14.3.2. Food from aquatic ecosystems (policies)

METU has a policy that requires food on campus that comes from aquatic ecosystems to be sustainably harvested.

Policy

METU's Sustainable Food Policy states that METU is "committed to ensure all food consumed within the Campus, to the extent possible within the budgetary constraints, is produced using sustainable methods (whether from sea or land, including the conditions of the workforce who are involved in the production) and from the local producers. This commitment extends to all outlets (including those owned by the third party sellers) and to suppliers."

Practice

All food for the METU Cafeteria, including fish, is bought under Public Procurement Law No. 4734 in line with the Turkish Food Codex Regulation and Turkish Standards Institution (TSE) standards. All food suppliers are required to meet the ISO 22000 food safety standard, and local sustainable suppliers are prioritised as far as legal and technical restrictions allow.

https://sustainablecampus.metu.edu.tr/en/system/files/Sustainability_Report/metu_sr_2025.pdf

The Cafeteria Directorate, which serves about 6,500 students and staff a day and provided 1,303,671 meals in 2025, states that the technical specifications for every item it buys are prepared by its dietitian and food engineer in line with the Turkish Food Codex communiqués, food legislation, TSE standards and other relevant regulations and are revised continuously. Deliveries are accepted only after an inspection and acceptance committee of the dietitian, the food engineer, the storekeeper and the head chef checks them against these specifications.

https://kafeterya.metu.edu.tr/system/files/evraklar/faaliyet_raporu_2025.pdf

Fishing on campus: Lake Eymir

On Lake Eymir, which lies on METU land, fishing is allowed only in set periods and under control, with no more than one rod per person; angling is banned along the shore at the lake warden's office, and no boats other than the patrol boat and authorised craft may be put on the lake (METU Internal Services Directorate, Lake Eymir rules).