Over 850 academics call on universities to go 100% plant-based

More than 850 academics and experts have called British universities to commit to 100% plant-based food in the canteens to fight the climate crisis.

Organised by the students’ organisation Plant-Based Universities, the open letter encourages the universities to switch to a vegan diet, which is more sustainable and less harmful to the planet.

According to scientists, cutting meat and dairy from consumption and following a plant-based is the best way to reduce our negative environmental impact. So far, many UK universities have already committed to having at least half of their menus plant-based.

The letter said: "We are acutely aware – as you must be too – of the climate and ecological crises; not only this, but we are also mindful that animal farming and fishing are leading drivers of them.
“Most universities have declared a climate emergency, with many taking steps such as fossil fuel divestment. [Students] deserve to know that their universities are actively working to create a future for them to graduate into.”
“Not vegan? That’s okay. We are not asking for individual dietary changes. Students and staff can still bring whatever food they like onto campus. What we are asking for is institutional divestment [from meat and dairy].”

The list of academics who have signed the letter includes professors Frank Kelly, Simon Lewis, Chris Rapley and Joseph Poore of Oxford University. The campaign was also backed by over 200 other people, including broadcaster and environmentalist Chris Packham, Dale Vince OBE, the Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, the deputy leader of the Green Party Zack Polanski, the Olympic canoeist Etienne Stott, and the co-executive directors of Greenpeace, Will McCallum and Areeba Hamid.

Commenting on the letter, Chris Packham said:
"The student campaigners of plant-based universities are making incredible changes in their institutions and it’s only right to see hundreds of academics stepping up to support them. The move towards a safe and secure plant-based food system is starting, and I stand behind these committed young people driving this shift forward.
“Their successful votes at universities such as Cambridge and Birmingham show the way towards a brighter future. The support of world-leading experts in climate and food system research for this transition speaks volumes.”

One of the academics, Dr Helen Czerski, an oceanographer at University College London and television presenter, said: "Universities should see themselves as microcosms of society, where a spirit of exploration encourages people to try new things, to test better options, and to assess the consequences.
“Whenever I’ve organised a university event recently I’ve chosen plant-based or vegetarian catering without mentioning it, and I’ve only ever had compliments about the food, never complaints about what’s not there. It isn’t nearly as scary as many people think.”

According to statistics, the young generation is the most concerned about the climate crisis, and younger people are likely to follow a vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian diet.

Plant-based Universities is a student-led campaign for all university catering facilities to switch 100% of their menus to plant-based food in order to limit their contribution to the climate emergency and shift public opinion in favour of a plant-based food system.

Nathan McGovern, Co-Founder of the Plant-Based Universities campaign said:
“The response across academia in the past day has been incredible. We’ve seen countless professors and lecturers come out in support of 100% just and sustainable plant-based university catering.

We are thrilled with this, but will also make sure it doesn’t stop here. Plant-Based Universities campaigners are working in over 70 UK universities, and abroad, to push through this commonsense switch to help universities tackle the climate and ecological crises.”

You will find the full letter and the list of all signatures on the Plant-Based Universities website.