Seeding a revolution in community and planetary health
Complex challenges require collaborative solutions—many hands and minds coming together from every direction to point the way toward new possibilities. And sometimes the most forward-facing solutions begin with looking to our roots.
Locally and globally, we face unprecedented struggles in the 21st century—from persistent inequities in access to health care, education, economic opportunity and social justice, to a climate and a planet in crisis. California—the nation’s bellwether for environmental issues, the world’s fifth largest economy and one of its most plentiful sources of food and natural bounty, yet also a site of sharp disparities in access to these resources—exemplifies the scope and urgency of these challenges. But it also carries the seeds for their solutions, with passionate advocates and deep expertise poised to lead the way.
Now, one of California’s most visionary champions of food justice is joining forces with one of its most powerful drivers of impactful research and education to advance a transformative vision for the well-being of our communities, our food systems and our planet: The Alice Waters Institute for Edible Education at the University of California, Davis.
A shared vision
Nearly 25 years ago, Alice Waters founded the Edible Schoolyard Project, calling for a revolution in how we feed our children across the nation, and how we prepare the next generation to make food choices that nourish themselves, their communities and our planet. These core values resonate deeply with UC Davis’ guiding mission as a land-grant university—sharing ideas and innovations that foster healthy, resilient communities and advance the common good.
As the anchor program for the food and health aspect of Aggie Square—the thriving innovation ecosystem UC Davis is building in Sacramento—the institute will be a key example of our mission’s enduring relevance in a changing world. Coinciding with the approaching 25th anniversary of the Edible Schoolyard Project and 50th anniversary of Chez Panisse, the institute’s creation will be equally vital in carrying forward Alice Waters’ legacy into the next 50 years and beyond.
As two institutions firmly rooted in our commitment to the public good, we have the opportunity to achieve lasting and transformative impact through our collaboration. Together, we will shift the paradigm for how we think about food, create new solutions for feeding our communities healthfully and equitably, and inspire a new generation of change makers to continue this work.
An invitation
We invite you to join us in this game-changing endeavor. With your support, the Alice Waters Institute for Edible Education at UC Davis will lead the way to more just, equitable and regenerative food systems—for the health of our children, our communities and our planet.