1. Sustainable Food Procurement Principles (Environmentally Sustainable Management & Local Livelihoods)
NTU incorporates sustainable food procurement into the annual evaluation of campus restaurants, requiring contracted vendors to prioritise the purchase of ingredients from local and sustainable sources. In alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contracted food vendors are encouraged to follow the following purchasing principles:
- Eco-Friendly Farming Sourcing: Prioritise the purchase of ingredients certified under domestic or international organic and eco-friendly farming standards, minimising the use of manufactured herbicides, artificial fertilisers, and pesticides.
- Clean Label Sourcing: Reduce food additives while favouring suppliers offering ingredients and production methods with lower environmental impacts.
- Plant-Based Dining: Promote vegetarian and vegan meal options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with food production.
- Local Sourcing: Prioritise the procurement of locally produced ingredients to reduce food miles, support local agriculture, and strengthen sustainable local livelihoods.
- Resource Circulation: Encourage whole-food utilisation, environmentally friendly packaging, and circular economy practices in procurement to minimise food waste and unnecessary resource consumption.
2. Responsible and Traceable Food Procurement (Trusted Sources)
NTU requires campus food vendors to prioritise the purchase of ingredients that are environmentally friendly, traceable, and responsibly produced from trusted local and sustainable sources. The procurement of CAS-certified, organic, traceable, halal, and animal welfare-certified ingredients, together with imperfect produce and surplus food, is incorporated into the evaluation criteria for contracted vendors, promoting responsible sourcing, trusted supply chains, and supply-chain transparency.
▲ NTU's website publishes certification labelling information for the ingredients used by each campus restaurant.
3. Direct Procurement from Local Sustainable Producers
Through its Agricultural Product Sale Center (農產品展示中心), NTU directly purchases and offers agricultural products sourced from local and sustainable producers. In addition to agricultural products and processed foods produced by the NTU Farm—such as rice, frozen desserts, and horticultural products—the Center prioritises the purchase of organic agricultural products, high-quality certified produce, and collaborative products from local small-scale farmers, thereby supporting local sustainable agriculture through direct procurement.
