Plant Based Unis: Environmental Initiative

We are hoping to launch this campaign here in Portsmouth University in the coming months, aiming to put Portsmouth University in the leading few universities in terms of environmental consciousness.

Plant Based Universities is a student-led campaign for university catering facilities to transition the menus to plant based.

I am putting together a team of individuals who are passionate about the environment and sustainability, you do not need to be vegan yourself, but keen to help achieve positive policy change.

Facts supporting this campaign:

Livestock (cows, pigs, chickens) are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change.

• Most recent research suggests that animal agriculture is responsible for 16.5% of all global greenhouse emissions.
• The global greenhouse emissions of animal-based foods are twice that of plant-based foods.
• Animal agriculture occupies 85% of land in the UK. This is by farming the animals, and also growing feed for ‘livestock’.
• Animal agriculture is one of the biggest causes of deforestation worldwide; 90% of Amazon Rainforest deforestation can be attributed to red meat production.
• Animal agriculture – particularly chicken and dairy farming – is the biggest cause of water pollution in the UK.
• Discarded fishing equipment is one of the biggest causes of ocean plastic pollution.

Main emission sources are feed production, processing, and enteric fermentation (from cows' digestion).

Beef and cattle milk are the top emission contributors, followed by pig meat, buffalo products, chicken, and small ruminant products.

Livestock emissions primarily include methane (CH4), with smaller amounts of nitrous oxide (N20) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Linking climate change through Livestock (Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations. 2013)

Rise of Factory Farming in the UK: 

Over one thousand are 'megafarms' – US-style farms that house more than 124,000 chickens bred for their meat, over 80,000 hens used for their eggs, over 2,500 pigs, over 700 cows used for their milk or over 1,000 cows bred for their meat.

Intensive farming or factory farming has become the norm, it’s estimated  to be 70% of UK farm animals now raised in this system, and as much as 99% of US farm animals. Despite this being our primary food production model, the disastrous environmental repercussions are now becoming apparent.

River Pollution

• Just 14% of rivers are classified as in a good ecological state, Livestock and soil management, including manure and fertiliser use, are the leading agricultural activities affecting freshwater ecosystems (Wentworth & Peck, 2022).

The Plant Based Uni’s Campaign:

https://upsu.net/post/H7JBX/plant-based-universities-campaign
In 2018, Doctors J Poore and T Nemecek produced a meta-analysis of around 38,000 farms across the globe: 'Reducing food's environmental impacts through producers and consumers'. Their findings showed that, beyond all reasonable doubt, the production of animal products is causing untold damage to our climate.

​

A more recent Harvard study, 'Eating away at climate change with negative emissions', has proven that a plant-based food system will produce more food, with fewer emissions, whilst also increasing carbon drawdown. It can free up 76% of global farmland, much of which can be rewilded, restoring our precious wildlife, saving thousands of animals. 

This campaign aims to reframe the mainstream environmental debate so that a fully plant-based food system can be celebrated as a key solution to the climate and nature emergencies. We are not demanding a ban on animal products from campuses, but rather that our universities divest from these industries at their outlets just as they have fossil fuels. We are advocating for our academic institutions to act in alignment with the best interests of future generations now. 

Our campaign will have several roles, for either casual or committed volunteers, with optional campaign training provided. 

If you are interested in helping our campaign, reach out to us through our email or Instagram:

Email- Sebastian- Vegan@upsu.net

Instagram- Portsmouthvegansociety

Many thanks for your time, 

Sebastian 

Sources:

Wentworth, J., & Peck, L. (2022, February 19). Research Briefing. Reducing agricultural pressures on freshwater ecosystems. UK Parliament. https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0661/#:~:text=Agriculture%20affects%20more%20than%2060,herbicides%20and%20fungicides%20entering%20watercourses.

Gerber, P.J.,et al (2013). Tackling climate change through livestock - A global 

assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities. Food and Agriculture                                                Organization of the United Nations