Policy Brief: Supply Chain Optimization in University Dining Halls: A Strategy for Food Waste Containment

Mosallaei , Z; Haghighian-Roudsari*, A; Pouraram, H; Takian , A

doi:10.66224/nsft.21.2.1

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Volume 21, Issue 2 (Summer 2026)

Iranian J Nutr Sci Food Technol 2026, 21(2): 1-5

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Policy Brief: Supply Chain Optimization in University Dining Halls: A Strategy for Food Waste Containment

Z Mosallaei

, A Haghighian-Roudsari*

, H Pouraram ^*

, A Takian

Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , h-pouraram@tums.ac.ir

Abstract: (205 Views)

Background and aims: Food waste in higher education institutions not only intensifies environmental crises but also squanders a large portion of government welfare subsidies. This policy brief was developed to identify the systemic drivers of food waste in universities and to propose macro- and intersectoral policy options for resource management.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted through a review of documents and the qualitative analysis of data derived from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15 key stakeholders (including university managers, contractors, chefs, and service personnel), alongside focus group discussions with students from both public and Islamic Azad universities in the Tehran metropolis.
Results: The primary drivers of waste generation on both the supply and demand sides encompass managerial barriers, operational factors, behavioral challenges, unforeseeable circumstances, and consumer-related variables. Preventing the depletion of public resources in higher education necessitates the implementation of a time-bound policy package and immediate action across five key domains: 1) legally mandating the inclusion of waste reduction key performance indicators (KPIs) in university budgets and contracts; 2) prioritizing the enhancement of food sensory quality; 3) transitioning from rigid traditional procurement to adaptable, quality-centric contracts; 4) establishing economic deterrent mechanisms in university dining halls alongside the redistribution of subsidies; and 5) allocating specific funds for the modernization and industrialization of culinary equipment.
Conclusion: Containing the food waste crisis in universities requires policymakers to move beyond consumer blaming and fundamentally re-engineer the supply chain, shifting from a passive paradigm of purely quantitative provisioning toward sustainability models. The persistence of this traditional perspective will inevitably lead to the irreversible erosion of economic and environmental resources.

Keywords: Food Waste, Pre-consumer Waste, Plate Waste, University Dining Halls

Full-Text [PDF 432 kb] (109 Downloads)

Article type: Brief Policy | Subject: nutrition
Received: 2026/06/2 | Accepted: 2026/07/1 | Published: 2026/07/1

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Mosallaei Z, Haghighian-Roudsari* A, Pouraram H, Takian A. Policy Brief: Supply Chain Optimization in University Dining Halls: A Strategy for Food Waste Containment. Iranian J Nutr Sci Food Technol 2026; 21 (2) :1-5
URL: http://nsft.sbmu.ac.ir/article-1-4176-en.html

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