aashe stars conference community hub bulletin
Login Create an Account Become a Member

AASHE Campus Sustainability Hub
Browse All

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.

View all Food & Dining Submit a new resource

Featured Resources

Latest News from AASHE Bulletin

New Resources

1227 resources

Own Your own Backyard: Farm to Keg

  • Grand Valley State University (MI)

This presentation will be a reflective narrative of multiple voices from a research project intended to assess the transformational learning of students engaged in a partnership between Grand Valley State …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Leftover Food App: A Way to Address Food Waste and Food Insecurity on Campus

  • Lehigh University (PA)

Every day departments, offices, and clubs hold events and meetings across campus with food. There is often leftover food at these events and meetings that gets thrown away. Lehigh University …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Cooking Evangelism in College Curriculum and Programs - A Pathway to a Sustainable Food Future

  • Appalachian State University (NC)

Many thought leaders and organizations have charted the path to a future sustainable food system, and most of these strategies require that we regain the essential skill of home cooking. …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Fair Trade and Campus Advocacy as Tools for a Just Transition

  • Fair Trade Colleges & Universities

Fair Trade Campaigns is a powerful grassroots movement mobilizing thousands of conscious consumers and Fair Trade advocates on campuses and in communities across the U.S. We partner with more than …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

FOO[anaerobic]D Systems: Food Justice and the Future of Our [anaerobic] Digestion Systems

  • University of Central Florida (FL)

A team of students from the University of Central Florida (UCF) have been working with campus, community, municipal, and private partners to pilot an anaerobic digestion (AD) system to divert …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Stories from the Real Meals Campaign: Student Organizers Building a Just Food System on Campus

  • Real Food Challenge (MA)

Students at campuses all across the country are building power to transform our current food system to one that is grounded in racial equity, justice, and dignity for us and …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Transitioning the Culinary Industry though Transformative Culinary Education

  • Johnson & Wales University, Providence (RI)

The foodservice industry is one of the most influential towards building a just and sustainable future. Food being the critical link, it is evident that culinary education programs in higher …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Innovation in Food System Funding - The New England Food Vision Prize for New England Campuses

  • Sodexo USA (MD)
  • Henry P. Kendall Foundation

In order to challenge and empower campus dining programs to become instruments of change in farm to institution, the Henry P. Kendall Foundation launched a new type of food system …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Cultivating Student and Staff Leaders through Campus Food Recovery Programs

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

As the awareness of food insecurity on college campuses increases, campus dining services are referred to as potential emergency relief for student food insecurity. Through food recovery programs, dining services …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

UW-Stevens Point Organics Diversion Program

  • University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) has been actively managing its organics for decades. Over the past 10 years, UWSP has managed upwards of 140,000 pounds of organics per year, …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Go DefaultVeg: Using Behavioral Nudges to Reduce Food-Related GHG Emissions at Your Institution

  • Harvard University (MA)
  • Better Food Foundation (DC)

Colleges and universities are increasingly attempting to measure and reduce their Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. Among the largest contributors of Scope 3 emissions are transportation and food. In 2019, …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Transforming Your Supply Chain for a Sustainable Future

  • Aramark (PA)
  • Better Food Foundation (DC)
  • Harvest Table Culinary Group (PA)

Developing a resilient food system is a crucial task for de-escalating and reversing the interrelated social and ecological crises unfolding as a result of industrial scale animal agriculture. Universities and …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Michigan State University Brody Neighborhood Re-design and Innovative Future

  • Michigan State University (MI)

The Michigan State University (MSU) Division of Residential and Hospitality Services (RHS) is committed to ensuring long-term sustainability by recognizing and reducing our impacts on the planet. Through our programs, …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Good Food, Good Data, Big Impact: Innovative Approaches to Capturing Farm to Institution Impact

  • Michigan State University (MI)
  • Real Food Challenge (MA)

Interest in purchasing and serving local foods in campus dining continues to grow, but documenting and quantifying the benefits and impacts of these purchases, including for local producers, is challenging. …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Recycling Food Waste on the Fly: Using Black Soldier Fly to Recycle Food Waste at LSU

  • Louisiana State University (LA)

We would like to present on how LSU is using the Black Solider Fly insect to recycle the pre and post-consumer food waste from LSU, turning the waste into fertilizer …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Campus Farmers and Growers Networking Meeting

  • Loyola University Chicago (IL)
  • University of Utah (UT)
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

Join other campus farmers and food system advocates in creating a robust, interdisciplinary network of campus-based growers and partners at our second annual networking meeting. Find someone in your region …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more
Cookbook Cover

#GCSHE 2021 Cookbook

  • AASHE (MA)

Do some cooking in the kitchen with AASHE’s first-ever, community-curated cookbook. Be careful, you may get hungry looking through all the great recipes. Happy cooking!

Comparison of Single-Use and Reusable Food Packaging Using a Life Cycle Assessment Approach

  • Michigan Technological University (MI)

This report was prepared by students at Michigan Technological University as part of the Consumer Product Manufacturing and Green Campus Enterprises to illustrate life cycle and sustabnibility by comparing single-use …

  • Posted Oct. 22, 2021
  • Publications
  • View more

Strategic Plan for Sustainable Agriculture Project

  • Grand Valley State University (MI)

The GVSU Sustainable Agriculture Project is a collaboration between students, faculty, and staff to experience sustainable agriculture on the Allendale Campus. The project began with a group of students in …

Food Box Distribution

Warrior Food Distribution

  • California State University, Stanislaus (CA)

Warrior Food Distribution, a collaboration between the Stanislaus State chapter of the California Faculty Association (CFA), Student Affair's Warrior Food Pantry, and our community partner, the United Samaritans Foundation, is …

FGCU3

  • Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)

FGCU photos for 2021 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI)

Pacific student selecting from the Farm to Fork salad bar.

Pacific food and dining

  • University of the Pacific (CA)

Food and Dining

Bates College students working in the organic, no-till student garden.

Bates College students working in the organic, no-till student garden.

  • Bates College (ME)

Bates College students working in the organic, no-till student garden.

LCC Students at the Learning Garden

LCC Students at the Learning Garden

  • Lane Community College (OR)

Lane Community College Students harvesting kale at the Learning Garden

Students shop for fresh veggies and honey harvested on campus while visiting PCC's Portlandia Farmstandia.

PCC Students Visit Portlandia Farmstandia

  • Portland Community College (OR)

Students shop for fresh veggies and honey harvested on campus while visiting Portland Community College's farm stand, also referred to as Portlandia Farmstandia. This photo was taken prior to March, …

Sterling College proudly displays their signed #BreakFreeFromPlastic Campus pledge, which guides colleges and universities towards single-use plastic elimination and waste elimination.

Sterling College Break Free from Plastic Pledge

  • Sterling College (VT) (VT)

Sterling College proudly displays their signed #BreakFreeFromPlastic Campus pledge, which guides colleges and universities towards single-use plastic elimination and waste elimination. Sterling College, a federally designated Work College in Vermont, …

R'Garden Field Harvest

The R'Garden

  • University of California, Riverside (CA)

The R'Garden is a community garden at University of California, Riverside that is committed to increasing local food access in Riverside and emphasizing the importance of a sustainable food system. …

The SD Ambassadors 2021 organized collecting funds campaigns in the 2nd edition of UM6P Food Bank.

UM6P FOOD BANK

  • University Mohammed VI Polytechnic

The SD Ambassadors 2021 organized collecting funds campaigns in the 2nd edition of UM6P Food Bank.

Sterling College EcoGather

  • Sterling College (VT) (VT)

Place-Based, Community-Focused Education - Sterling College is in the process of developing EcoGather, a higher education platform designed to advance ecological thinking and action as a foundation for building …

Spanish-translated poster for UCSC's 2018 "Dig In" conference co-hosted by People of Color Sustainability Collective

Moving from “Sustaina-splaining” to Inclusion: Three Practitioners’ Learning Journeys

  • University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)

These are photos to support the essay titled "Moving from “Sustaina-splaining” to Inclusion: Three Practitioners’ Learning Journeys" in the "No Sustainability Without Justice" essay series.

A 30 x 168 ft. Gothic-style hoophouse was being erected at Grand Valley State University’s Sustainable Agriculture Project on November 17, 2020. Employees from Nifty Hoops, New City Neighbors and volunteers from the Grand Valley community were on hand to help with the project.

GVSU Sustainable Agriculture Project and New City Neighbors Partnership

  • Grand Valley State University (MI)

A 30 x 168 ft. Gothic-style hoophouse was being erected at Grand Valley State University’s Sustainable Agriculture Project on November 17, 2020. Employees from Nifty Hoops, New City Neighbors and …

SWELL student packing bags

UCCS Food Next Door | Farm Subscription Program

  • University of Colorado Colorado Springs (CO)

The Food Next Door Farm Subscription Program at University of Colorado Colorado Springs was created to support community food security and literacy. Through the program, a participant buys a subscription …

Dickinson Farm

Farm Photos from Dickinson College

  • Dickinson College (PA)

Farming at Dickinson College

2020 Sustainable Career Panel Series: Corporate Sustainability

  • Villanova University (PA)

This panel series highlights the amazing work Villanova alumni are doing to create a sustainable future for all of us. The Corporate Sustainability panel will feature: Alex Floyd the Senior …

  • Posted June 10, 2021
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Food Choice and Waste in University Dining Commons—A Menus of Change University Research Collaborative Study

  • Lebanon Valley College (PA)
  • Rice University (TX)
  • University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)
  • University of California, Davis (CA)

The purpose of this multi-campus research was to investigate the relationships of food type and personal factors with food choice, consumption, and waste behaviors of college students at all-you-care-to-eat dining …

Towards an equity competency model for sustainable food systems education programs

  • Columbia University (NY)
  • Middlebury College (VT)
  • Teachers College, Columbia University (NY)
  • Tufts University (MA)
  • University of New Hampshire (NH)
  • University of British Columbia (BC)
  • American Museum of Natural History (NY)

Addressing social inequities has been recognized as foundational to transforming food systems. Activists and scholars have critiqued food movements as lacking an orientation towards addressing issues of social justice. To …

Farming on the Campus Quad

  • Duke University (NC)
  • Green Mountain College (VT)
  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)

This article covers how universities have promoted local and organic farming by giving their students land to grow their own gardens on campus.

Reducing Scope Three Carbon Emissions Through Behavior Change & Menu Labeling

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

In October 2020, UC Berkeley’s Cal Dining implemented carbon emission labels to better inform customers about the carbon impact of the recipes served in the dining hall. Student researchers, Alejandra …

Mitigating Carbon Emissions While Staying In Business: A Case Study of Longview Farm

  • Smith College (MA)

Smith College has aggressive goals for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and local food procurement. In an effort to understand supply chain emissions associated with food, students in the Environmental Science …

A view of the Food Forest sign and growing space

Cascadia Cornucopia Food Forest as a prototype for food permaculture areas on campuses

  • Cascadia College (WA)

The Cascadia Food Forest is an example of an integrated learning project at Cascadia College. It was designed to facilitate learning opportunities outside the classroom. The food forest is a …

Painting the shed

The People’s Fridge- A Community Fridge to Reduce Food Insecurity and Food Waste

  • University of California, Merced (CA)

The People’s Fridge is a community fridge in Merced, California at a local community garden which also holds a free food distribution every Saturday called the Pop-Up People’s Pantry. The …

Addressing Food and Housing Security among NC State University Students

  • North Carolina State University (NC)

Since February 2018, when a report on student hunger and homelessness on NC State University's campus was released, the campus community has generated increased resources for students, conducted ongoing research …

Brandeis' interactive dining sustainability dashboard

How Brandeis reduced our food carbon footprint over 20% in its first sustainable dining program

  • Brandeis University (MA)

This case study reviews how Brandeis harnessed the RFP and contracting process for a new dining vendor in 2019-2021 to make huge and first-ever strides in sustainability in our dining …

Planting the Pond Aquaponics System

Planting the Pond

  • Western Dakota Technical College (SD)

For this project, Western Dakota Tech formed an interdisciplinary team comprised of Environmental Engineering, Controlled Environment Agriculture, Electrical Trades, Computer-Aided Design, and Farm and Ranch Management students to design and …

Campus Map

Bennington College Commons Renovation

  • Bennington College (VT)
  • Efficiency Vermont (VEIC) (VT)

Bennington College’s Commons building is the original center of its 1932 campus plan. This 45,120 square-foot renovation is the first substantial upgrade to the building since its inception. It reinforces …

“A new understanding and appreciation for the marvel of growing things”: exploring the college farm’s contribution to transformative learning

  • Eastern Kentucky University (KY)

Campus farms and gardens can play a vital role in offering experiential and transformative learning opportunities for students in higher education. Many faculty believe that experiential education in food systems …

Toward a Healthy and Environmentally Sustainable Campus Food Environment: A Scoping Review of Postsecondary Food Interventions

  • University of Waterloo (ON)

Interventions are urgently needed to transform the food system and shift population eating patterns toward those consistent with human health and environmental sustainability. Postsecondary campuses offer a naturalistic setting to …

Student food insecurity and the social equity pillar of campus sustainability

  • University of Kansas (KS)

Abstract Purpose

College and university campuses serve as a vital test bed for sustainability solutions of various types. To date, though, campus sustainability efforts have focused more on the environmental …

Can public universities play a role in fostering seed sovereignty?

  • University of British Columbia (BC)
  • University of Toronto (ON)

Across Canada and the United States, public universities were founded with a mission to contribute to broad societal well-being. Yet, the capacity of public research institutions to develop and disseminate …

Safety and Sustainability: Reusable Dining during COVID-19

  • Northwestern University (IL)
  • Oregon State University (OR)

As part of the College and University Recycling Coalition 2021 Webinar Series, Northwestern University and Oregon State University developed and presented programs for reusable dining methods during the pandemic. The …

  • Posted May 4, 2021
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

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

OP 8: Sustainable Dining

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

Food & Dining Partners

All Material Copyright © 2005–2023 Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
AASHE reserves the right to control the reproduction and use of all material posted on this website.
For questions about this site, please email resources@aashe.org — Privacy Policy

About
Finding Resources
Submission Guidelines