Plant Futures Initiative
When Master’s of Public Health student Samantha Derrick realized the dearth of educational resources at UC-Berkeley for those like her who were enthused by the burgeoning plant-based food sector, she decided to create a solution! With support from Faculty Stewart, Professor Will Rosenzweig, and her team of students and co-founders, including Cynthia Bazán, Nina Gheihman, and Brittany Sartor, she launched the Plant Futures Initiative program in 2021 with the mission of inspiring an intergenerational movement to transform climate, health, and social equity by leveraging the power of plants. Plant Futures Initiative is the first-of-its-kind, university-level, for-credit course that affords skills and career pathways to the next generation of revolutionaries who envision a sustainable and compassionate world for all beings.
From a humble class project, the program has since evolved into a non-profit social enterprise that has expanded to participants all over the world. Owing to the outstanding success since its inception, Plant Futures has forged a diverse, global consortium of student-led University chapters comprising over 5,000 students, faculty affiliates, and professional partners.
The 2-part course, which includes a weekend Symposium and semester Challenge Lab course is now offered for academic credit at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health.
2022 Symposium
This year’s Plant Futures Symposium—scheduled for January 28th and 29th—is titled, “The Countdown”. The theme highlights the urgent need to transition to a plant-rich food system and features fascinating innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership in the plant-based food and agricultural sectors.
The symposium includes cooking workshops, panel discussions, valuable networking opportunities, and informal sessions with speakers—you do not want to miss out! Attendees will hear from world-renowned experts, entrepreneurs, change-makers, and everyone in between. Think award-winning chef Bryant Terry, author and chef Charity Morgan, who was also featured in “The Game Changers,” entrepreneur and founder of Eat the Change and PLNT Burger Seth Goldman, Mercy for Animals president Leah Garcés, Farm Sanctuary’s Gene Bauer, Vegan Women Summit Founder Jennfier Stojkovic, and many more inspiring guests! The event is open to the public and is expected to welcome hundreds of attendees from across the globe.
Register NOW!
If you want in on the plant-power-packed event of Veganuary, click here to register and use code VEGWORLD22 for 50% off student tickets (students must register using school-affiliated email) and general public tickets.
ABOUT PLANT FUTURES
Plant Futures is an innovative social enterprise and movement designed to maximize student exploration, growth, and real-world experience in the plant-based sector. Ultimately, its goal is to equip the next generation of leaders with the necessary support to transition the world’s existing food system into a more healthy, regenerative and plant-centered structure. Plant Futures aspires to be the world’s leading development ecosystem for diverse, multi-disciplinary leaders intent on tackling the urgent, interconnected issues of climate change, personal and community health, animal welfare and social justice. The organization is providing curriculum and access to internships and peer learning opportunities with innovative professional organizations in the plant-based sector. This work accelerates transitions to livable, flourishing futures. It aspires to change cultural norms and generate new business, policy and cultural systems that reduce carbon emissions, prevent lifestyle diseases and lessen the possibilities of future pandemics. Inspired by the success of the inaugural UC inaugural Berkeley Plant Futures course and enthusiastic support from faculty and students from multiple Universities and professional industry partners, Plant Futures has forged an international consortium of 15 college chapters (and counting!) including: UC Los Angeles, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, University of São Paulo, Harvard University, and College Leap (CA Community Colleges).
