Cultivating Change: Empowering Students to Reshape the Global Food Landscape

The Yale Sustainable Food Program (YSFP) is empowering the next generation of food system innovators through its Global Food Fellowship. This prestigious program offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to explore food-related issues beyond the confines of the university campus, tackling complex challenges that span ecological, social, and economic realms. With a focus on "principles, not recipes," the fellowship encourages students to uncover the roots of pressing food system problems and develop values-based approaches to driving meaningful change.

Unlocking the Potential of Tomorrow's Food Leaders

Māori Food Economies in New Zealand: Preserving Indigenous Knowledge and Sovereignty

Ivy Pete '26 spent her summer immersed in the rich food culture of New Zealand's Māori people, exploring how traditional knowledge is shared through food preparation, cultivation, and consumption processes. Grounding her research in an "Indigenous way of knowing" and a decolonial methodology, Pete used a photo-ethnographic approach to map the Māori food landscape in the Northland region. By collaborating with the social enterprise Pā to Plate, she gained firsthand insights into local efforts to promote sustainable and sovereign Māori food systems. During the winter months, a time traditionally reserved for storytelling, Pete was honored to be welcomed as "whanau," or family, and entrusted to share stories from her own community while also learning from Māori elders.

Land Justice in the Northeastern U.S.: Examining the Intersection of Agroforestry and Equity

Sophia Hampton ENV '25 found herself drawn to the intersection of agroforestry and land reform, a topic that has gained traction as a climate-smart agricultural practice. Concerned about the potential for agroforestry to reinforce existing racial disparities in land ownership, Hampton embarked on a qualitative research journey, traveling across the Northeastern United States to conduct interviews with over 80 individuals. Hampton's research delved into the nuances of agroforestry's impact on land access and equity, exploring how this practice could either perpetuate or challenge the historical exclusion of marginalized communities from agricultural opportunities.

Sustainable Agriculture Practices in Malawi: Uncovering Grassroots Solutions for Climate and Gender Equity

Emma Barrett '25 examined the agricultural practices that are most efficient and beneficial for smallholder farmers in Malawi's Ntcheu district. Partnering with the Zisinthe Farm and Community Gardens, Barrett interviewed 50 local farmers, gaining insights into the limitations of many agricultural support programs, which often fail to provide long-term benefits for climate and gender equity. One of Barrett's most profound takeaways was a newfound appreciation for the collective generosity and hospitality she witnessed in the Malawian communities she visited, where farmers readily shared their precious food resources as a gesture of friendship. This experience inspired Barrett to reflect on how she can bring a similar spirit of community-driven support to her own local contexts.Throughout the fellowship, the YSFP staff created numerous opportunities for students to share and discuss their research, fostering a collaborative environment that not only supports individual projects but also cultivates a broader understanding of the complex challenges facing global food systems. As Jacqueline Munno, the YSFP Manager, explained, the program aims to provide students with valuable contacts, credibility, and a strong foundation for their future endeavors, while also inspiring them to become active co-authors of the future they envision – one where sustainable, equitable, and community-driven food systems thrive.