A rural campaign group has criticised a decision from students at Stirling University which will see the campus union move to a plant-based menu by 2025.
The Countryside Alliance says the move – backed by a majority of attendees at a student union meeting on November 10 – represents a “snub” to British farmers and have called for the university to reject the motion or call for a wider, campus-wide poll on the plans.
The proposed move will see the union on campus commit to moving towards a plant-based food system, delivering a 50 per cent plant-based offering by the beginning of the 2023/24 academic year and to fully achieve the aim no later than 2025.
It was supported by backers of the Plant Based Universities campaign, which describes itself as a nationwide initiative of students encouraging universities and student unions to endorse 100 per cent plant-based catering.
The move made the Stirling union the first in the UK to get behind a switch, but it has been slammed as “illogical” by the Countryside Alliance – who believe the students’ union should adopt ‘locally sourced’ meat and dairy products instead.
Countryside Alliance spokesman Mo Metcalf-Fisher said this week: “Obviously this is an attack on freedom of choice imposed by a tiny number of students on the wider student body, but it is also illogical.
“Stirling’s students’ union would be much better off sourcing sustainable local meat and dairy produce from Scottish farmers instead.
“How can an avocado flown in from South America have eco-superiority over a piece of grass-fed beef from a local farm?
“Stirling University should demonstrate their support for Scottish farmers by ensuring they continue to supply meat and dairy, irrespective of what its students’ union decide to do.”
A Stirling University Students’ Union spokesman said: “The University of Stirling Students’ Union held a General Meeting for all members on Thursday 10th November.
“At the meeting, several motions were discussed and voted upon, including a Plant-Based Commitment Motion.
“The motion calls for a transition towards a plant-based food system within Stirling Students’ Union, with the intention of 50 per cent plant-based being achieved by the beginning of the 2023/24 Academic Year - with 100 per cent to be achieved in no later than 2025.
“Following a discussion by members present, the motion was voted on and passed.
“It was noted at the meeting that as the motion would have a commercial implication for the charity, this would require further scrutiny to establish how the union could move towards supporting the proposal.
“We are confident that given the current policy we will be able to work positively with the motion’s direction as directed by our members.”
