldwide UN Sustainable Development Goals. For a food system to be sustainable, it needs to provide adequate nutrition …
- Posted April 11, 2018
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Food Wasting Attitudes and Behaviours Among Residence Meal Hall Users at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Dalhousie University (NS)
Dalhousie University has undertaken multiple initiatives in recent years to produce less food waste within their dining halls. This study aimed to develop a relation between the attitudes and behaviours …
- Posted April 11, 2018
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Program Development at the Outback: Exploring Place-Based, Experiential Education through a Campus Farm
- Western Washington University (WA)
A unique component of place-based, design-focused, experiential education has been facilitating students as they explore a wide range of their own capabilities. Cataloging botanical names, handling tools and exploring novel …
- Posted April 11, 2018
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Still Hungry and Homeless in College
- Temple University (PA)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
This is the largest national survey assessing the basic needs security of university students. It is the HOPE Lab’s 3rd national survey; the other two focused on community colleges. This …
- Posted April 11, 2018
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Sourcing “Less Meat, Better Meat” Through Foodservice Contracts
- Farm Forward (OR)
Choosing a foodservice company is one of the most important sustainability decisions that a school, university, or business makes. Requests for proposals (RFPs) and contracts can be used to articulate …
- Posted April 11, 2018
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Assessment of the Campus Food Environment using Components of the Healthy Campus Environmental Audit
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
The objective of this study was to assess whether the food environment at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) campuses supports healthy eating behaviors using components of the Healthy Campus Environmental …
- Posted April 6, 2018
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AASHE Award Winner Webinar Series: Sustainability, Food Systems and Entrepreneurship
- Temple University (PA)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- AASHE (MA)
- Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus (OR)
The food movement comes in many shapes and sizes. People wonder more now than ever, where does my food come from? How is it grown? Who grows it? Who has …
- Posted March 27, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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AASHE Award Winner Series - Composting, Recycling and Turning Trash Into Cash
- Austin Community College (TX)
- University of San Diego (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
Andy Kim, Director, Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability and Darien Clary, Sustainability Coordinator, Austin Community College District (Winner of AASHE 2014 Best Case Study from an Associate College with 5,000+ Full-Time …
- Posted March 12, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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University of Vermont Eco-Reps Composting Campaign
- University of Vermont (VT)
At the University of Vermont (UVM), the Recycling and Waste Management program and the UVM Eco-Reps have identified a lack of understanding of composting within on-campus residential halls. Although composting …
- Posted March 5, 2018
- Case Studies
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University of Vermont Eco-Reps "EcoWare, Everywhere!" Campaign
- University of Vermont (VT)
The University of Vermont (UVM) implemented reusable EcoWare to-go containers in retail locations 2011. Data collected from the past 4 years has shown that EcoWare uses became concentrated in residential …
- Posted March 5, 2018
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Chatham University: Leading the Way to a More Sustainable Future
- Chatham University (PA)
- The Conservation Fund (GA)
Chatham University's Eden Hall Campus is pioneering a vision for a new kind of campus--one that strives to create more energy than it uses, and immerses students in sustainable practices …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Green Interview: Kimberly Smith, Director of Conferences and Events, AASHE
- AASHE (MA)
When Kimberly Smith began as director of conferences and events at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), she already thought she was doing her part …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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An aggregated and dynamic analysis of innovations in campus sustainability
- Smith College (MA)
Purpose: This paper aims to compose a systematic understanding of campus sustainability innovations and unpack the complex drivers behind the elaboration of specific innovations. More precisely, the authors ask …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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Point Loma Nazarene University's Food Recovery Network
- Point Loma Nazarene University (CA)
Point Loma Nazarene University’s Food Recovery Network was started by a student as a means of reducing food waste on campus as well as supporting the local community. With the …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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Creating a Healthy, Environmentally Responsible and Socially Just Campus Food System
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
Description In 2016, a year-long study release by the California State University (CSU) found that 24 percent of our system's 460,000 students were food insecure. To address this issue, and …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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In-Vessel Composting Trials – Ingeo Compostable Products
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Arizona State University's University Sustainability Practices office partnered with a variety of ASU departments, NatureWorks, LLC, the City of Tempe, and DTEnvironmental to test the compostability of compostable serviceware using …
- Posted Feb. 15, 2018
- Case Studies
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Campus Alternative Food Projects and Food Service Realities: Alternative Strategies
- Emory University (GA)
As United States colleges and universities have developed campus projects to contribute to alternative food networks, strategies have matured from event-based, on-ramp activities to purchasing commitments, statistical tracking, and new …
- Posted Feb. 12, 2018
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Sustainable Food Systems minor
- Wells College (NY)
This minor investigates the challenges of the current global food system. With a focus on the cultural meanings of food, and the social and physical conditions under which we grow …
- Posted Jan. 25, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Building a Strong Local Foods Program for Your Campus
- Seattle Central College (WA)
- Smith College (MA)
- Towson University (MD)
- University of Vermont (VT)
- AASHE (MA)
- Farm to Institution New England (VT)
Food systems have become an increasingly important element of campus sustainability efforts and planning, with varying levels of commitment and institutionalization across campuses. This topic has a variety of focus …
- Posted Dec. 14, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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College Students' Emissions “Foodprint”: Can Eco-Labels Shift Diet Types?
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Due to the higher greenhouse gas emissions from livestock food production compared to plant-based food production, it is imperative that consumers shift their diets away from meat. One possible method …
- Posted Dec. 12, 2017
- Publications
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Bee Campus USA: Making the World Safer for Pollinators, One Campus at a a Time
- The Xerces Society (OR)
Pollinators are responsible for 1 in 3 bites of food we consume-actually, the most nutritious and, some say, delicious bites! Equally important, pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of 90% …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainable Food Systems: Increasing Local Food Procurement on Campus
- Mohawk College (ON)
Increasing local food procurement represents an opportunity for post-secondary institutions to enhance campus sustainability, improve the student experience, and have a greater positive impact on the regional economy. Mohawk College …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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The Beginnings of Zero Waste - Approaches and challenges to new waste diversion campaigns and initiatives.
- Harvey Mudd College (CA)
While zero waste and broader waste reduction initiatives are common in institutions of higher education, there are substantial challenges to launching those initiatives. As many sustainability professionals can attest, timing, …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Social Sustainability: University Procurement and Ethical Labor Standards
- Harvard University (MA)
Universities are the center of thought leadership, training global leaders and world citizens. Their business practices should reflect the same core values. Expanding on the anti-sweatshop movement that reformed licensed …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability and Agricultural Science - A Practical and Combined Effort to Engage and Educate
- Central Community College (NE)
Agriculture is the foundation of all sustainability efforts, many don't understand the true connection to our food and fiber systems and how sustainable agriculture production systems are. Being an active …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Insects as Food: Crawling towards Sustainability through Entomophagy
- Central Community College (NE)
Each year our world population grows, on average, by 75 million people. Projected to reach a staggering 9.7 billion people by 2050, earth's resources and the best way to utilize …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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A Path Towards Reaching Nitrogen Footprint Reduction Goals at the University of Virginia
- University of Virginia (VA)
A nitrogen (N) footprint is the amount of reactive nitrogen (Nr; all N compounds except N2) released to the environment as a result of an entities' resource use. At the …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Creating a Multi-Institution Food Task Force
- University of Utah (UT)
In 2016 I co-created a 'Higher Education Food Task Force' with the seven major institutions along what is known as the Wasatch Front in Utah, which is the major population …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Salt Lake Excess: A Transportation-Based Food Recovery Model
- University of Utah (UT)
Restaurants and charities often desire to divert surplus food to communities in need, but logistical constraints prevent this. Salt Lake Excess, developed by a student group at the University of …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainable Food Policy Creation - University of Denver
- University of Denver (CO)
- Sodexo USA (MD)
The University of Denver (DU) has been a Real Food Challenge Signatory since May 2015. As DU's food service provider, Denver Dining by Sodexo has performed extensive research within and …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability in Italy: a Short-Term Study Abroad Program with Focus on Language, Environment, Culture, and Food
- Dickinson College (PA)
Sustainability in Italy: Environment, Culture, and Food' is a short-term study abroad program in Italy connected to an Italian language course taught on the Dickinson College campus. Through fieldwork and …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
OP 7: Food and Beverage Purchasing
- Percent of sustainably or ethically produced food and beverage expenditures
- Percent of plant-based food expenditures
- Sustainable food and beverage purchasing inventory
- Description of the sustainable food and beverage purchasing program
- Website URL - Sustainable food and beverage purchasing
OP 8: Sustainable Dining
- Description of the farmers market, CSA or urban agriculture project
- Description of the sustainability-themed food outlet
- Description of the support for disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local SMEs
- Description of low impact dining events and/or plant-forward options
- Description of the vegan dining program
- Description of sustainability labelling and signage in dining halls
- Description of the food recovery competition or commitment program or food waste prevention system
- Description of the trayless dining or modified menu/portion program
- Description of the food donation program
- Description of the food materials diversion program
- Description of the pre-consumer composting program
- Description of the post-consumer composting program
- Description of the reusable serviceware program
- Description of the compostable materials and serviceware program
- Description of the reusable container discount or incentives program
- Website URL - Sustainable dining programs
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.