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.
Featured Resources
New Resources
Minor in Agroecology
- University of Wyoming (WY)
Agroecology, the study of agricultural ecosystems, is an interdisciplinary degree program within the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and the Department of Plant Sciences. The Bachelor of Science in ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Minor in Agroecology
- North Carolina State University (NC)
Using an interdisciplinary approach, the Agroecology Minor program at NCSU is designed to provide students from all fields a fundamental understanding of agricultural systems from an ecological, economic, and sociological ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Minor in Ecological Agriculture
- University of Vermont (VT)
This minor is designed to give students a knowledge-based concentration in diversified agricultural production based on ecological principles and is economically viable, socially acceptable, and minimizes impacts to the environment ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Minor in Food Systems
- University of Vermont (VT)
This interdisciplinary minor in Food Systems gives students the knowledge and skills necessary to understand our complex interdependent food system of food production, processing, distribution and consumption.
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Minor in Organic & Sustainable Crop Production
- University of Florida (FL)
Do you ever wonder where organic produce comes from? How do organic farming practices differ from traditional agriculture? This combination of courses will help students learn more about the organic ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Minor in Sustainable Agricultural Systems
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Agricultural systems are complex and dynamic. In recent years, questions have been raised regarding the sustainability of energy and resource intensive agriculture systems. While all agriculturally oriented majors of the ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Minor in Sustainable Agriculture
- University of Missouri (MO)
Increasingly, farmers are looking for creative ways to increase and diversify farm income, while consumers are seeking sustainably raised food produced close to home. Sustainable agriculture meets the needs of ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Minor in Sustainable Agriculture
- University of Kentucky (KY)
Students in the Sustainable Agriculture (SAG) Program experience a range of learning opportunities designed to immerse them in the world of sustainable agriculture, through a flexible and interdisciplinary curriculum tailored ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Minor in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture
- University of Vermont (VT)
This minor is designed to provide students with a knowledge-based concentration in horticulture based on the application of ecological principles in landscape design and plant sciences.
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Agroecology Track
- Goshen College (IN)
Students who enroll in the nine-week residential Agroecology Summer Intensive (ASI) at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center all share something in common: they are passionate about sustainable agriculture. ASI is ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Graduate Specialization in Ecological Food & Farming Systems
- Michigan State University (MI)
The purpose of the Ecological Food & Farming Systems graduate specialization is to foster active learning about agriculture and food systems among graduate students from different disciplinary backgrounds. Students will ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Certificate in Local Food Systems
- University of Georgia (GA)
The UGA Certificate in Local Foods is an interdisciplinary certificate designed to give students an overview of the concepts and issues of the local food movement. Students from any major ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture
- Santa Rosa Junior College (CA)
The Sustainable Agriculture Production Certificate program is designed to provide farmers and gardeners with a foundation in the techniques of sustainable food production and the "how-to" aspects of organic gardening ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems
- Grand Valley State University (MI)
Strong local food systems are essential for healthy local communities. Students preparing for careers in local food enterprises, health care, sustainability, education, business, social work, non-profit administration and many other ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems
- Rio Salado College (AZ)
The Sustainable Food Systems program is designed for a diverse student population, including those who are currently working within the food service industry and are interested in building upon their ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Certificate in Urban Agriculture & Sustainability
- Owens Community College (OH)
Owens' Urban Agriculture and Sustainability Certificate Program requires 26 credit hours of coursework, which includes plant science, soil science, greenhouse management, urban livestock and animal husbandry, organic gardening and food ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Certificate Program in Organic Agriculture
- University of Georgia (GA)
The Certificate Program in Organic Agriculture at the University of Georgia is a new interdisciplinary program of study that was created in Fall 2007. The certificate is similar to a ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Sustainable Agriculture Certificate
- Central Carolina Community College (NC)
The Sustainable Agriculture curriculum is designed to provide the entrepreneurial and technical skills necessary to manage a profitable,environmentally sound, community based small farm or agricultural business. Course work includes ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship Certificate
- Johnson County Community College (KS)
JCCC's sustainable agriculture (market farming) entrepreneurship program helps students realize their dreams of opening their own sustainable agriculture businesses. Farmers who grow produce on the side, depending on crops ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Sustainable Agroecology certificate
- Triton College (IL)
Designed for learners who wish to gain an appreciation and practical skills to use sustainable practices that will positively influence the quality of natural ecosystems and human environment.
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Sustainable Food & Farming Certificate
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
The 15-credit Certificate in Sustainable Food and Farming was developed in response to growing student demand and emerging job opportunities. This online program has been particularly attractive to the fastest ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Sustainable Local Foods Farming Certificate
- John Wood Community College (IL)
JWCC's new Sustainable Local Foods Farming program provides courses and hands-on training in sustainable fruit and vegetable production, entrepreneurship, and marketing. Students gain the practical skills and knowledge needed ...
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
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Learning Through Eating: Bringing Campus Dining Operations into an Introductory Environmental Science Course
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Sustainability initiatives in higher education often flourish as the result of cross-functionality of teaching, research, and operational staff. At the University of Wisconsin - Madison, the Nelson Institute for Environmental Resources ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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AASHE Student Diary Series: From 'Compost Lady' to Compost Campus
- Lehigh University (PA)
In my last entry, I wrote about my preliminary composting research at Lehigh University as a first-year student. I am now a junior and compost research has remained an important ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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AASHE Interview Series: Yoni Landau and Danny Spitzberg of CoFed
- CoFED (NM)
CoFED, the Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive, supports over 40 student teams in regions across North America. CoFED serves as a network and training program that empowers students to create ethically-sourced ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Should We Do It? An Economic Analysis of the Costs and Benefits of a Local and Sustainable Food System at Davidson College
- Davidson College (NC)
Globalization created the conventional food system and its numerous negative effects such as environmental degradation, the loss of food cultures, antibiotic resistance, unsustainable energy use, increased food insecurity, unfair exploitation ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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AASHE Student Diary Series: Abuzz with Rooftop Bees
- Harvard University (MA)
The novice beekeeping adventures of a group of Graduate School of Design (GSD) students at Harvard University are featured in this installment of the AASHE Bulletin Sustainability Student Diary series ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Best Practices for Starting Sustainable Food Cooperatives in University Communities
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
This study makes recommendations for starting new student-run food co-ops (grocery stores, cafes, delis and other eateries), based on the findings of an investigation on seven co-ops in university communities ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Time to Get Real: A Food Assessment of Dining at Pomona College
- Pomona College (CA)
It is well established that current conventional food production practices contribute significantly to environmental degradation and climate change, compromise the well-being of workers and animals involved, and produce foods of ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Understanding the UCSD Market for Sustainable Foods: The Sustainable Agrifood Systems Fellowship
- University of California, San Diego (CA)
If UC San Diego is serious about becoming a university leader in sustainability, it is imperative that more attention and resources be directed toward its food system, and in particular ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Sustainable Seafood at the University of Minnesota
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
The ultimate goal of this project is to transform the process by which seafood is purchased and consumed at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Currently, no criteria concerning sustainability ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Sustainable Food Systems at UC Berkeley
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
In the arena of sustainability, we are continually finding ways to reduce our energy and water footprints. But food is essential. It is true that many developed nations have a ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Appalocal Food: Establishing a farm-to-college program at Appalachian State University
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Farm-to-college programs promote and serve locally produced foods in campus cafeterias. The benefits of integrating local food into institutions of higher education are numerous including supporting local farmers and the ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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A Guide to Developing a Sustainable Food Purchasing Policy
- Portland State University (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
- Food Alliance (OR)
- Health Care Without Harm (VA)
- Institute for Agricultural Trade and Policy (DC)
This guide is intended to help universities, colleges, hospitals, and other institutions - as well as those advocating for food system change - create, promote and implement practical sustainable food purchasing policies ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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The feasibility of implementing a farm-to-college program at the University of Cincinnati
- University of Cincinnati (OH)
Some of the major issues confronting environmental planners today are affected by the modern system of food production, distribution, and consumption. The major contributing factor to this relationship is movement ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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Big News on Campus
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
- Clemson University (SC)
- Yale University (CT)
Provides information on the environmental practices of several colleges in the U.S. Benefits of the Yale Sustainable Food Project for local farmers; Condition of living at the dormitories in ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
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RIT FoodShare
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
RIT FoodShare is an initiative designed to reduce food waste on campus while reducing food insecurity among RIT students. It consists of two components - a facebook group and a FoodShare ...
- Posted June 12, 2015
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Addressing Food Insecurity at Portland Community College-Rock Creek Campus
- Portland Community College (OR)
Our campus community faces food and nutritional challenges like much of the nation. Portland Community College's Rock Creek Campus, with 50% of the student population receiving financial aid, chose ...
- Posted June 11, 2015
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UNT Health Science Center Community Garden: Connecting Health and Wellness to Sustainability
- University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (TX)
The University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) is a graduate school of health care professions with over 2,100 students. The UNTHSC Community Garden broke ground in early ...
- Posted June 11, 2015
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Green Captain Program
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- Aramark (PA)
The Green Captain Program allows UCI Hospitality & Dining student employees who are passionate about sustainability to design and implement practices to reduce environmental impacts (e.g. carbon footprint, water ...
- Posted June 11, 2015
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Feasibility study of implementing an aerated static compost system for food waste in University of Hawaii at Manoa housing
- University of Hawaii at Manoa (HI)
There are no facilities on Oahu capable of converting the post-consumer food waste generated by the University of Hawaii into compost. This is an inquiry into the feasibility of implementing ...
- Posted June 11, 2015
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Incorporating Life Cycle Analysis into Campus Dining
- University of Missouri (MO)
This study provides the greenhouse gas (GHG) estimates for thirty-nine meals using menu items served at the University of Missouri's Campus Dining Services. Meal size was normalized to 400 ...
- Posted June 11, 2015
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Collaborations for growing the Virginia Tech Farm to Campus Program
- Virginia Tech (VA)
The Virginia Tech Dining Services Farm at Kentland began as a small 1/2 acre herb garden in 2009. Since, the garden has expanded steadily to include more than 6 ...
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Starting a Food Recovery Network chapter at Colorado Mountain College-- Steamboat Springs
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
This is an action oriented research and case study project that originated from the Capstone course of the Sustainability program at Colorado Mountain College (CMC). The study examines the process ...
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Tribe Truck Farm
- College of William & Mary (VA)
Tribe Truck Farm is a micro-farm in the bed of a pickup truck. The main goal of this project is to initiate a dialogue within the William and Mary community ...
- Posted June 4, 2015
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UA Compost Cats: Students Creating Community Partnerships to Turn Garbage into Gardens and Foster Local Food Security
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Located 60 miles from the largest, landlocked port for food in North America, the student-run Compost Cats program has now forged partnerships with the City of Tucson, San Xavier Co-op ...
- Posted April 12, 2014
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Aquaponic food production as an integrating context for campus sustainability
- Allegheny College (PA)
The Food for Sustainability project at Allegheny College utilizes aquaponic systems for indoor, year round tilapia and lettuce production. The products are sold to Parkhurst Dining Services and are incorporated ...
- Posted April 11, 2014
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Envisioning Sustainability: Implementing a Campus Community Food System at Virginia Tech
- Virginia Tech (VA)
Virginia Tech, founded in 1872 as a land grant institution, has not lost its local roots. With a nationally recognized college of Agriculture & Life Sciences, the campus has its ...
- Posted April 10, 2014
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GreenHouse Food Buying Club
- University of Vermont (VT)
- Sodexo USA (MD)
A student initiated program that allows on-campus students from a specific Residential Learning Community (RLC) to use a portion of their mandated meal plans to purchase a "CSA". The "CSA ...
- Posted March 28, 2014
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UCI Zero Waste Food Court Pilot Program
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
The University of California, Irvine launched a pilot program for post-consumer waste diversion in retail dining in 2013. The program achieved Zero Waste under the University of California Office of ...
- Posted March 28, 2014
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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.