By Maria Trabjerg Ulsøe, AAU Campus Services

Vegetarian Dishes and Local Ingredients in All AAU Canteens

All canteens at AAU offer both vegetarian and meat dishes. Every day, the canteens provide a selection of vegetarian meals, giving students and staff the option to choose healthier and more sustainable food options. Some canteens have even taken it a step further by serving exclusively vegetarian food. This initiative is not only good for the environment but also promotes a healthier lifestyle among the university’s users.

At AAU’s Copenhagen campus, 4 out of 5 student meals in 2023 were vegetarian. This shows a significant change in eating habits and an increasing awareness of the benefits of a plant-based diet. By promoting vegetarian meals, AAU helps reduce the overall environmental impact of food production, which is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, Jespers Torvekøkken has committed to prioritizing the purchase of local ingredients and partnering with local suppliers of plant-based products.

Free drinking water and food banks

At Aalborg University, students and staff have access to free, clean, fresh water from dispensers located throughout the campus. Additionally, as part of the “Too Good To Go” concept, students and employees can purchase food at reduced prices in the university canteen shortly before closing time.

To prevent or alleviate hunger among student or staff, interventions such as the supply and access to food banks are provided. Students and staff can visit Aalborg Foodbank on weekdays to receive free food and have a chat with the volunteers at five different locations across Aalborg.

Combating Food Waste

Food waste is a global problem with serious consequences for both the environment and the economy. AAU has taken this issue seriously and has implemented strict requirements for their canteen suppliers to minimize food waste. An important requirement in the contract with AAU’s canteen suppliers is that they must measure food waste and annually report the analysis of food waste data to the university. This ensures constant monitoring and evaluation of food waste, making it possible to identify areas for improvement.

‘Jespers Torvekøkken’, which operates the canteens at AAU in Aalborg, Esbjerg, and Copenhagen, has ambitious goals for reducing food waste. To achieve this, they have installed scales under all bowls on the buffet as well as in the trash bins. This provides a very detailed picture of food waste, which in the future will be reduced with the help of AI to digitize purchasing and planning with minimal waste in mind.

Intelligent Purchasing and Planning

By using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), AAU and their canteen suppliers can optimize the purchasing and planning of meals. AI can analyze data on past consumption patterns and predict future needs, helping to reduce overproduction and thus food waste. The technological solutions can also calculate the carbon footprint of ingredients and thus choose local ingredients in season. This is an important step towards a more sustainable food supply and shows how technology can play a crucial role in solving some of the most pressing environmental challenges.