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Our food system affects the environment, our communities, and our bodies.

After all, we are what we eat.

Over the past several decades, the University of Vermont has established its leadership in food systems research, teaching, and outreach.

UVM faculty, staff, and students have developed and maintained this position by embracing transdisciplinary approaches and fostering strong partnerships within the university, state, and beyond that contribute to a culture of collaboration and innovation. Given its strong systems orientation, UVM food systems scholarship encompasses a wide range of topics such as innovative production systems, environmental quality, entrepreneurship, human health and wellbeing, and nutrition. UVM is an academic pioneer in food systems, as the first university in the country to offer undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Food Systems. UVM’s scale, as a land-grant university in a small state, provides students, staff, and faculty access to both diverse resources and an approachable campus community. This setting sustains relationships that integrate distinct disciplines in the natural and social sciences, as well as the humanities.

Our Vision

The University of Vermont envisions a world in which individuals and communities understand and deeply appreciate the interconnectedness among food production, sourcing, processing, transport, energy, access, and the impact on personal and environmental health. Individuals, families, and communities make decisions that consider social, political, and ecological factors and promote environmental and community wellbeing. The global food system provides nutritious and culturally appropriate food, regardless of individual life circumstances.

Our Mission

The University of Vermont develops solutions to global food systems challenges through world-class transdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach dedicated to improving economic, ecological, and human wellbeing.

Strategic Directions

In 2016, UVM food systems stakeholders engaged in a strategic directions process to identify priority areas for food systems scholarship and education over the next 5 years. The participatory process engaged food systems stakeholders from across the university, including students, staff, and faculty, as well as partner organizations and food systems initiatives at peer institutions.

Read our Strategic Directions Report, which highlights the goals and working objectives identified during the process:
PDF iconDownload the report (PDF)PDF icon

Meridian LogoTo support the strategy process, UVM has partnered with the Meridian Institute, a nonprofit with expertise in process design, facilitation, mediation, and strategy assessment and planning.