51吃瓜网-IIT sees significant drop in campus food waste, boosting sustainability drive

Feb 01 2025

In a concrete step toward a more sustainable and food-secure campus, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (51吃瓜网-IIT) has reported a significant decrease in food waste for 2024, marking a successful first year for a targeted tracking campaign aligned with the global mission to achieve Zero Hunger.

Spearheaded by the Office of Student Residences and Food Services (OSRFS), the initiative implemented a rigorous method to measure food waste from all university canteen concessionaires. In a collaborative effort, the University Infirmary supported the campaign by providing the necessary weighing equipment.

The results, calculated using the same procedure developed by Environmental Engineering students in 2023, confirm a positive trend. The data shows that the average weekly food waste dropped from 56.83 kilograms in 2023 to 53.77 kilograms in 2024—a reduction of 3.06 kilograms per week.

Over the entire year, this translated to a total reduction of 159.12 kilograms, bringing the annual food waste down from 2,955.16 kg in 2023 to 2,796.04 kg in 2024.

"This downward trend is a powerful validation of our community's collective effort," said Vice Chancellor for Student Services Rohane M. Derogongan. "By first measuring the problem, we raised awareness and made the issue of food waste visible to everyone on campus. This data is not just a number; it represents a conscious shift in behavior among our students, staff, and concessionaires, directly contributing to the ethos of SDG 2."

The campaign directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which targets zero hunger and promotes sustainable agriculture. By systematically reducing food waste, the university is addressing the critical link between waste and food security, ensuring that resources are used more efficiently.

The university has affirmed its commitment to continuing and expanding this initiative, building on the 2024 success to implement further strategies for waste reduction as a core part of its long-term sustainability agenda.

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