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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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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
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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)
  • The 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?

  • The 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
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Twinkling SNOW CROWN during Historic Winter Outbreak

Twinkling SNOW CROWN during Historic Winter Outbreak

  • University of North Texas (TX)

This cauliflower (Twinkle SNOW CROWN) was captured on February 14th, 2021 on snowy day at UNT(University of North Texas) Denton Community Garden. UNT community garden promotes environmental education, to growing …

sustainNU Holds Hybrid Planting Workshop

  • Northwestern University (IL)

Northwestern University's Office of Sustainability's (sustainNU) first hybrid event was during Earth Month. With the help of Wild Roots, a student-run garden on campus, and Northwestern Dining, sustainNU hosted a …

ISU Dining Compost Giveaway

  • Iowa State University (IA)

ISU Dining handed out pots, seeds, and compost to students. The compost was from our campus compost facility, which takes in food waste from our dining centers. ISU Dining contributes …

  • Posted April 23, 2021
  • Photographs
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A scoping review of policies promoting and supporting sustainable food systems in the university setting

  • University of Sydney (NSW)

Background Transitioning towards sustainable food systems for the health of the population and planet will require governments and institutions to develop effective governance to support the adoption of sustainable food …

  • Posted April 22, 2021
  • Publications
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Earth Month Pledge Board signed by Florida State students who vowed to be more sustainable in their daily lives.

Seminole Dining Celebrates Earth Month

  • Florida State University (FL)
  • Aramark (PA)

Here at Seminole Dining, we’re taking it back to 1970, when Earth Day was created, to celebrate 51 years of tackling environmental issues! To do this, we are celebrating all …

  • Posted April 21, 2021
  • Photographs
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North Texas Food Policy Alliance

  • University of Texas at Arlington (TX)

What are Food Policy Councils/Alliances? The first Food Policy Council started 30 years ago in the city of Knoxville. In the last decade Food Policy Councils (also called food system …

  • Posted April 21, 2021
  • Case Studies
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Collection of produce, eggs that was part of the subscription box

UCCS Food Next Door | Farm Subscription Program

  • University of Colorado Colorado Springs (CO)

The Food Next Door Farm Subscription Program strives to help fight hunger, promote food access, boost food literacy, and support regional farmers and ranchers in our community.

  • Posted April 21, 2021
  • Case Studies
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Predicting college students’ intention to purchase local food using the theory of consumption values

  • University of Alabama (AL)

While extensive research has been conducted on local food and consumer behavior, there is little research investigating college students’ intention regarding purchasing local food. The purpose of this study is …

  • Posted April 8, 2021
  • Publications
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Teaching Sustainability Practice through Service Learning: A Case Study of Reducing Food Waste

  • University of Southern Maine (ME)
  • University of Wyoming (WY)

This case report details the collaboration and integration of three distinct courses using a service-learning approach for a grant-based environmental project at the University of Southern Maine (USM). The focus …

  • Posted April 8, 2021
  • Publications
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SUNY New Paltz Pivots from Plastic Bottles to Aluminum Cans to Move Beyond Plastics

  • State University of New York at New Paltz (NY)

In the fall of 2020, Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS), which contracts on behalf of SUNY New Paltz for beverages to be distributed through vending machines and the dining services contractor, …

  • Posted Feb. 24, 2021
  • Case Studies
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How many chickens does it take to make an egg? Animal welfare and environmental benefits of replacing eggs with plant foods at the University of California, and beyond

  • University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)

Our question “How many chickens does it take to make an egg?” was inspired by the successful replacement of egg-based mayonnaise with plant-based mayonnaise in general dining at the University …

  • Posted Feb. 19, 2021
  • Publications
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Higher education and food waste: assessing current trends

  • Allegheny College (PA)
  • University of Passo Fundo
  • Manchester Metropolitan University
  • University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz
  • Università di Verona

Food waste is a considerable sustainability challenge, and many universities around the world are engaged in food waste prevention. University canteens offer opportunities for prevention of food waste by steering …

  • Posted Feb. 19, 2021
  • Publications
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Is the college farm sustainable? A reflective essay from Davidson College

  • Davidson College (NC)

Campus farms and gardens are proliferating across college and university campuses. While they may have unique missions, at their core those missions often include promoting student learning, campus sustainability, and …

Critical food systems education, neoliberalism, and the alternative campus tour

  • Trent University (ON)

While still quite modest, the body of scholarship on pedagogy related to teaching for more socio-ecologically just food systems is growing. However, this body of work is largely silent on …

A Case Study of Sustainability and Civic Engagement in a Sociology of Food Course

  • Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)

This article presents a case study of a ‘Sociology of Food’ course premised on issues of social justice and ethical and sustainable food practices. Through sustainability-inspired service-learning projects, students learn …

Reducing Dining Emissions: An Analysis of Beef and Milk Substitutions

  • Smith College (MA)
  • AASHE (MA)

The life cycle of food is responsible for over a quarter of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through production, processing, distribution, and waste. The environmental impact of specific foods varies …

  • Posted Jan. 28, 2021
  • Videos & Webinars
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Wasted Food Solutions: University of Rhode Island Spotlight

  • University of Rhode Island (RI)
  • Center for EcoTechnology (MA)

With approximately 17,000 students and 3,800 faculty and staff, meal planning across the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) two dining halls, four cafés, and retail dining outlet, means surplus food …

  • Posted Jan. 12, 2021
  • Outreach Materials
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Sustainable Food Systems (MA)

  • Montana State University (MT)

This program offers many opportunities to engage in experiential learning through management of projects at MSU’s Towne’s Harvest Garden and in the surrounding communities. Students can tailor their program to …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Integrated Pathway in Sustainable Agriculture

  • Earlham College (IN)

The coursework and applied experiences in the Sustainable Agriculture Integrated Pathway engage students in different elements of food and agricultural systems, ranging from the soil to plants to production processes …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Crop Sciences (BS)

  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)

The Crop Sciences major is where plant genetics, biotechnology, business, data science, crop production, and sustainability are brought together by results-oriented faculty and students.

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Agroecology Concentration

  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)

The Agroecology Concentration addresses ecologically based management of cropping systems, stewardship of the environment, and sustainable food production systems. The intersection between crop plants and their environment is emphasized in …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Agricultural and Consumer Economics (BS)

  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)

The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) applies business and economics principles to food, agriculture, renewable energy, and the environment, both here and abroad. By combining technical knowledge …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Food Science (BS)

  • Cornell University (NY)

The Food Science major prepares students to lead change in the food industry, academia and government. The research programs are designed to expand understanding of the biological/microbiological, chemical, physical, sensory, …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Nutritional Sciences (BS)

  • Cornell University (NY)

Cornell’s Division of Nutritional Sciences is devoted to human nutrition, with current research in the cognitive effects of early exposure to environmental toxins, environmental interventions to prevent obesity, and the …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Community Food Systems Minor

  • Cornell University (NY)

The Minor in Community Food Systems (CFS) is a university-wide program enabling undergraduate students to engage with critical contemporary issues relating to food security, food sovereignty, and food justice. In …

  • Posted Dec. 17, 2020
  • Academic Programs
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Reusable to-go Program at Northwestern Dining During a Global Pandemic

  • Northwestern University (IL)
  • Chartwells Higher Education (NY)
  • Compass Group (NC)

Northwestern University opened its dining commons during the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2020 with an emphasis on reusable to-go service ware. This program used the O2GO OZZI containers …

Harvesting tomatoes in the Growpod

University of Oregon GrowPod Tomato Harvest

  • University of Oregon (OR)

University of Oregon students and staff harvesting tomatoes in the experimental GrowPod.

Photos from UConn dining sustainability initiatives.

University of Connecticut Dining Services

  • University of Connecticut (CT)

Photos from UConn dining sustainability initiatives.

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

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