About the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Fellows Program
Fellows become part of the many interconnected sustainable food systems across campus!
Learn more about the uniqueness of the UC Davis Student Farm as a sustainable and equitable food system not only on campus at UC Davis, but also in the greater Davis community!
The Sustainable Agriculture & Food (SAF) Fellows Program provides students an opportunity to contribute to the goals and priorities of the UC Global Food Initiative. This fellowship opportunity allows students to play a key role in efforts to increase food security, health, and sustainability. The program, which began in fall 2014, is open to both undergraduate and graduate students, and administered at each location to ensure that student efforts align with local needs.
Previously known as the Global Food Initiative Fellows, the SAF Fellows program and the Climate Action Fellows (CAF) program were recently reorganized under the Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate Initiative. Together these two fellowship opportunties support support climate action and sustainable food efforts across the University.
Questions? Contacts Chamayo Yniquez Director, Dining Services Operations at [email protected] or Roger Thompson Assistant Director, Culinary Operations at [email protected]
Project Areas
Project Fellows can work on projects related to advancing sustainable agriculture and the University’s sustainable food goals. Potential projects areas include, but are not limited to:
- Aligning definitions and reporting of sustainable and plant-based food procurement.
- Conducting data collection and analysis of current institutional food procurement.
- Investigating opportunities for increasing sustainable food on campus or local food pantries.
- Working directly with food service procurement and operations staff to identify challenges and potential solutions related to increasing sustainable food procurement.
- Identifying the cost differences associated with switching to sustainable suppliers to meet the UC’s sustainable food procurement goal and how it may impact menu planning.
- Completing or auditing the food service annual reporting for the systemwide Sustainability Annual Report.
- Developing case studies on sustainable food procurement actions taken by locations.
- Preparing grant submissions to support sustainable food priorities.
- Implementing sustainable and regenerative agriculture practices at a campus or community farm.
Fellowship Benefits
- Fellows are each awarded $5000, distributed incrementally during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters
Eligibility
- Graduate and undergaduate students are eligible.
- Full-time enrolled UC Davis students in good academic standing.
- Applications will be reviewed on the basis of several applicant characteristics, including but not limited to commitment to and familiarity with sustainable agriculture and food principles, collaborative spirit, demonstrated ability to contribute to a team, likelihood to successfully accomplish fellowship project goals, maturity, and attention to detail.
- International students are eligible, though special accommodations may need to be made regarding financial award eligibility
Questions? Contacts Chamayo Yniquez Director, Dining Services Operations at [email protected] or Roger Thompson Assistant Director, Culinary Operations at [email protected]