Newcastle University Supports Plant-Based Universities Campaign for Sustainable Food System

Plant-Based Universities Newcastle University Students Union supports the International, student-lead campaign group Plant-Based Universities1. What is it? A plant-based diet excludes animal products such as meat, fish, dairy, and eggs. Instead, is focused on plant foods like fruit, veg, beans, grains etc. Plant-based food can be more accessible to a range of diets as it eliminates 5 of the 14 most common allergens2and is halal3and kosher4(when alcohol is not included). There are lots of resources available online5about plan-based nutrition and how a plant-based diet can be made possible for everyone.

Newcastle University declared a climate emergency in 20196 Why is it needed? Transitioning to a 100% plant-based food system would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production by 61%7 As well as freeing up 76% of global farmland for rewilding8 This land would draw-down as much carbon dioxide as is currently emitted through fossil fuels each year9. Beef Legumes Figure 1). Greenhouse gas emissions per 100g of protein from The United Nations Climate Action [online].

This transition means that catering for events need to have a greater proportion of plant-based options NUSU has committed to at least 50% plant-based catering at events. what does this transition mean for your club/society? Plant-based food can be equally as delicious and nutritious as animal-based foods so this shouldn't be a concern. Clubs/societies should not only take this opportunity to make their activities more sustainable but also investigate the inclusivity of their food choices for members including, but not limited to, students who are disabled, neurodivergent, have allergies, or eating disorders. There are lots of resources online4 about plant-based catering. Plant-Based!

References Figures: 1. United Nations (2024). Food and Climate Change: Healthy diets for a healthier planet. United Nations. [online] Available at: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/food Footnotes: 1. Plant-Based Universities [online]. Available at: https://www.plantbaseduniversities.org/about 2. Allergy UK. Top 14 Food Allergens. [online]. Available at: https://www.allergyuk.org/types-of-allergies/food-allergy/top-14/ 3. Is All Vegan Food Halal? [online] Available at: https://www.iamgoingvegan.com/is-all-vegan-food-halal/ 4. Is All Vegan Food Kosher? [online] Available at: https://www.iamgoingvegan.com/is-vegan- kosher/#:~:text=All%20vegan%20food%20is%20basically%20kosher%E2%80%94but%20it%20depends 5. The Centre of Biological Diversity Catering to the Climate (biologicaldiversity.org) 6. Newcastle University. (2019). Newcastle University declares a climate emergency. [online] Available at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/archive/2019/04/climateemergency 7. Ortega, D.L., Sun, J. and Lin, W. (2022). Identity labels as an instrument to reduce meat demand and encourage consumption of plant based and cultured meat alternatives in China. Food Policy, 111, p.102307. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2022.102307 8. Poore, J. and Nemecek, T. (2018). Reducing Food s Environmental Impacts through Producers and Consumers. Science, [online] 360(6392), pp.987 992. doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq0216 9. Searchinger, T.D., Wirsenius, S., Beringer, T. and Dumas, P. (2018). Assessing the efficiency of changes in land use for mitigating climate change. Nature, [online] 564(7735), pp.249 253. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0757-z