About Food Systems
Food systems include all the activities involved in growing, processing, distributing, eating, and recovering food. A sustainable food system ensures that food is accessible, healthy, and affordable while protecting the environment, supporting communities and remaining economically viable for the future. At UBC, this holistic view of food systems aligns with our commitment to people, place and planet across education, research, operations and community partnerships. This approach guides how we advance food system research, how we operate our campuses' food environments, and how we collaborate with community partners to build a more just, climate-resilient, and nourishing future.
About the Food System Committee
Co-chaired by UBC SEEDS Sustainability and UBC Food Services, the initiative scales collaborations and applied research, utilizing the "Campus as a Living Lab.” This university-wide initiative aims to lead and inspire collaborative action to advance UBC’s transition towards a sustainable, healthy, secure, and just food system. Our committee includes representation from over 20 operational, academic and student units from across the UBC Vancouver and Okanagan campuses that represent various facets of UBC’s food system, who together with their extended networks work to advance the vision and mission.
Vision
UBC leads and inspires collaborative action for local and global change for just, secure, healthy, resilient and sustainable food systems.
Mission
To serve as UBC’s collaborative, cross-campus initiative that brings together students, academics, operational staff, community partners, and researchers to further advance UBC’s transition towards a sustainable, healthy, secure and just food system. Our Mission is guided by a set of principles that form the foundation of how we aim to work together
Goals
- Enhance awareness, knowledge and engagement to take action towards our vision, mission and principles
- Inform and advance policies, plans, and initiatives which address food system issues
- Advance UBC food system resiliency through student research, capacity-building, and collaboration on our campuses and beyond
- Create applied student research, impactful learning opportunities and interdisciplinary partnerships that utilize the Campus as a Living Laboratory
- Demonstrate leadership and positively impact the movement towards the sustainability, health and wellbeing of the larger British Columbian, Canadian, and global food systems
Current Priorities
Food Skills and Knowledge
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Plant-based cooking demonstration |
Volunteers from the FHM promoting educational resources |
Working Definition: Someone equipped with food knowledge and skills has the ability to make informed decisions and develop habits that build personal and planetary health. They have the necessary tools to contribute to a just and sustainable food system that accounts for the social, environmental, cultural, economic, historic, and political factors that affect our world today. (approved by FSC Nov 27, 2024)
We are activating this definition by:
- Working with students, staff, and campus partners to share food knowledge and skills through events like World Food Day, cooking classes, and SHCS programs
- Supporting hands-on research projects through SEEDS that help students learn about food systems and explore real-world solutions
- Sharing and promoting helpful resources on healthy and sustainable eating, in partnership with FHM, the Food Bank, and other campus groups
Climate-Friendly Foods
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Students engaging with the Climate-Friendly Food Label sorting game |
Informative poster on the environmental impacts of different food choices |
Climate Friendly Food System Definition: UBC aims to operate within a climate-friendly, just and accessible food system, which means being committed to operating within planetary boundaries by reducing our GHG emissions footprint associated with our food systems and enhancing food system resiliency from production to end disposal and recovery, while producing positive outcomes for people, animals and planet (developed by the Climate-Friendly Food Systems Action Team, 2021).
We are advancing this definition by:
- Creating and using the Climate-Friendly Food label to help people easily identify lower-carbon food choices
- Promoting the Climate-Friendly Food Systems (CFFS) Toolkit to support food providers and partners in making climate-smart decisions
- Making climate-friendly foods more abundant and accessible across campus, so choosing food that’s better for people and the planet is easier every day
Partner Hub
Discover our partners that work collaboratively to advance our vision and missions
AMS Food bank
The AMS Food Bank is a food relief service for UBC students in need, located inside the Nest
bcBWP: brain-power kitchen
Community-based nutrition and cooking program supporting brain health, cognition, and overall wellness through practical education
OFFICE OF WELLBEING STRATEGY
Backbone unit for UBC Wellbeing, our collaborative, system-wide initiative to promote health and wellbeing
ROOTS ON THE ROOF
Managing the rooftop garden on the AMS Nest. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices and food sovereignty
SEEDS SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM
Convenes applied research and interdisciplinary partnerships between students, faculty, staff and community partners to advance sustainability ideas, policies, and practices and create societal impacts by using the Campus as a Living Laboratory
Sustainability hub
The Sustainability Hub works to embed sustainability across all aspects of UBC’s academic endeavours, focusing on student engagement and faculty support
ubc botanical garden
UBC Botanical Garden, Canada’s oldest university garden, offers a peaceful retreat and dynamic space for research, learning, and engagement.
UBC FOOD HUB MARKET
Grocery store providing at-cost grocery essentials and food literacy workshops to UBC students
UBC FOOD SERVICES NUTRITION HUB
Your one-stop shop for all things nutrition. Key resources, events & epic prizes every month.
UBC FOOD SERVICES
Providing healthy and sustainable meals to students, staff, faculty and visitors across the UBC Vancouver campus
Resource Hub
UBC Food System Asset Map
This map serves as a centralized platform that showcases food system and food security initiatives, resources, programming, research, and collaborations on the UBC Campus to advance a just and sustainable food system.
Questions? Contact us!
Please get in touch if you have questions
Food System Committee Co-chairs:
Liska Richer, Manager, SEEDS Sustainability Program | Campus + Community Planning
David Speight, Executive Chef & Culinary Director | Student Housing & Community Services