UBC Food System Project (UBCFSP) : scenario 4

Sustainable systems such as the food system need to be considered in campus planning. The importance of a sustainable food system at UBC has been acknowledged. However, as of yet, no concrete plan exists to integrate food systems into campus planning at the university. Before food systems can be included in campus planning, a clear outline of the university’s vision of a sustainable food system is necessary. We propose a set of objectives as our vision. These objectives are not identical to those decided by previous colleagues in AGSC 450 and the differences are discussed. This paper outlines the reasons and importance for integrating food systems into campus planning and provides recommendations in two key forms: 1) Mechanisms of addressing food systems in the Main Campus Plan (MCP) – the plan for institutional development at UBC, and 2) The development of a Supplementary Food System Plan. The goals and purpose of the MCP display inherent limitations to the extent that food systems can be included at this level. The MCP is intended to be a more general plan, which provides ultimate objectives but no specific mechanisms for achieving these goals. However, as these specific mechanisms are fundamental components of fulfilling objectives for a sustainable campus food system, we propose a supplementary plan for food systems. This plan would be supplementary to the MCP and can provide specific actions needed en route to a sustainable food system. Even though we provide a list of ways to attain sustainability in food systems at UBC, there are evidently missing pieces and a need for further detail and development of this plan. Consequently, we conclude with several recommendations for campus leaders of sustainability and for future AGSC 450 students. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofUnreviewedUndergraduat