Zero Hunger

Lakehead University places a strong emphasis on reducing food waste as part of our commitment to food security and sustainability.  The university’s Sustainability Plan outlines specific goals for waste reduction and increased composting, with progress measured against a waste audit conducted by students through their coursework in the Faculty of Natural Resource Management.

Lakehead’s food service providers Aramark and Dana Hospitality actively track and measure food waste on both the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses.  Aramark has made significant commitments including reducing food waste and loss by 50% by 2030. 

To address food insecurity, Aramark’s Lakehead division has initiated regular food donations to the Lakehead University Food Resource Centre using Second Harvest’s Food Rescue App. Unused food by Aramark is inputted into the app and notifies the Food Resource Centre that there are donations available for pick-up.  This initiative protects the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and diverting food from the landfill.  Donations over the last 12 months has divert 14,134 lbs (6411 kg) of food as shown below:

In addition, Lakehead University is also exploring food waste diversion through partnerships with local farmers who can use the food waste in compost or animal feed.   Currently, Lakehead is piloting the project with Barefoot Farm through the Loop Resource platform.  The tool connects farms with regular pickups of unsellable food to use as animal feed.  The diversion of food peelings in the food operations at Lakehead are expected to divert at least 5500 kg of waste each year.

It's important to note that both vendors are in the process of transitioning their food waste tracking systems, including personnel training and information system changes. This transition was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Food waste data is calculated using historic waste patterns and estimation as food service providers continue to work with their affiliated food waste providers to improve data accuracy and drive further waste reduction efforts

Additional Resources:

• Aramark Minimize Food Waste
• Dana Hospitality Sustainability

The Lakehead University Student Union has established a robust program aimed at addressing student food insecurity through the Food Resource Centre on the Thunder Bay campus and the Food Resource Collective on the Orillia campus.  

The Food Resource Centre program encompasses several key components:

1. Emergency Food Support: The Food Resource Centre provides emergency food support through an Emergency Grocery Pick-Up Program.  The Food Resource Centre also provides a Fresh Market which aims to promote healthy eating across campus by offering a selection of low-cost fruits and vegetables, making nutritious options available to everyone in our community.
2. Student Engagement and Community-Based Responses: Empowers students to get involved through educational workshops, volunteering, and leadership opportunities.
3. Advocacy: The Food Resource Centre works to address the problems in the university food system by advocating for accessible, affordable, culturally diverse, nutritious and sustainable foods on campus.

The Food Resource Collective (FRCO) program on the Orillia campus encompasses:

1. The Pantry: Off-campus emergency food support for students who are not able to access the on-campus Pantry, Fresh Market, and other in-person initiatives. Fully remote students and students not in Orillia while on extended placements may access the virtual pantry once per month during the Fall and Winter terms by contacting the Food Resource Collective.
2. Good Food Box: The Orillia & Area Good Food Box is a non-profit charitable initiative bringing the community together to buy a variety of delicious and nutritious fresh fruit and vegetables at wholesale prices. It is a large buying club run entirely by volunteers – the more purchasers the better value for everyone. The Food Resource Collective Allows Students to Order a Good Food Box once a month for pick up on campus at the same time as the Fresh Market.
3. Fresh Market: The Fresh Market takes place once a month during the academic term, providing free fruits and vegetables in the Simcoe Hall Learning Commons.

• Free Food Distribution:  Ensures students have access to essential food and pantry items
• People’s Potato Lunch Program:  Serves nutritious hot meals to those in need
• Chopped U Cooking Classes:  Empowers students with cooking skills and meal preparation techniques
• Good Food Box:  Provides fresh fruits and vegetables at a subsidized cost
• Emergency Food Support:  For urgent situations, emergency food support to ensure no one goes hungry
• Ramadan Program:  Specific nutritious meals tailored for fasting students during Ramadan
• Fresh Market: Provides low-cost fresh fruit and vegetables

• Thunder Bay Campus:  Menu Link 
• Orillia Campus:  Menu Link

	Vegetarian		Low carbon certified
	Vegan		Healthy
	Gluten-free		No Dairy

 

A sample weekly menu from the Residence Dining Hall on the Orillia campus shows a variety of food choices throughout the week with options for vegetarian and vegan options.

 

 

 

The Sustainability Plan also outlines specific goals for Dining Services.  These goals include supporting sustainable food systems through responsible food and beverage procurement and reducing reliance on conventionally produced animal products.  Lakehead University is dedicated to providing sustainable, diverse and environmentally responsible food choices for all.

 

Does your university as a body provide interventions to prevent or alleviate hunger among staff? (e.g. including supply and access to food banks/pantries)

Lakehead University addresses hunger and food insecurity through a range of targeted interventions which include:

1. Living Wage: All unionized positions including faculty, graduate assistants, technical staff and professional staff in non-unionized roles receive a living wage compensation which exceeds the minimum wage and helps support their ability to meet basic needs, including food.  Detailed information can be found in Lakehead University’s  Salary Information guideline.

2. Partnerships with local organizations:  Lakehead University collaborates with local food banks and community organizations to provide additional food resources for staff.  Employees seeking more information or assistance can contact Human Resources who can provide details on available resources and connect staff with local organizations.

3. On-Campus Meal Plans: Various meal plans are available to faculty, staff and students. These meal plans come with affordable options, including various membership levels and declining balance/flex dollars. They can be applied or purchased as one-time options at multiple locations across campus.

4. Community Garden Spaces: Through a partnership with the Food Security Research Network, community garden spaces are also available on campus.  These gardens are accessible to all community members for a nominal fee to grow fresh produce for personal use.

5. Awareness and Support Services: Awareness programs and support services are available to educate staff about resources and assist with managing food insecurity.  Further information can be found here.

Through these initiatives, Lakehead University is actively working to combat hunger and ensure the well-being of our community members.

Lakehead University is actively involved in providing access to food security and sustainable agriculture knowledge, skills and technology to local farmers and food producers.  Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond our campus through various initiatives designed to support and educate the local community with free programming.

Lakehead University Agricultural Research Station (LUARS)  is committed to conducting, promoting, and sharing agricultural research that contributes to the development and diversification of the agricultural industry. Through small plot research, extension activities, community-based agricultural research, and natural resource management, LUARS disseminates valuable research findings and agricultural insights.  Examples of their knowledge-sharing and engagement activities can be found in the 2023 Summary Research Results and Research and Extension Articles.  More information about their work can be found here.

The Sustainable Food Systems Lab runs with support from Lakehead University, as a hub for academic and community-based practitioners engaging in sustainable food systems research and action. It aims to build meaningful relationships that enable knowledge sharing between research, policy and practice with an ultimate goal of healthy, just and sustainable food systems for all.

Lakehead University offers a range of free events and initiatives to facilitate the connection and knowledge exchange between local farmers and food producers. The Lakehead University Agriculture Research Station (LUARS) is committed to the establishment, operation, promotion, and transfer of agricultural research. Through small plot research, extension activities, community-based agricultural research, and natural resource management, LUARS shares valuable research findings and agricultural insights with the local farming community. 

The annual summer tours at LUARS offer local farmers and community members the opportunity to visit the facility and engage in open dialogue and knowledge transfer. These tours provide a platform for sharing research outcomes and ongoing developments in agriculture.

Lakehead University disseminates research findings and agricultural insights through various channels, including the 2023 Summary Research Results and Research and Extension Articles. These resources help support sustainable farming practices and contribute to building stronger connections within the agricultural community.

The Lakehead University Agricultural Research Station (LUARS) provides free access to plant stocks and fertilizers for local farmers and food producers to research and translate knowledge to improve sustainable farming practices and produce higher yields. The impact of this work can be found in the 2023 Summary Research Results.

The Lakehead University Environmental Laboratory (LUEL) offers paid chemical analysis of soils, foliage, water and wastewater. The laboratory supports both teaching and research at Lakehead University, offering access to production-based analytical methods to outside clients.   LUEL has a long history of working with local First Nations communities in studying sustainable wild rice production in Northern Ontario.

Lakehead University is strongly committed to promoting sustainability in its food services and addressing environmental and societal challenges related to food security, sustainable farming and ethical procurement. Through the Sustainability Plan, the university is taking active steps to provide sustainable food choices for the entire university community while minimizing conventionally produced animal products in our dining services. Commitments have been made through the plan to source from local community-based producers that are sustainability-based.   Lakehead's Procurement Policy operationalizes this commitment which includes sustainable procurement practices, including in the supply chain. 

Lakehead's food providers, Aramark Canada and Dana Hospitality, have long-standing commitments to advancing sustainable sourcing practices that minimize impacts on people, animals and the environment. Aramark's Supplier Code of Conduct addresses three core commitments:

1. Sustainably caught seafood,
2. Humanely raised proteins, and
3. Locally sourced fruits and vegetables

Aramark also has an environmental sustainability platform called  'Green Thread' which emphasizes responsible sourcing, waste minimization, efficient operations, and transportation management optimization. 

Through the commitment of our food service providers to responsible sourcing, Lakehead University prioritizes the purchase of local, seasonal and responsibly raised, grown and sourced products whenever a reliable supply is available, thereby contributing to our broader sustainability objectives.