Food Systems: Why, and Goals & Strategies

The food we eat and how its grown has major impacts on our environmental, physical, and economic health. Because students and staff spend the majority of their day on campus, decisions about the food made available to them have a major impact on their diets and as well as the food industry.

• • Environmental: The food system is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions fueling climate change. Industrial agriculture is dependent upon fossil fuels, and cattle grazing is a the leading cause of deforestation. Additionally, unsustainable farming practices and fertilizer runoff have led to groundwater depletion and contamination.

  • Social: Access to healthy food is not equitable, at least 23 million Americans live in food deserts where they must travel more than a mile to access a grocery store. Farmworkers are not adequately protected or receive a living wage for their work. 

  • Economic: Major food monopolies control the majority of the U.S. food system, making it difficult for small and medium sized producers to compete and support a thriving local food economy. 

Based on the issues in the food system, its important that schools procure sustainable food that supports a local food system while increasing access to nutritious meals for students.