Food Challenge
An opportunity for students to create change on campus
The Campus Food Strategy Group wants to harness student energy and ideas to create meaningful change in the University of Manitoba food system.
The student-run group is participating in the nationwide Food Challenge, an opportunity for U of M students interested in tackling any challenge related to the food systems on campus. These solutions could take the form of a website, an event, a series of workshops, a business, research, an app, a map or anything else the students would like to pursue.
“This challenge gives students an opportunity to put their skills, education and ideas to work to improve the campus environment and increase food sustainability,” says Anna Weier, outreach coordinator in the Office of Sustainability.
Participating students will connect with others interested in food sustainability, have a chance at winning up to $500 and course credit to allow them to carry out their proposals. The top two teams from the event will also be offered additional support from the University of Guelph-based sponsor Feeding 9 Billion.
Michaela Bohunicky of the Campus Food Strategy Group feels that engaging students is the key to creating positive change in the University of Manitoba food system. “There are so many great things around food happening at the U of M right now,” Bohunicky says. “What would really help these efforts is more engagement from the campus’ largest demographic: students. I imagine that the projects coming out of this challenge will help achieve a campus food culture that better reflects and responds to students’ needs and interests.”
Students can register to participate in the challenge until October 13. Everyone is welcome to attend the event and listen to the student pitches on October 17 from 4-5pm in the Cross Commons Room at 108 St. John’s College on the Fort Garry Campus.
For more information visit the Campus Food Strategy Group website.
October is Sustainability Month. Each week in October an article on a different sustainability-related theme will be posted on UM Today. Visit the Office of Sustainability website for more information about sustainability on campus. Visit the Sustainability Month website for more information on Sustainability Month events.