Welcome to Better Food Futures (BFF) NextGen at SDSU, where collaboration and innovation meet at the crossroads of sustainable development in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH). Our current food systems face significant environmental and operational challenges due to a range of global pressures. These challenges lead to reduced variety while struggling to support global food security and stable agricultural livelihoods. Our program harnesses the power of regenerative agriculture to restore food and farming systems actively. By adopting a comprehensive approach, we aim to continuously renew the land, improve environmental health, and bolster agrifood economies, communities, and practices.
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Join us as we partner with over 32 key stakeholders, including USDA agencies and Mexico-based universities, to cultivate a well-prepared and adaptable workforce ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities within the FANH sectors. Through our Experiential Learning Projects (ELP) and Outreach and Engagement Projects (OEP), we offer a unique blend of classroom-based learning, research-oriented solutions, and community engagement activities designed to bridge the knowledge of connecting community-based knowledge with cutting-edge strategies for regenerative agriculture.
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Our programs are tailored to empower undergraduate and graduate students by providing them with relevant training and support, equipping them with the skills necessary to excel in everything from entry-level positions to leadership roles within the USDA FANH workforce. Join us in shaping the future of agriculture and human sciences, where your education leads to meaningful change.
The Regenerative Approach
Project Summary
SDSU brings together more than 32 internal and external partners, including four USDA agencies and three Mexico-based universities, to expand and diversify the workforce in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH) by graduating inspired undergraduate and graduate students eligible to join the USDA FANH workforce in positions ranging from entry-level to leadership.
Experiential Learning Projects (ELP)
Before ELP activity will involve 240 undergraduate, 18 Master’s, and 7 Doctoral students in focused experiential, classroom-based learning, and research-oriented solutions that connect community-based knowledge and practices with innovative strategies for regenerative agriculture addressing climate change, environmental degradation, food insecurity, and poverty. Participants will include individuals from diverse backgrounds who will engage in programs spanning research, field schools, intensive internships, symposia, classroom education, and extension work. These activities will take place within regional and binational sectors, providing exposure to the work of USDA FANH agencies, field stations, scientists, and policy experts.
Outreach and Engagement Projects (OEP)
OEP activity to diversify the pipeline of future FANH professionals will include engagement with K-12 students, non-traditional learners, and broader community populations. Activities will be delivered through partners such as 4-H, Master Gardener, Growing Hope, Climate Science Alliance, SAGE, San Diego County Food System Alliance, and the San Diego Botanical Gardens, as well as schools and communities with strong cultural and regional ties (including 50 scholarships for participants in targeted workshops). SDSU participants will graduate with baccalaureate and advanced degrees, well-prepared and motivated to contribute a diverse range of skills, knowledge, and expertise in sustainable food systems and regenerative agriculture to the next generation of the USDA FANH workforce. Process, formative, and summative evaluations will measure changes in participant behavior, academic achievement, degree attainment, and awareness, interest, and engagement with USDA career pathways.
In the News
> A.S. awards its first-ever scholarship for sustainable service
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> Interview of Justin Wilken, SDSU Alumni
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> Garden 31 Highlighted in Documentary on PBS​​