Our four missions to deliver the Right to Food

Our Right to Food Missions

WE STAND FOR THE RIGHT TO FOOD.

We will deliver on our Right to Food commitment through our four missions: 

Mission 1

PUTTING THE RIGHT TO FOOD ON THE WORLD STAGE

  • We want to establish regular official visits from key voices on the right to food, along with a team of supporting researchers.
  • We will host events  to coordinate activity on the right to food in Kent and nationally and so that people can learn about what being a right to food university means and how it can be achieved.
  • We will capture and share the University’s journey towards becoming a right to food university that inspires and mobilises other universities and organisations in the UK and internationally.

Mission 2

TRANFORMING FOOD SYSTEMS THROUGH TEACHING AND RESEARCH

  • We want to integrate a stronger food focus across the curriculum with a view to establishing the University as a leading provider of education and research into the role of food within the promotion of human health and a fair society.
  • This could including developing training on food security for professional courses, such as social work and developing a transdisciplinary course on food systems transformation.
  • We will invest in the Positive Environmental Futures SRT to ensure it becomes a beacon for best practice in the understanding of food and its relationship to sustainable futures.
  • We want to offer applied learning opportunities for students including monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the right to food missions, and study work placement and, volunteering opportunities through partnerships with local organisations and businesses.

Quotation

"I hope the Kent’s Right to Food missions will inspire other universities to follow suit. Kent is making it their mission to help their students and staff eat well. It's an exciting initiative which promises to make a difference."

Anna Taylor, CEO, The Food Foundation

Mission 3

TACKLING FOOD INSECURITY IN THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, WHILE PROMOTING A HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD COMMUNITY AT KENT

  • We want to involve students and staff at every step to ensure their lived experience is factored into the actions undertaken and changes made to our food community at Kent.
  • We will develop an action plan to tackle food inequality at the University of Kent. This might include, increasing free/subsidised food provision, developing a social supermarket, community restaurant models, a weekly fresh and affordable food market for students and community fridges.
  • We will invest in growing spaces and community gardens and expand opportunities for communal meals to support the mental health of students and staff.
  • We want to continue to develop the University’s Sustainable Food Action Plan 2022 with the catering and hospitality teams to reduce emissions,  sourcing produce as locally as possible and to work with suppliers to tackle issues around food insecurity.

Mission 4

ADDRESSING FOOD INEQUALITY IN OUR REGION

  • We want to engage with local authorities, charities, schools, farmers and communities across Kent to develop a plan to tackle food inequality across the county.
  • We want to build a Community Kitchen for local food entrepreneurs, supporting best practice and training on good food for the county. The University of Kent will offer space  to local food organisations to host events, training, innovation and fundraising.
  • We will recognise Kent’s right to food champions through the Right to Food Awards Programme.