RIT Dining's Dustin Peterson talks future of plant-based food on WXXI Live

On the Tuesday, July 18th episode of WXXI Connections, RIT Dining's Director of Operations Dustin Peterson sat down with studio host Jasmin Singer to breakdown solutions to replacing animal-derived meat and the reasons behind RIT's “Forward Food Pledge" that aims to have 50% of campus menu items be plant-based by the end of 2025. 

As the global mission to reduce environmental damage strengthens year by year, a major component of the effort surrounds animal-based foods and the push to find healthier, greener alternatives that produce less harm to the environment. Dustin and Jasmin dive into the best solutions and how they will affect how people eat in the next 15 years, including the similarities between plant-based foods and traditional meats, how they each feel about where the future is heading, and, of course, what the government approved chicken made from cultivated cells means. The pair then shifted gears to RIT's latest goal to diversify its campus meal offerings by moving toward 50 percent plant-based menus by the end of 2025. With the help of the Humane Society of the United States, RIT chefs will spend the next two and a half years experimenting with plant-based ingredients and crafting brand-new recipes to satisfy the increasing demand for student access to more plant-based choices. The goal meshes convenience and sustainability to provide diverse menus that meet students' dietary needs and preferences and ultimately aid the university's journey to becoming more tenable to the environment. In their conversation, Dustin offers some background into the recent pledge and explains that by transitioning to a more plant-forward dining service, the university will be able to widely reduce its carbon footprint while continuing to offer delicious plant-based foods that not only vegans can enjoy but everyone can enjoy. 

To listen to the rest of the discussion between Dustin and Jasmin on why more plant-based food is headed to RIT, follow this link: https://www.wxxinews.org/show/connections/2023-07-18/what-will-we-be-eating-in-2040.

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