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 key highlights from the 2025-2026 academic year.

Informing Policy Discussions on Restrictive Covenants: BFI helped bring attention to the role restrictive covenants can play in limiting grocery store competition and food access in California communities. BFI translated emerging research by Christopher Leslie, an antitrust legal scholar and professor from the UC Irvine School of Law, into accessible resources for policymakers and advocates. The work contributed to broader conversations about how state policy can address one of the structural barriers to equitable food access and led to proposed legislation (AB 1857).

Evaluating California’s Nation-Leading Farm to School Program: BFI continued working with the Farm to School Evaluation Team, which is in its final year of program evaluation, to develop policy recommendations to strengthen California’s landmark Farm to School Incubator Grant Program – the largest state investment in farm to school initiatives in the nation. In partnership with the Food Insight Group, BFI developed policy recommendations based on the evaluation’s findings. This summer, BFI and partners will share these recommendations with gubernatorial candidates to help inform the next administration’s priorities. The final program evaluation report will be out later this fall.

Elevating Food Policy Topics: BFI’s Lunch & Learn webinar series, now in its second year, brought together researchers, advocates, agency leaders, and community members to explore pressing food policy issues. Topics ranged from SNAP and social safety nets to farmworker wellbeing and market concentration in agriculture. These conversations helped bridge academic expertise and research with real-world policy challenges. 

Read a full overview of highlights on our education year in review blog.

Strengthening Academic Pathways in Food Systems: BFI continued to support students pursuing careers in food and agriculture through the Food Systems Minor, Graduate Certificate in Food Systems, and experiential learning. This year, the Graduate Certificate in Food Systems grew to 35 graduates, nearly doubling participation since the program’s inaugural year in 2019, with students representing disciplines ranging from public health and public policy to environmental science and business. BFI also served as a host partner for the HBCU-Berkeley Environmental Scholars for Change program, led by the UC Berkeley Graduate Division and the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM). The program expands opportunities for undergraduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to engage with environmental science, justice, and research through hands-on learning at UC Berkeley.

Expanding Workforce Development: Through the USDA Western Region Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), BFI partnered with the Haas School of Business to create the second offering of the Values-Based Supply Chains course, helping students explore careers and challenges across organic and regional food systems. TOPP programming also supported field trips, networking events, a career panel, a resume review night, and workshops at the Oxford Tract Farm that connected farmers, students, and community members with practical knowledge about organic production, agroecological practices, technical assistance, and career pathways. These opportunities helped students build practical skills and explore a wide range of careers across the food systems sector.

Supporting Student Research and Leadership: BFI awarded $9,700 in undergraduate and graduate student research grants to five students, providing funding of up to $3,000 for faculty-supported projects exploring critical food and farm systems issues. Research topics ranged from cultivating food sovereignty in the High Mixtec region of Mexico to examining patient and stakeholder experiences with Produce Rx programs in Yolo County, helping advance knowledge on community food access and “food as medicine” initiatives. BFI also awarded $8,000 to six registered student organizations, supporting events and programming that celebrated cultural heritage, promoted food justice, and connected students to sustainable food systems, including hands-on learning opportunities at the Oxford Tract.

Advancing Plans for an Oxford Tract Pavilion: BFI continued working with campus partners to explore the development of a new pavilion at the Oxford Tract. Envisioned as a gathering space for education, community events, and hands-on learning, the pavilion would support students, researchers, farmers, and community partners while strengthening the Oxford Tract as a hub for urban agroecology and food systems education. During 2025-2026, BFI collaborated with partners in the Rausser College of Natural Resources, as well as Paul Mayencourt, Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension at the Berkeley Wood Lab, to develop concepts and plans for the project.

Increasing Farm Production at the Oxford Tract: After harvesting approximately 4,600 pounds of produce in 2025, the Oxford Tract has already produced 3,480 pounds by June 2026, before the peak summer harvest season. Current projections suggest the farm is on track to nearly double last year’s total production, expanding access to locally grown food for students and community members, while providing valuable educational opportunities for students and volunteers. Working with Berkeley Student Farms, the Oxford Tract provides farm fresh produce for students through the basic needs food pantry, as well as produce for West Oakland families in partnership with People’s Programs.

Building a Network of Changemakers: BFI continued to build connections among researchers, students, farmers, nonprofit leaders, government agencies, and community organizations working to transform food systems. This year, BFI expanded its network of more than 150 affiliated UC Berkeley and UC ANR faculty and staff, including three new affiliates at the start of the academic year: Dr. Aaron Smith, Gordon Rausser Distinguished Chair in Agricultural and Resource Economics, whose work spans agriculture, energy, and environmental policy; Dr. Justin Luong, whose research builds climate-resilient restoration strategies for California grasslands in collaboration with ranchers and rangeland managers; and Dr. Meg Resler, a postdoctoral researcher working on California’s Farm to School Incubator Grant Program evaluation.

Convening Critical Food Systems Conversations: BFI created spaces for dialogue on some of the most pressing issues shaping food systems. In March, BFI partnered with the UC Berkeley School of Journalism to host Changing the Menu: California’s Historic Break Up with Ultra-Processed Foods Starts in Schools, a public discussion exploring California’s efforts to reduce ultra-processed foods in school meals. More than 100 people joined us at the event, bringing together researchers, school nutrition leaders, consumer advocates, journalists, students, and community members to examine how policy, funding, infrastructure, and supply chains can support healthier school food for millions of California students. The event co-sponsors included TomKatFoundation, Good Earth Natural Foods, Casa Sanchez Foods, Food Insight Group, UC Berkeley School of Journalism, and USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program.

Reaching New Audiences through Research Translation and Storytelling: BFI continued to translate complex research, policy developments, and educational initiatives into accessible stories for diverse audiences. Through newsletters, blogs, social media, webinars, and media outreach, BFI amplified the work of faculty affiliates, students, and partners while elevating topics including agroecological transitions (such as BFI Faculty Director Tim Bowles’ Agroecology 101 for UC Berkeley News), farm to school programs, legislative developments, the future of SNAP, and more. These communications efforts helped connect academic research with policymakers, practitioners, students, and community members. Dive deeper into BFI’s communications efforts at our publications page.

Improving Access to BFI’s Work and Impact: This year, BFI streamlined its website to make it easier for visitors to understand who we are, how we work, and where we focus our efforts. The new Our Approach and Current Work pages clarify BFI’s role at the intersection of policy, research, community engagement, and education while highlighting major initiatives. Explore the new webpages to stay connected with BFI’s work, and the pages will be continually updated as projects progress. 

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