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Students working at the Forest Food Garden

We are delighted to share that the University of Sussex Forest Food Garden has been named a finalist for the Sustainability International Impact Award at the prestigious PIEoneer Awards 2026. This global category recognises organisations that embed environmentally responsible practices into their core operations. 

Now in its tenth year, the PIEoneer Awards celebrate innovation and achievement across the global education sector. Often described as the "Oscars of international education," these awards recognise the best and brightest from every corner of the world. Being named a finalist is a significant achievement, as nominees are shortlisted from a truly international pool of institutions by a distinguished judging panel. 

Sustainability is one of the three core pillars of our Sussex 2035 Strategy, committing us to being one of the most sustainable institutions in the world. The Forest Food Garden is a flagship action item of this vision, serving as a living laboratory where high-level policy is translated into tangible campus improvements. 

This achievement is a testament to our community’s collective stewardship. We are particularly proud of our high level of institutional commitment, with staff from across the University, including HR, Health and Safety, and Global Engagement, regularly contributing to the garden's maintenance and design. These staff volunteering sessions have embedded biodiversity-enhancing practices into our routine operations. 

Designed to mimic a naturally occurring forest, the garden is a UK-first model that merges biodiversity restoration with radical interdisciplinary education. In 2025 alone, the initiative achieved significant milestones such as transforming a degraded land into a habitat for over 100 species, including the planting of a nuttery, co-design of a wildlife pond and establishing a partnership with the University of San Diego, supported by the US-UK Fulbright Commission, to link local ecological action with international sustainability teaching. 

By transitioning garden-based modules into the permanent BA in Climate Justice, Sustainability and Development, and the Undergraduate Summer School modules, Sussex is demonstrating how a university’s physical estate can become an active participant in global climate justice. 

Sussex is proud to stand alongside other global leaders as we celebrate a decade of transformation in the sector. We look forward to the awards ceremony in September and to celebrating this recognition of our collective commitment to a greener future.

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