Plant-Based Universities Newcastle University

Transcript:Plant-Based Universities Newcastle University:
Plant-Based Universities Newcastle University Students Union supports the International, student-lead campaign group Plant-Based Universities1. 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 allergens2 and is halal3 and kosher4 (when alcohol is not included). There are lots of resources available online5 about plan-based nutrition and how a plant-based diet can be made possible for everyone. What is it? Newcastle University declared a climate emergency in 20196 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. Why is it needed? Figure 1). Greenhouse gas emissions per 100g of protein from The United Nations Climate Action [online]. Beef Legumes 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. 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. what does this transition mean for your club/society? Plant-Based! Footnotes: Plant-Based Universities [online]. Available at: https://www.plantbaseduniversities.org/about Allergy UK. Top 14 Food Allergens. [online]. Available at: https://www.allergyuk.org/types-of-allergies/food-allergy/top-14/ Is All Vegan Food Halal? [online] Available at: https://www.iamgoingvegan.com/is-all-vegan-food-halal/ 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 The Centre of Biological Diversity Catering to the Climate (biologicaldiversity.org) Newcastle University. (2019). Newcastle University declares a climate emergency. [online] Available at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/archive/2019/04/climateemergency 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 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 Searchinger, T.D., Wirsenius, S., Beringer, T. and Dumas, P. (2018). Assessing the efficiency of changes in