Accessible Food Networks: case studies’ insights for impacting systemic and socio-cultural transformations of university campuses as urban players

In recent decades, there has been a growing momentum in adopting public and private food procurement initiatives as policy instruments to improve the quality and affordability of the food provided in public and private sectors to reach social and environmental sustainability. This includes logistics, service innovation and multistakeholder involvement in designing solutions. This paper examines the influence of food systems on facilitating future systemic transition in urban neighbourhoods and peri-urban areas. It does so by analysing case studies and building upon the objectives of an ongoing national research project that will test alternative food networks on university campuses. The article examines alternative systems that can serve as catalysts for communities by establishing interconnected service-provider sites. Cases have been examined through design lenses, including design for social innovation and spatial and service design.