Summary
This content analysis examined food sustainability policy documents from 163 UK higher education institutions between May and August 2023. Approximately half of universities had publicly available policies, with most emphasising communication, waste reduction, and quality standards, whilst few incorporated research and innovation commitments. The authors conclude that multifaceted policy approaches integrating multiple sustainability dimensions are likely to support broader food system transformation and benefit institutions, students and communities.
Regional applicability
This study is directly applicable to the United Kingdom, examining the current landscape of institutional food policy across the entire UK higher education sector. The findings provide a baseline for UK policy ambition and highlight specific gaps (particularly research and innovation integration) that are relevant to institutional governance and national food policy discourse.
Key measures
Percentage of institutions with publicly available food sustainability policies; prevalence of specific policy commitments (communication and engagement 95.2%, food waste 94.0%, quality standards and certification 91.7%, research and innovation 17.9%); policy scope and multifaceted commitment patterns
Outcomes reported
The study assessed the prevalence and content of publicly available food sustainability policies across 163 UK higher education institutions, identifying the frequency of specific commitments (communication, waste reduction, quality standards) and gaps (research and innovation). It found that approximately 50% of universities had published food sustainability policies, with variation in policy scope and comprehensiveness.
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