Make the University of Oxford Plant-Based

Oxford University research shows that moving to a plant-based food system is critical to tackling the climate and ecological crises. Animal agriculture has been shown to contribute 56%- 58% towards food emissions globally, despite only providing 37% of our protein and 18% of our calories. [1, 2] It is one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, soil acidification and wasteful use of land, water, and crops. Analysis shows that moving away from diets which include animal products towards those which are plant-based has the potential to reduce food land use by 76% and greenhouse gas emissions from food by 49%, and significantly reduce acidification and eutrophication [2]. In addition to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, with a transition to a plant-based food system, the land no longer required for food production could be rewilded for habitat restoration or carbon sequestration. 
 Students and academics across Europe are organising for a transition to a just, sustainable and affordable plant-based food system. 32 universities and students' unions have already passed motions supporting a transition towards plant-based catering. [3] As students and staff, we believe the university must step up, act on its own research and use its position to lead by example. We call on the University of Oxford, its colleges, and departments to practice what they teach and begin a transition to fully plant-based catering in all their food outlets. 1. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-021-00358-x 2. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aaq0216 3. https://plantbaseduniversities.org/