SDG 2 – Zero hunger

We promote healthy eating through educational resources like the Sharper Minds program, and we are also working to reduce food waste and improve sustainable food choices. Academically, we integrate sustainable food security into our curriculum, offering degrees and courses in agriculture, aquaculture, food science and technology.

We lead global research on crop resilience, Indigenous food systems and dairy productivity in developing countries. We also engage local farmers through events, workshops and access to research facilities, fostering innovation in sustainable agriculture. These efforts reflect our commitment to seeking solutions to sustainability issues such as food security both globally and locally, as articulated in our Sustainability Strategy.

Read our SDG 2 2024 report (PDF, 294.02 KB)

See how we make a difference across key areas:

• Campus food waste
• Student and staff hunger
• Food choices on campus
• Student spotlight
• Food security and outreach

Campus food waste

UQ aims to work towards being a zero waste university, or as close as possible, with minimal amounts of waste sent to landfill, including food waste.

How we are achieving this

• Most food waste falls under organic waste. UQ has organic waste collection points – including bins with green signs marked 'organic waste' – throughout The University, where waste is collected and sent to composting facilities through our waste contractor.
• The organic waste collection includes food scraps (fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy), coffee grounds, teabags and paper towel waste from bathrooms, as well as organic waste generated in kitchens and back-of-house areas of cafes and food outlets.
• While food waste is part of the collection, UQ does not receive separate data for food waste alone. Paper towel waste makes up the majority of the organic waste stream, and currently, paper towels and food organics are not separated.
• UQ’s bush tucker and community gardens provide an opportunity to connect with the food we eat and experience the full life cycle of food production, consumption and waste to repurpose or compost.

Student and staff hunger

UQ has a commitment to increase availability of cost-effective sustainable food options for both staff and students. We realise that some students may be at risk of being food insecure, and we have certain interventions in place, including both on-going programmes and resources as well as one-off services to prevent or alleviate hunger and enable access to nutritious and affordable food.

How we are achieving this

Allianz Foodbank partnership

The Allianz Foodbank partnership brought pop-up Foodbank services to St Lucia campus in August 2024 targeted at international students. Over 700 students accessed free pantry products and fresh produce as part of Student Health Week activities.

UQ Student Union and SecondBite partnership

UQ Student Union (UQU) partner with SecondBite to provide Food Co-Op, a pantry for UQ students to stock up on a range of free and low-cost grocery items. UQU also organise Morning Marmalade and Kampus Kitchen: welfare initiatives providing free breakfasts and dinners to UQ students across campuses throughout the semester.

UQ Food Drive

The UQ Food Drive, a UQ Student Rights Collective initiative, accepts non-perishable food items that are unopened, unused and have a minimum 4-week shelf life. We are collaborating with the broader UQ community and our suppliers to assist as many students as possible.

Sharper Minds

Healthy eating: Food for the Brain Self-Paced Online Module is part of the Sharper Minds free package of resources that UQ offers to UQ students to learn more about how to increase their health and self-care behaviours so that they can achieve their best while at university. In the section on healthy eating, in addition to the kinds of foods and their nutrients that can aid focus, memory and energy during their intensive study periods, students explore managing budget in relation to food.

Employee Assistance Program

UQ staff are able to access budgeting and nutrition advice through the Employee Assistance Program. Staff who are experiencing financial distress which may have impacts such as (but not limited to) food security and housing can request support through Human Resources. This is addressed on a case-by-case basis depending on the circumstances of the individual. UQ works with the employee to provide appropriate assistance.

Community gardens

UQ's community gardens provide a space for staff and students to grow their own fresh food alongside other new and experienced gardeners, a nutritious and affordable option. The 2 gardens, located at St Lucia campus and Gatton campus, provide a practical way to develop a stronger connection to the food we eat and the environment we live in. The gardens also promote social interaction across generations, disciplines and cultures through gardening, healthy eating and sharing skills and knowledge.

Contacts for further support

Those continuing to experience hardship or who need assistance in obtaining food are also put in touch with organisations that may be able to assist.

Food choices on campus

Food choices have a significant impact on our personal carbon footprint and on the lives of those who contribute to the farming, production and distribution of food. We are committed to providing sustainable, healthy and affordable food and dining choices for all on campus, and purchasing products from local, sustainable sources.

How we are achieving this

• In 2024, we strengthened our commitment to healthy, inclusive and sustainable food choices across all campuses. A wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options are now available from key food retailers, including Kenko Sushi and Pacemaker Café.
• Many retailers, such as Patina and St Lucy’s, prioritise locally sourced ingredients as well as locally roasted coffee (e.g. Campos and Merlo coffee), supporting Queensland producers and reducing food miles.
• UQ supports homegrown research with the probiotic drink ‘Perkii’, invented at UQ, available for sale at both Lakeside Cafe and Cafe Nano.
• Across campus, food service tenants on campus are encouraged to offer affordable grab-and-go options under $15, ensuring access for budget-conscious students.
• UQ's community gardens provide a space for staff and students to grow their own fresh food alongside other new and experienced gardeners, a nutritious and affordable option. The 2 gardens, located at St Lucia campus and Gatton campus, provide a practical way to develop a stronger connection to the food we eat and the environment we live in. The gardens also promote social interaction across generations, disciplines and cultures through gardening, healthy eating and sharing skills and knowledge.

Procurement Policy

UQ’s Procurement Policy stipulates that all procurement practices reflect a commitment to sustainable procurement principles, including not engaging with suppliers who have supply chains that utilise modern slavery, and proactively ensuring that small and medium enterprises, including those owned by community groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, are provided with a fair and reasonable opportunity to supply UQ.

The policy also sets out the expectation that purchases are to be from suppliers who are known to be reputable and reliable and who demonstrate corporate values and commercial practices that are consistent with UQ’s responsible and sustainable purchasing principles. This is also reflected in UQ’s Supplier Standards (PDF, 531.9KB).

For catering, UQ has 4 preferred providers who have been selected because of their location, prior experience with UQ, and social impact.

UQ’s 'Where to Buy Guide' recommends that where a different catering provider is chosen, those making the purchase need to consider:

 

1. prioritising food and drinks that are made, grown or produced locally in the state of Queensland
2. buying with impact, for example searching for businesses run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the Indigenous Payees list (PDF, 190.89KB) (staff login required) and Supply Nation, social enterprises through the Social Traders or the Queensland Social Enterprise Council, and businesses that employ people with a disability through Buyability.

Student spotlight

Courses and units relating to agriculture and aquaculture

UQ’s commitment to SDG1 Zero Hunger is embedded in our curriculum through programs that address sustainable food systems, agriculture and aquaculture. The School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability focuses on global issues relevant to sustainable farming and fishing.

The Bachelor of Agricultural Science is a flagship program that equips students with the scientific, technological and economic knowledge to improve food security and environmental sustainability. Students explore sustainable crop and livestock production, soil science and agricultural economics, with majors in Agronomy, Animal Science and Horticulture.

Courses such as BIOL3340: Fish, Fisheries & Aquaculture provide advanced training in aquaculture systems, fish health and sustainable fisheries management.

These programs and courses integrate real-world challenges, including climate resilience and ethical food production, preparing students to contribute to global food systems. Students benefit from hands-on learning across UQ’s 1,000+ hectares of subtropical farmland and aquaculture facilities, and participate in industry placements and research projects that address hunger and sustainability challenges locally and globally.

Food security and outreach

UQ aims to support efforts to address hunger beyond The University by providing access to information about food security, sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, and making resources, skills and technology available to local farmers and food producers.

Access to food security knowledge

UQ aims to provide access to food security and sustainable agriculture and aquaculture knowledge, skills and technology to farmers and food producers.

How we are achieving this

Safeguarding the future of banana production

UQ leads international research on banana diseases, diagnostics and prevention, aiding food security for over 400 million people worldwide that depend on the crop as a staple food or source of income.

Through collaborations and support of banana research in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Africa and Latin America, UQ is improving and maintaining a capacity for accurate diagnosis of banana pathogens to reduce the risk of incursions from exotic banana diseases (such as black Sigatoka, moko, blood disease and banana bunchy top), and aid in the containment and/or eradication of emerging and endemic diseases.

In 2024 validated diagnostic assays were published for moko disease and national diagnostic protocols produced for both moko and blood disease. To raise awareness among industry stakeholders, articles were published in industry magazines as well as a series of scientific articles. In 2024, Professor André Drenth was an editor of, and authored 4 chapters in, a reference book, Achieving sustainable cultivation of bananas – Volume 3: diseases and pests.

An outcome of the banana disease research at UQ is stronger food security and supporting the livelihood of farmers across the tropics. Additional outcomes include dividends for Australia in the form of exclusion benefits, which are significant for the major diseases:

• fusarium wilt TR4 ($177 million p.a.)
• moko and blood disease ($134 million p.a.)
• black Sigatoka ($80 million p.a.)
• bunchy top ($37 million p.a.).

Farmers in Australia benefit from reduced production costs, reduced risk of crop failure, domestic market access and a reduced environmental footprint, supporting the industry social license to farm.

Scaling genomic selection across the Indian smallholder dairy sector

UQ is helping to scale use of genomic selection in India's smallholder dairy herds in collaboration with:

• the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• BAIF (Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation) Development Research
• the Indian National Dairy Development Board
• UNE (University of New England)
• INRAE (French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment).

Despite being the world's largest milk producer, India's milk yield per cow is very low. This initiative aims to lift the rate of genetic gain in Indian dairy cattle and buffalo to increase milk production and nutrition, enhance sustainability and boost the prosperity of India's 75 million smallholder dairy farmers. India's dairy cattle and buffalo industries are now applying genomic selection to deliver substantial improvements.

This builds substantially on learnings from the northern Australian beef cattle industry, where UQ-led genomic selection research has already resulted in fertility improvements to the herd that are estimated to deliver $33.6 million in benefits over the next 30 years. In 2024, training was provided to BAIF researchers and researchers from Indian government organisations and universities in analysis of large genomic data sets.

Breeding Program Assessment Tool (BPAT)

The Breeding Program Assessment Tool (BPAT) is a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded project led by UQ since 2015. This humanitarian project is designed to assess the effectiveness of public sector breeding programs, operating in the CGIAR (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) network, that are designed to deliver improved cultivars to small-scale farmers in emerging economies of Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean.

In 2024, UQ actively used the BPAT to enhance plant breeding education and global agricultural research. For example, the BPAT was integrated into the AGRC3041 Plant Breeding course at UQ Gatton, helping students evaluate breeding program efficiency. The BPAT also supported international donor-funded projects aimed at improving breeding outcomes for smallholder farmers in developing countries, reinforcing UQ’s commitment to sustainable agricultural innovation.

Empowering Indigenous communities and food systems

UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) is driving research on Indigenous food systems through the UQ-led Uniquely Australian Foods ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre.

One of the 5 research themes in the centre is 'Social Factors and Indigenous Participation'. Projects in this theme contribute to achieving the Centre’s goal of developing sustainable business models involving all stakeholders by identifying social factors and beneficial Indigenous participation across the value chain from raw material to finished foods. 2 key projects underway in 2024 include 'Understanding Value for Uniquely Australian Foods in Target Markets' and 'Development of a Sustainable Business Model for the Kakadu Plum'.

ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture

The ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, led by UQ (2020–2027), explores how plants adapt to diverse environments to enhance agricultural resilience and global food security.It combines genetics, ecology, and crop science, while supporting early-career researchers (ECRs) through grants and interdisciplinary training.

In 2024, its Kickstart and ECR Capacity Building grants funded collaborative research for a group of 9 investigators and 6 mentors across 5 nodes. Also in 2024, the Centre hosted a public lecture series ('Talking Plant Science') and an academic lecture series ('People, Plants and the Law'), both available via the ARC CoE for Plant Success YouTube channel. These fostered dialogue on global plant science challenges.

Plant Futures Facility

The $65 million Plant Futures Facility, which completed construction in 2024, will help Australian plant scientists and industry improve crop productivity and secure future food supplies. Fitted out with technology to finely control temperature, light intensity, light quality, humidity and CO2 concentration, the facility is unique in both scale and precision in the southern hemisphere. It is expected that experiments in the facility will expand knowledge about the relationship between a plant’s genome and the environment.

KONEKSI (Collaboration for Knowledge, Innovation, and Technology Australia and Indonesia) projects

UQ researchers were involved in 2 projects throughout 2024 funded by KONEKSI, a collaborative initiative supporting partnerships between Australian (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Indonesian organisations for inclusive and sustainable policy and technology. Both projects worked towards promoting sustainable land management in the agricultural sector:

• 'Addressing Vulnerabilities and Enhancing Resilience in the Smallholder Value Chains of Java’s Peri-Urban Food Supply Systems' engaged stakeholders through participatory workshops, interviews, and surveys to develop intervention strategies promoting sustainable agriculture in vulnerable agriculture areas in Java, Indonesia. The project aligns with Indonesia’s vision for climate-resilient agriculture and demonstrates a replicable framework for enhancing sustainability and climate resilience in peri-urban farming systems.
• 'MyINDAH Diet – Inclusive Digital Solutions for Healthy and Sustainable Diets and Food Security in Java’s Urban and Peri-Urban Food Systems' addressed sustainable use of land through the integration of digital technologies, systems dynamics modelling, and community engagement to promote resilient food systems. The project involved building databases of nutritional profiles, engaging communities through digital training and developing predictive models for climate resilience. These outcomes also contributed to SDG 15 by fostering sustainable land use, conserving ecosystems and empowering local communities through inclusive digital innovations.

Events for local farmers and food producers

As part of a broader strategy to ensure that we connect and transfer knowledge beyond The University, UQ aims to provide events that are open to the public, including to local farmers and food producers.

How we are achieving this

• In October 2024, UQ hosted The Future of Sustainable Food Production, as part of the BrisScience free lecture series. Led by Dr Nicole Robinson, this event addressed current worldwide threats to agricultural systems including degradation and pollution. It also explored new developments and innovations in revitalising our soils, including the use of novel materials – such as biodegradable plastics – to support sustainable crop production. The event was ideal for local producers interested in sustainable agricultural practices.
• In March 2024, QAAFI hosted The Continuing Evolution of Agricultural and Food Science as part of their Science Seminars series. The series invites a range of speakers from Australia and abroad to explore how high-impact science will significantly improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the tropical and sub-tropical food, fibre and agribusiness sectors. This event outlined the changing imperatives driving agriculture and food research in Australia and globally, as well as the need to embrace the 'license to operate' concerns of consumers and stakeholders with more traditional productivity and value drivers of the sector. Of particular interest to farmers and food producers, it also considered the agriculture and food research landscape of the future and the steps needed to address the pressing workforce challenges the sector and broader society face.
• In 2024, the UQ Sustainability Office hosted a series of community gardens workshops and working bees across its Gatton and St Lucia campuses. These free, hands-on sessions were designed to promote sustainable gardening practices, environmental awareness and community engagement. Open to students, staff and the public (including local producers), the workshops focused on areas such as soil health, water conservation, organic gardening, composting and pollination.
• The Australian Research Council Training Centre in Predictive Breeding, led by UQ, began its work in 2024 with an official launch taking place in November. More than 90 industry and research experts attended the launch, where panel discussions highlighted the challenges facing plant and animal breeding industries – a sector that is vital to boosting productivity and sustainability on Australian farms. The event provided an important forum for researchers and industry professionals, including local farmers and food producers, to network and exchange knowledge.

Access to University facilities and resources

UQ provides access to resources and shared facilities as part of our partnerships with industry, government and other local stakeholders to drive innovation and sustainable agricultural practices.

How we are achieving this

UQ Gatton campus

Our Gatton campus, which is ideally located in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley, one of Australia’s most productive farming regions, allows the university to work closely with local farmers and producers on real-world agricultural projects. With over 1000 hectares of farmland, the campus supports hands-on research in areas like native grain cultivation and vertical farming. It also partners with Indigenous communities and local stakeholders to promote sustainable practices and food innovation. Gatton campus' facilities and infrastructure includes the following resources tailored to meet the needs of industry clients:

• crop production resources and technology such as specialised machinery for both general farm work and precision agriculture, Cravo retractable-roof glasshouses and purpose-built netted structures
• irrigation systems to support crop research and pastures, including drip and trickle, gravity T-tape and hand-shift lateral boom systems.
• the Darbalara Beef Cattle Teaching Facility, a 184-hectare site featuring cattle yards, a dedicated teaching building and areas for grazing and forage crop production
• a commercial-scale modern dairy, designed to support high-quality dairy science, animal welfare and nutrition research
• an equine unit that provides world-class facilities and expert support, and a small ruminant unit that offers purpose-built infrastructure to support diverse research into sheep and goat management, welfare, genetics, nutrition and sustainable farming practices.

Queensland Animal Science Precinct (QASP)

Queensland Animal Science Precinct (QASP) is a unique world-class research facility designed to manage and conduct animal research in the commercial government, education or industry sectors. The precinct includes:

• non-contained facilities such as feedlots, individual pens, metabolism facility, climate control rooms, an animal behaviour complex, cattle and sheep yards and crushes, and multifunction laboratories
• SmartTech equipment including Growsafe units, Greenfeeders, SmartFeed Pro units and SF6 Tracer devices.
• biocontainment facilities such as PC1 certified individual large animal pens, an isolation facility and containment area holding yards
• services and research conducted in a variety of rural and remote offsite locations.

School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability (SAFS)

The School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability includes the following facilities and services:

• a wildlife teaching facility at the Gatton Campus, which supports teaching and research in small animal species. The Facility collaborates with external zoological institutions, and government agencies and is regularly involved in UQ engagement activities
• plant science laboratories at the St Lucia Campus, which are occasionally made available to external stakeholders on request.
• scientific services such as standard and non-standard analysis of sample submissions, and organic and inorganic chemistry techniques and facilities which are available to research students, academic staff, UQ collaborators and external research partners.

Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI)

QAAFI collaborates with institutions and organisations across the globe to translate complex science into products, improved management and sustainable food production systems. QAAFI conducts research at 15 sites across Queensland. In addition to UQ’s St Lucia and Long Pocket campuses, a number of these sites are co-located with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (formerly Agriculture and Fisheries), enabling further collaboration and capacity building with state government:

• Ecosciences Precinct, Boggo Road
• Health and Food Sciences Precinct, Coopers Plains
• Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick
• Leslie Research Facility, Toowomba
• Parkhurst Complex, Rockhampton
• Spyglass Research Facility, Charters Towers
• Mareeba Research Facility, Mareeba.

UQ Agri-Food Innovation Alliance

UQ Agri-Food Innovation Alliance fosters collaboration between UQ researchers and local agri-food businesses to drive innovation in sustainable food production. The Industry Kickstarter Grants scheme supports short-term, high-impact projects between UQ agri-food science academics and Australian agri-food businesses. In 2024, some of the grant recipients and projects included:

• Dr Marlize Bekker and Canefields Distillery – 'Identifying heirloom sugarcane varieties with high sugar and unique flavour profiles'
• Dr Deirdre Mikkelsen and Bugs Alive – 'Microbial Safety and Nutritional Quality of Crickets (Achaeta domestica)'
• Dr Hima Haridevan and Australian Wood Fibre (AWF) – 'GelShroom Circularity: Tissue Paper Offcuts-based Gels as Alternative to Peat Casing Soils for Mushroom Cultivation'
• Dr Clement Chan and Queensland Trust for Nature – 'Development of bio-derived and biodegradable tree guard prototypes for a sustainable plastics future'
• Dr Peter Dart and Sea02 Algae – 'Utilising commercial microalgae production current byproducts'.