Georgia is witnessing a growing trend of veganism among its students and faculty, as more universities are adopting plant-based menus in their canteens. Vegan Georgia, a local NGO, is leading the campaign to promote vegan dining in higher education institutions, as a way to reduce their environmental impact and improve their health.
The Benefits of Plant-Based Dining
According to a 2018 study by the University of Oxford, switching to a vegan diet is the single most effective way to reduce one’s carbon footprint, as animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, water depletion, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss. A vegan diet can also lower the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.
Gen Z, the generation born between 1997 and 2012, is the most enthusiastic about plant-based foods, as they are more aware of the environmental and ethical issues associated with animal consumption. A survey by the University of Massachusetts found that students are asking for more vegan options in their menus, including burgers, sausages, pizzas, and breakfast items.
The Future Food Campaign
Vegan Georgia, an NGO that advocates for animal rights and veganism, launched the Future Food campaign in 2023, with the aim of veganizing the menus in all university canteens of Georgia, and then expanding to kindergartens and other institutions. The campaign is based on the following strategies:
- Replacing the meat options on the menu with plant-based ones, using simple ingredient swaps that will not affect quality, taste, or cost;
- Introducing new plant-based options on the menu, such as salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, and desserts;
- Organizing an alternative catering service for those students who prefer plant-based dishes, through collaboration with vegan venues, producers, and delivery companies;
- Encouraging other institutions to follow the changes, by providing media and social media support to the campaign.
The Success Stories
The Future Food campaign has already achieved some notable successes, as several universities in Georgia have agreed to implement more vegan options in their canteens. Some of them are:
- Tbilisi State University, the oldest and largest university in Georgia, which has introduced a vegan corner in its main canteen, offering a variety of dishes, such as hummus, falafel, veggie burgers, and vegan cheese;
- Ilia State University, a public research university in Tbilisi, which has partnered with a local vegan restaurant, Veggie Garden, to provide plant-based catering for its students and staff;
- Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, a public university in the coastal city of Batumi, which has added vegan options to its menu, such as vegetable curry, lentil soup, and tofu scramble.
The Global Trend
Georgia is not the only country where universities are embracing veganism, as there is a global trend of plant-based dining in higher education institutions. Some examples are:
- The University of North Texas, which opened the first all-vegan dining hall in the world in 2011, attracting not only students of UNT, but also residents of the area;
- The authorities of Berlin, which launched a program to reduce carbon footprints by implementing plant-based foods in its university canteens, with 68% vegan, 28% vegetarian, and only 4% of meat and fish dishes in 2021;
- The Plant Based University campaign, which started in the UK in 2021, and announced its goal to move towards 100% plant-based menu in cafeterias by 2025;
- The New York City public schools, which launched Vegan Fridays in 2022, serving plant-based meals to 930,000 students every week;
- The Western University in Canada, which welcomed Odd Burger, the first 100% vegan fast food joint on a Canadian campus, in 2024.
Georgia’s universities are joining the global movement of veganism, as they recognize the benefits of plant-based dining for the planet, the animals, and the people. Vegan Georgia is leading the way, with its Future Food campaign, to make veganism more accessible, affordable, and appealing for the students and faculty of higher education institutions.
