The University of Basel in Switzerland recently held a student referendum, resulting in 52.6% of participants voting in favor of transitioning to 100% plant-based catering by 2030. The vote, organized by Skuba, drew participation from approximately 3,000 students, indicating strong student support for the proposed shift. While not binding, the outcome adds weight to ongoing efforts by Plant-Based Universities Basel (PBU Basel) to remove meat and dairy from all university food services.

PBU Basel, affiliated with the University of Basel’s student sustainability association, has been actively campaigning for environmentally conscious changes to university catering practices. The group has received support from academic staff, with some lecturers allowing campaign members to speak during classes to raise awareness. This initiative is part of a broader European movement under the Plant-Based Universities network, aligning with climate research supporting the benefits of shifting towards plant-based diets for sustainability. After the successful vote, the student group plans to engage in further discussions with university management to negotiate the implementation of their proposed changes.