Berkeley Food Institute

@ucanr.edu @foodinsight.bsky.social @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social

New Report Urges Ongoing Funding and Systemic Reforms to Strengthen and Sustain California’s Nation-Leading Farm to School Program - Berkeley Food Institute

A new report, by researchers at UC Berkeley, UC ANR, BFI and FIG, calls on state policymakers to secure the future of the Farm to School Incubator Grant Program. Read the recommendations for the next steps on addressing systemic challenges and more at food.berkeley.edu/bfi-news/str...

Join Jessie Gouck and Dr. Laura Schmidt on Oct. 27 at 12p PT to discuss AB 1264, its implementation and research on UPFs. This event builds on our Spring 2025 webinar. Moderated by Dr. Isabel Madzorera. Register today: https://berkeley.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yrd3KA9WRtafAMynqGQHIA#/registration

Growing Strong: UC Berkeley's Food Systems Certificate Shows Real Impact - Berkeley Food Institute

Check out our lessons learned from BFI’s Graduate Certificate in Food Systems plus our new Food Systems Mentorship Project. Click here for the new report: food.berkeley.edu/from-the-fie...

Watch a professor explain agroecology in 101 seconds - Berkeley News Drawing both from ecological sciences and generations of farming wisdom, agroecology aims to create more sustainable ways to grow food.

From pesticides to groundwater contamination, the ways we make our food can damage the environment, surrounding communities and human health. Tim Bowles is thinking about how to create more sustainable and ecological agricultural methods.

Watch him explain the study of agroecology: bit.ly/3KP35ms

Agroecology will help build a future food system that supports biodiversity, a healthy climate and rural communities. UC Berkeley soil researcher Tim Bowles shows what an agroecological future looks like in this 1 min video. Watch the full conversation: youtu.be/R7TZnq8rL1U #agroecology #foodsystems

New Report from BFI and our partners finds: California Farm to School Program Exceeds Climate and Market Access Goals, Reaches Vast Majority of Counties. Click here to learn more: californiafarmtoschooleval.org/reports/2025...

Recently, grad students gathered at Oxford Tract, UC Berkeley’s urban farm and research site. Students learned how our Graduate Certificate in Food Systems can enhance their academic experience, advancing a future career. Thanks to @FIGC and Food@Haas. Learn more: food.berkeley.edu/for-students...

@ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social

BFI Community Showcase

Join us on 9/25, 4-6 pm at Oxford Tract for our Community Showcase. Connect with UC Berkeley's food and farm system community and learn about campus engagement opportunities. Click here to register: mailchi.mp/berkeley/sho...

YouTube video by UC Berkeley Agroecology explained in 101 seconds | 101 in 101

BFI’s Tim Bowles explains #agroecology in 101 seconds for the latest UCB News Challenge. Agroecology is the combination of ecological science and farmer wisdom. Check out 101 in 101 on Agroecology: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMOb...

Join Christopher Leslie & Berkeley Law Senior Fellow Doha Mekki for a conversation on market competition in food systems. Register for our Lunch & Learn webinar on 9/25 from 12-1pm PST: Antitrust Law & Food Systems: berkeley.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

BFI affiliate faculty member Hannah R. Thompson found that LGBTQ+ adults in the US have higher odds of food insecurity. Read on: doi.org/10.1016/j.yp...

In our newest blog, ab banks, BFI agroecology director, reflects on the practice of urban agroecology in helping to build a just and sustainable food and farm system. Read the blog here: food.berkeley.edu/from-the-fie...

#agroecology #foodjustice

Join BFI at our Community Showcase at Oxford Tract on Thurs. 9/25, 4-6pm. Connect with and learn about Berkeley's food and farm system. This event is open to UC Berkeley students, faculty, staff, BFI community partners, supporters and alumni. Register to attend: mailchi.mp/berkeley/sho...

New research from BFI affiliate faculty member, Lorrene Ritchie, finds that in states that continued universal free school meals programs (CA, MA & others) overall student nutrition improved and families avoided school meal related debt. Learn more: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

As part of our Summer Agroecology Field Quarter this cohort of students visited farms and UC research stations, gaining hands-on experience in organic agriculture. Last week, they explored urban agroecology at Oxford Tract.

Grant opportunity for youth-led climate action groups. Lever for Change has extended their registration deadline for their Emerging Climate Champions Award to 8/29 at 5pm ET. Applications are still due 9/22, but you must register to apply: climate.leverforchange.org/submit

ucanr.edu/blog/nutriti...

New UC study finds universal school meals combat hunger. ucanr.edu/program/nutr...

Connect with your Bay Area neighbors and to the land during farm workdays at the Oxford Tract, every Sat. through 8/16 from 11a – 2pm. No prior experience needed, only a willingness to get your hands on the land. When you arrive, ask for the farm lead who’ll provide volunteer instructions.

Southwest center has helped farmers purchase cold storage for vegetables, Tracy Celio @ucanr.edu said. The hub helped one producer lease a vehicle to take produce to market. Another purchased a grain mill and was able to deliver product to a nearby school, reports @aallyahpatrice.bsky.social

Dr. Tim Bowles from Berkeley Food Institute and other food systems experts address the myths and harms of the industrial ag sector, while also showing the solution – agroecological practices that build resilient food and farm systems. Learn more: foodprint.org/blog/a-new-b...

Two Rausser College graduate students named 2025 Switzer Fellows ERG's Sarah Sarfaty Epstein and ESPM's Cynthia Wilson were recognized by the Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation as graduate student leaders who are driving positive environmental and social change.

Click here to learn more about Sarah’s fellowship award: nature.berkeley.edu/news/2025/06...

BFI cultivates the next generation of food and farm system leaders. Recent policy assistant, Sarah Sarfaty Epstein's career and research path will be supported with a 2025 Switzer Environmental Fellowship. Congratulations to Sarah – one of two @natureatcal.bsky.social students to be awarded.

Berkeley Talks: How the tobacco industry drove the rise of ultra-processed foods - Berkeley News In 1963, a U.S. tobacco company bought Hawaiian Punch. It marked the beginning of the tobacco industry's entry into the food sector and led to an explosion of hyperpalatable, chemically-engineered foo...

Berkeley Talks podcast #229 explores ultra-processed foods (UPF) with Laura Schmidt, UCSF professor. Learn about the connection between Big Tobacco and the rise of UPFs in our diets. This podcast is drawn from the Berkeley Food Institute’s webinar on UPFs.
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#PublicHealth

Rainbow gradient overlay over an image of UC Berkeley's Campanile with text that reads "#1 Public University According to U.S. News & World Report 2025-2026 best global universities rankings"

You know it. You know the story. 🥇

UC Berkeley is ranked the top public university in the nation according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings of the best global universities. Way to go, Bears. It’s all because of you! 💙🐻💛

Are you a UC Berkeley student passionate about creating a just and sustainable farm & food system? Join the BFI team. Now accepting applications for three positions ranging from policy to campus agroecology. Applications are due Fri. 7/18 at 5pm PST. Visit bit.ly/BFI-jobs for full details.

As temperatures rise, the US Corn Belt could see insurance claims soar Crop insurance is a lifeline for farmers. But research shows it's not ready for climate change.

Check out this excellent @grist.org story featuring DSE's @sampottinger.com! Sam discusses our team's latest #OpenSource tool & research on opportunities and challenges for US corn #farmers and insurance companies: grist.org/food-and-agr... #AgPolicy #FoodSecurity

Berkeley Talks: Feeding the world without ‘eating the earth’ - Berkeley News UC Berkeley Professor Timothy Bowles and journalist Michael Grunwald discuss the impact of our current agricultural methods and debate the ways we can ramp up food production without causing more…

LISTEN: ESPM professor Timothy Bowles and journalist Michael Grunwald discuss the impact of our current agricultural methods and debate the ways we can ramp up food production without causing more harm to the environment.