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Thriving Food Systems

We support work aimed to build sustainable, equitable and resilient food networks.

From regenerative agriculture programs to supporting broader coursework, we engage with partners, alumni and students to help create a just and thriving agriculture community and food system for both people and the planet.

california farmland

Programs and Initiatives

Defining Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative agriculture is an increasingly used term to describe farming – think “organic” or “sustainable” as other categories in the same family. It is meant to convey a holistic approach to agriculture that puts the health of ecosystems as well as human communities next to crop production value. 

As part of our Beyond the Buzzwords initiative with Tsai CITY, Managing Director at Yale Carbon Containment Lab​ Justin Freiberg (MESc '10) helps explain this term.

Regenerative Agriculture on Beyond the Buzzwords

Regenerative ag explained

Related Reports

Key Events

CBEY is proud to support these major events focused on creating just and thriving food systems.
CT food

The Big Connecticut Food Event

The Big Connecticut Food Event is designed to provide ​opportunities for emerging food ​and beverage brands to connect ​with the expertise that they’re going to need ​on their journeys, ​and for strategic and industry partners to meet the growing ​community of promising brands.

Our goal is to support the development of Connecticut’s ​entrepreneurship pipeline so it produces multiple food and ​beverage brands every year that each exceeds $2 million in annual ​sales.

Check out The Big Connecticut Food Event website


Food Symposium

Yale Food Systems Symposium

Healing Harvest: Transforming Food Systems for Tomorrow will convene cross-disciplinary leaders and thinkers to explore food systems’ capacity to heal communities, economies, ecologies, and human bodies. Leaders across a variety of sectors will share how they are transforming food systems to benefit the health of our society, along with the human and non-human life that depend on it. 

Learn more about this biennial event

Mentorship Opportunities

mentors

Each academic year, a cohort of professionals across different industries devote time to meet with students and discuss anything from industry trends to career advice to coursework support. Each Mentor meets one-on-one with students throughout the year. 

This year we have several alumni with experience in different aspects of thriving food systems. Reach out and connect with them!

Alumni Visiting Mentors

Resident Fellow at Yale Center for Business and the Environment
Producer at The Table Underground
Director of Food Tech at 9 North Group
MBA 2016
Master of Environmental Management 2016
Co-founder at Renewal Mill
Master of Environmental Management 2011
Global Sustainable Sourcing Pulp & Paper Lead and Climate Forest Lead at Nestlé
Masters of Environmental Management 2016

What is a Food Desert or Food Apartheid?

“Food Desert” is a commonly used but inadequate term coined by researchers to define areas where people have low incomes and low physical access to supermarkets. The term "Food Apartheid" more accurately describes the racist and oppressive systems that create inequitable food environments. 

As part of our Beyond the Buzzwords initiative with Tsai CITY, Food Systems and Equity Consultant and CBEY Resident Fellow Tagan Engel helps explain this term.

Have a read and let us know if you feel we are missing anything!

Food Desert/Food Apartheid on Beyond the Buzzwords

Also, watch this video from Malik Yakini, Executive Director at the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, where he discusses food deserts, food apartheid, and food access.

Our Stories

Connect with like-minded individuals

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Master of Environmental Management 2021
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair at University of British Colombia
MBA 2025
Master of Environmental Management 2025

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