Berkeley Food Institute

🌱 Help us grow the Berkeley Campus Farm!

Just blocks from the heart of UC Berkeley, students are growing food, learning hands-on agroecology skills, and building community at the Oxford Tract. Even better, the food students grow at the farm directly helps fellow students through the UC Berkeley Basic Needs Center food pantry.

This October, every donor can help unlock additional support for the farm:
→ 15 donors unlock a $15,000 match
→ 30 donors unlock a $25,000 match

That means the number of people who participate matters — whether you give $10, $25, $100, or more.

Your support will help sustain the Berkeley Campus Farm as a place for students to learn, grow food, and put agroecology into practice.

🌿 Give today and help us reach our donor goal: crowdfund.berkeley.edu/bfi-26

Big news for California's Farm to School Program! Governor Newsom has signed SB 172, permanently establishing the program in state law. The state budget also backs this up with three years of funding, including support for program evaluation.

Putting Farm to School into statute, backed by multi-year funding, is a significant win for program stability, especially as the state administration transitions. It ensures California's kids will have greater access to fresh, local, nutritious school meals, all while benefitting communities, farmers, and regional food systems.



Photo credit: Lost Sierra Food Project

[Image Description: Photo of a group of children on a farm with raised hands and rows of purple flowers. Text on image says "A major win for California Farm to School: Program established in state law + three years of funding" and "Photo courtesy of Lost Sierra Food Project"]

Food systems change takes many hands, with researchers, farmers, students, policymakers, and community members all working toward a shared vision. This year, BFI brought those voices together in new and meaningful ways, from the Oxford Tract Farm at UC Berkeley to policy discussions in Sacramento and collaborative projects across California. Here’s a look at some memorable moments from the 2025-2026 academic year.

Want to stay updated on Food Systems policy, research, and education initiatives across campus and beyond? Check out our BFI Publications page here: https://food.berkeley.edu/publications/

We’re looking for passionate UC Berkeley students who are interested in expanding community engagement in food systems. As a Food & Farm Systems Student Engagement Fellow, you will plan events on and off campus and develop a network of food and agriculture experts, alumni, faculty, and community partners.

The deadline is coming up to apply to BFI’s six open student staff positions for graduate and undergraduate students interested in getting a start in food systems. Apply by July 10th to be considered! Link here: https://food.berkeley.edu/about-us/careers/

[Image description: Recruitment graphic featuring a group photo of students and staff on a food systems field trip. Text reads "Now Hiring: Food & Farm Systems Engagement Fellow" and "Apply by July 10th."]

The deadline is quickly approaching to apply to be the next campus agroecology fellow! In this position, you will collaborate with campus partners like Berkeley Student Farms, the Basic Needs Center, CalDining, and more to improve our community's local food system.

Apply by July 10th here: https://food.berkeley.edu/about-us/careers/

[Image description: Recruitment graphic featuring a group photo of students and staff farming at the Oxford Tract Farm. Text reads "We're Hiring! Campus Agroecology Fellow"]

What do ci******es and Lunchables have in common?

New research from Laura Schmidt and colleagues at UC San Francisco (UCSF) explores how to***co companies applied consumer research, behavioral science, flavor engineering, and product design to help shape the rise of ultra-processed foods in today's food system.

Published in the American Journal of Public Health, the study offers new insights into the corporate influences that continue to shape our food environments and public health outcomes.

Read more at the link in our bio.

This year, BFI's education program expanded opportunities for students to connect classroom learning at UC Berkeley and Haas School of Business - UC Berkeley with the real-world work of transforming our food systems.

Highlights from the 2025–26 academic year include:
🌱 38 students completed the Graduate Certificate in Food Systems
🎓 25 internships connected Food Systems Minor students with organizations across the food and farming landscape
🤝 Mentorship, career development, and networking opportunities helped students explore pathways into food systems careers
🚜 Field trips and experiential learning connected students with practitioners working to build more just, resilient, and sustainable food systems

Read the full Year in Review here: https://ow.ly/2jmY50Z8fJl

Looking for jobs, events, grants, internships, and other opportunities in food systems? Subscribe to our Food Systems Opportunities Newsletter here: https://ow.ly/S8IG50Z8fJk

📸 (BFI Education Director Jezra Thompson and students during a field trip to .)

Cultivating the Next Generation of Food Systems Leaders - Berkeley Food Institute This year has been defined by significant growth, deep community roots, and expanded opportunities for our students. Our educational and workforce development programming has worked to bridge the gap between classroom theory and the urgent, practical work of transforming our food systems.

BFI is hiring! We’re looking for six undergraduate and graduate UC Berkeley students to join our team working towards a just and equitable food system. These paid positions offer opportunities to learn and build skills in the interdisciplinary area of food and farm systems through hands-on projects and professional mentorship.

BFI is an interdisciplinary research, education, and policy institute that works in partnership with UC Berkeley and communities to advance a just and sustainable food and farm system.
Students make BFI run. We’re so excited to meet you. All applications are due on July 10th by 5 PM PT.

Find more information here: https://food.berkeley.edu/about-us/careers/

Join us for a conversation on the future of the Farm Bill, hosted by Jeanne Merrill of the Berkeley Food Institute and featuring Mike Lavender of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. In the aftermath of major cuts to SNAP in H.R. 1 that upended a decades-long farm bill coalition, the US House Agriculture committee has proposed its version of the next Farm Bill. Jeanne and Mike will explore where the Farm Bill stands now, how the current process differs from past reauthorizations, and what recent federal developments mean for the road ahead.

Register here: https://ow.ly/EfY050YWF31