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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Reclaiming Urbanity with Permaculture: The First Years of a Food Forest
- Portland State University (OR)
Food forests use sustainable methods to garden within a closed-loop system. PSU students started a community orchard in 2011 with a plot of vacant land, 21 fruit tree varieties and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Multiple Methods Approach to Exploring Conservation Decision Making on the Farm: From Theory to Application
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- University of Minnesota System Office (MN)
Balancing agricultural production and water resource protection is a major challenge across the U.S. In Minnesota, where both water and agriculture are fundamental to the state's heritage, modern day identity, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Open-Ended Cases for Improving Farm Sustainability
- Dordt College (IA)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
The method of open-ended cases is an ideal format for students when they are analyzing the sustainability of a farm. Students learn about several of methods used for analyzing an …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Food Recovery Network on college campuses: How to reduce food waste while addressing hunger within the local community
- Carleton College (MN)
Today, 1 in 9 Minnesotans struggles with hunger. In Rice County alone, there are 1.14 million missed meals per year. But despite high rates of food insecurity throughout the US, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Real Voice: Campus Food Systems Working Groups & Policy Development
- Gonzaga University (WA)
- University of Montana (MT)
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
Pioneering universities across the country are assembling Food Systems Working Groups to guide comprehensive university food policy development. Unlike many executive committees and university task forces, these multi-stakeholder groups include …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fighting Food Waste on College Campuses
- Bon Appétit Management Company
- Food Recovery Network (MD)
- Compass Group (NC)
Food waste is a problem on many fronts. About 40% of the available food supply in the United States is thrown away each year. When we waste food, we waste …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Uncomfortable Dinner Parties and Farmer Photo Booths: Interactive Session on Discovering and Sharing Campus Food Sustainability
- Hamline University (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- Aramark (PA)
This session offers a chance to practice exercises from a toolkit archive developed with Aramark at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities to support campus food sustainability discussions. Engaging participants …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Uncomfortable Dinner Party: Bridging Local, Regional and Global Perspectives around Sustainable Food Systems
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- Aramark (PA)
Tour Meeting Time: 5:45 PM Tour Meeting Location: 1st floor lobby, located right by the Visitor Information desk and Dunn Coffee. Tour Departure: 6:00 PM Tour End/Return Tour: 9:00 PM …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Real Food, Real Communities: Mobilizing Students, Community Members and Staff to reform College Food Procurement Policies
- Carleton College (MN)
- Bon Appétit Management Company
Where our food comes from and how it is produced is question that is becoming extremely important to students and administrators alike. Carleton College has demonstrated a commitment to answering …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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STARS Sourcing, Data Collection and Reporting Technology Solutions and Tools
- Aramark (PA)
- FarmLogix, LLC (IL)
The panel would represent several Aramark universities' (Boston University, American University, Loyola University for example) uses of online aggregation technology to both source locally grown and produced foods, and to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Engagement through Dining Partnerships and Programming
- Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)
- Aramark (PA)
Want to get more people engaged in the sustainability conversation on your campus? Let's face it, food connects us all and everyone needs to eat. Your campus dining partner can …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Real Food Challenge: Empowering Students, Creating Just, Local Food Systems
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
Campus food service is a $18 billion dollar industry that spends $5 billion on food annually. This food is largely sourced from unsustainable sources due to the complex supplies chains …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Real Food Calculator: Real Metrics, Transparency, & Accountability for Tracking Sustainable Food Procurement
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
What is just or sustainable food? How do we thoroughly and appropriately assess it in our cafeterias? Dig into the complexities of labels, certifications, and standards for 'real food' as …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Food Tracking: Identifying Problems and Solutions to Reach the Most Accurate Report for Your Campus
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
- Chartwells Higher Education (NY)
This session will assist university students and staff working on tracking sustainability progress in dining. Many universities currently use multiple tracking tools and processes to synthesize data for STARS, and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Agriculture Networking Meeting: Identifying the Future of Campus Grown Food
- University of Michigan (MI)
- Ursinus College (PA)
Campus agriculture initiatives are rapidly becoming a ubiquitous part of campus life around the country. In the last fifteen years agricultural education, in the form of campus gardens and farms, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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OZZI & Reusable To-Go Containers: Reducing Waste & Saving Money
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
- Virginia Tech (VA)
This interactive and engaging session will highlight a new system of collecting reusable to- go containers via a machine called, OZZI. Panelists from diverse higher education institutions, student populations and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Food Matters: Growing a Sustainable Food Culture in America's Heartland
- University of Northern Iowa (IA)
The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is a leader in developing a sustainable food culture. In the mid 1990's, the Local Food Program emerged. Since then, collaboration between different programs …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Discovery and Development of a Long Range Compost Plan to Support Zero Waste
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Appalachian State University began an in-house composting program on campus in 1999, and built a state-of-the-art aerated facility to expand composting opportunities, which opened in October 2011. At AASHE 2014 …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Aramark Supporting Arizona State University's Commitment to Zero Waste through Operations and Educational Outreach
- Aramark (PA)
Monitoring the waste stream by minimizing our environmental footprint by reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. Supporting closed loop waste management processes and committing to innovative practices to reach an absolute …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Engaging Students in Food Waste Reduction - Aramark, UNC-Chapel Hill & Feeding The 5,000
- Aramark (PA)
A review & discussion of the genesis, planning & execution of an innovative food waste reduction event conducted by Aramark at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. In partnership with …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Growing With Faith: Community Gardening in a Jesuit Context
- Gonzaga University (WA)
Under the umbrella of our Jesuit university's mission, which encourages a faith that does justice and service, we have engaged in new sustainability initiatives. One of these is the Campus …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building School-to-Farm Traffic: Small-farm Infrastructure as Sustainable Technology Design
- Lafayette College (PA)
Farm-to-school projects have flourished in recent years. By aggregating and delivering food from local sources to regional institutions (like schools), they help rebuild the missing middle between producers and consumers; …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Waste Reduction Strategies and Building Community Through Food Donations
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
NAU Campus Dining uses several strategies to reduce food waste; tracking with LeanPath, composting, staff training and cooking techniques. The University received an Award of Recognition from the EPA's Food …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Growing Food Security in Higher Education Institutions
- Oregon State University (OR)
Food insecurity is the incapacity to access a variety of different and preferred foods due to a lack of resources, according to the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. The Growing …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Bee Campus USA as a Model for Pollinator-Friendly Campuses
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
After our university's hometown of Ashland, Oregon and the neighboring city Talent became members of Bee City USA, a designation given through the Bee City USA non-profit based in Asheville, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Food Recovery, Food Security, & Organics Recycling: Solutions and Best Practices for Environmental and Financial Sustainability
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Food recovery, dining waste reduction, and organics recycling (composting or anaerobic digestion) projects often go hand in hand at institutions of higher education, and all of these efforts require widespread …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Caloric Output of Global Agriculture 1961-2012
- University of Arkansas (AR)
It is conventionally suggested that world food production must double to feed world population by mid-century. To evaluate this claim, an inventory of global agricultural production from 1961 to 2012 …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fast Food Waste Streams and Zero Waste Goals: Opportunities at the Interface of Town and Gown
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Commercial districts near campuses often cater to students, offering fast and inexpensive food. Single use food service items, including containers, napkins, straws, yogurt and boba cups, bags and boxes, clog …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Northern Roots: Growing Food in the Western Lake Superior Region: A Participatory, Public Ethnography in Film Form
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
Planting and cultivation instructions: 1) Combined engaged students, hard-working farmers, a supportive university, dedicated nonprofit leaders and the fertile potential of participatory media. 2) Seed the ground with community coordination …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Seed Diversity and Locality: Using seed libraries to explore the importance of regional crop diversity in the past and future
- University of South Dakota (SD)
Since the Green Revolution, modern agriculture has shifted from a local to a more global industry. In order to provide food for the growing population, monocultures, or large swaths of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Implementing a Sustainable Food Recycling/Repurposing Program on a Large Campus in the Southeast (SEC)
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
At most universities food service operations abide by rules relating to shelf life. At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), the Food Recovery Network, and the Dining Service Company, Aramark, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Virginia Commonwealth University High-Output Learning Garden: Coordinating Resources and Partnerships to Relieve Food Insecurity
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
Food deserts are areas with limited access to healthy food options and are a major contributor to health issues and inequality in the United States. The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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NEXUS: Demonstration site for biomass greenhouse-heating systems to extend growing seasons for resource-limited farmers.
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Appalachian farmers struggle to maintain profitability with limited acreage, low profit margins, small markets and short growing seasons. To extend growing seasons, farmers dedicate some of their acreage to greenhouse …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Beyond the Dining Hall: furthering sustainability initiatives in dining services by involving student groups and classes
- Denison University (OH)
There are wonderful things happening with sustainability in the world of food and campus dining, but too often these initiatives stay within operations, never leaving the dining halls or involving …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Local Purchasing 101: we'll debunk the price myth, talk through other obstacles to local purchasing and how to overcome them
- Denison University (OH)
With every college trying to buy more and more local food these days, many are struggling with how to do this but still meet their budget. I'll explain how Denison …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Farm to Campus Table: Highlighting Local Foods and Student Work in a Campus Harvest Lunch
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
Beginning in 2013 and continuing in 2014, several dozen students, faculty, staff, and volunteers worked together to source a campus farm lunch at Johnson County Community College, a large, suburban, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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No Impact Meal: A Guide to an Interactive Cooking Experience of Food Sustainability and Social Justice
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
The case study focuses on the journey of the No Impact Meal from the narrative, 'No Impact Man,' to a First-Year Convocation Picnic, and ultimately an intimate, interactive food experience …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Rice University's Farmer's Market: a case study of a Farmer's Market at a private University
- Rice University (TX)
The Rice Farmer's Market was established in 2010 with the primary goal of making locally grown food available to as many consumers as possible, providing a growing marketplace for local …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The UC Global Food Initiative; Leveraging University Research and Best Practices to Achieve Ambitious Global Goals
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
In July 2014, UC President Janet Napolitano challenged the University of California system to leverage the innovative research and best practices that we have developed through our operations and curriculum …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Real Food Campus Commitment; Student and Community Partnership at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
The Real Food Campus Commitment is a pledge for colleges and universities stating that they will buy at least 20% Real Food by 2020. Signing onto the commitment can be …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Cornercopia Student Organic Farm at The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Cornercopia is an organic farm that provides students hands-on whole farm learning opportunities, food for the local community and a place for community building, multi-disciplinary education, research and outreach. Started …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student Farms and Gardens Meet-up
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Come meet Students, Staff and Faculty Members who work with Student Farms and Gardens at their Universities. We will exchange ideas about what's working, what's not and brain storm ideas …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Custom Brewery Tour with Taste Twin Cities
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Join us for a fascinating behind the scenes insight into Minneapolis's local beers and what local breweries looks, sound and smells like. This tour is great for people visiting the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Urban Farming and Sustainable Agriculture Tour
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Participants will board a mini coach and names will be checked off tour registrant list before departing MCC. Enjoy an afternoon of eating, learning, and touring the fields at six …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Food Waste and Nutrition: Food Waste Auditing Combined with Vermicomposting for Applied Nutrition and Sustainability Education.
- University of Utah (UT)
Many Nutrition and Dietetic graduate students end up working in field such as Nutrition Therapy and Medical Nutrition Therapy where they are in hospital and/or care settings, working as clinician …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Seed of a Great Idea: Wells College Seed Exchange Program
- Wells College (NY)
The Wells College Center for Sustainability and the Environment fielded an intriguing inquiry from a campus librarian who wondered what the Center thought of the idea for the college Library …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Meeting Climate Action Plan goals through the introduction of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) at West Chester University
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania (PA)
West Chester University's President signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in October, 2010 and a Climate Action Plan (CAP) was written. One objective of CAP was to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Gibbs Farm: A Permaculture Learning Lab
- Western Michigan University (MI)
The Gibbs Farm is a 2-acre historic homestead currently undergoing a landscape reimagining to create an engaging environment for students, staff, and the greater community. Students with diverse backgrounds and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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On-Campus Food Rescue: A Campus Kitchen Project at IUPUI
- Indiana University Indianapolis (IN)
The Campus Kitchens Project (CKP) is a national leader in community engagement and service through student-led initiatives to decrease waste in campus cafeterias. This is accomplished through food rescue and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Tracking Sustainable Food Purchasing: Challenges and Opportunities
- Emory University (GA)
- Sodexo USA (MD)
- ENGIE (TX)
In 2007, Emory University set an aggressive goal to procure 75% of food products from locally or sustainability grown sources by 2015. As most institutions have found, tracking sustainable food …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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.