Submitted by Grainne Kennedy on Mon, 2017-02-20 17:10
On 2 February 130 people gathered at the University Centre to hear about the University’s new Sustainable Food Policy. Part of the event was a panel discussion, where four academics discussed how we can encourage healthy and more sustainable diets. The panel representatives brought forward different perspectives ranging from climate change to food security to health and waste. This variety of perspectives emphasised the wide-ranging impact of what we eat.
The event shone a light on some of the excellent examples of innovation and sustainable food procurement across the University. Attendees from Colleges to departments, staff to students, catering staff to academics came along to hear about some of the food-related initiatives that have already taken place, the plans the University has to go even further and the cutting-edge research at the University which is informing this work.
While the event focused on the efforts of the University Catering Service, which runs 11 cafes and food outlets across the city, attendees brought with them their own experience of sustainable food initiatives taken within the University or within their College, and a number of the University's suppliers also attended to share their experiences of sustainable food issues. There's lots on our sustainable food pages about what's already being done, and more will be added as the policy develops and many more good news stories emerge from across the University! Meanwhile departments and Colleges are encouraged to view the University’s Sustainable Food Policy, sign up to the principles of the Policy, or adapt it for their own contexts.
You can now view the presentations and photos from the event. There is also lots of information about getting involved in sustainable food issues on the Environment and Energy website, and those interested in action more widely in Cambridge can find out more from the website of local organisation Cambridge Sustainable Food.
Watch our short video about the launch below or, if it doesn't appear, click here.