Stanford University Earns Smart Catch “Ambassador” Certification

In April, R&DE Stanford Dining, Hospitality & Auxiliaries (SDHA) became the first campus dining organization in the country to earn the highest rating of Smart Catch Ambassador from the James Beard Foundation’s acclaimed Smart Catch program. Under the program guidelines, Smart Catch Ambassadors demonstrate high performance (menus consisting almost exclusively of Foundation-approved products) and advocate for seafood sustainability more broadly. This is the first time the Smart Catch program’s high bar for sustainable seafood has been met by an organization feeding an exceptionally large number of people. SDHA serves 25,000 meals per day in Stanford dining halls and purchases more than 100,000 pounds of seafood per year.

According to the landmark Blue Foods Assessment (BFA), “blue foods” or “aquatic foods” (foods derived from aquatic animals, plants, or algae that are caught or cultivated in freshwater and marine environments) are among the most nutritious, sustainable foods on the planet. “There are more than 2,500 species of fish, crustaceans, plants, and algae that are produced for food,” said Jim Leape, a fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and co-director of the Center for Ocean Solutions, who helped lead the BFA and with whom SDHA has begun to collaborate. “Across that extraordinary diversity are myriad opportunities for foods that are more nutritious, more sustainable, and more inclusive all at once.”

“We are deeply honored to be recognized as a Smart Catch Ambassador and are committed to using our influence to lead efforts in maintaining healthy and sustainable seafood sources,” said Eric Montell, assistant vice provost of SDHA. “We are honored to participate in such an impactful leadership and advocacy program, and to support valued partners working towards protecting our cherished oceans.”