Introducing the 2025 Mexico Impact Report
In 2025, Plant Futures Mexico focused on something essential: building the foundation for long-term, student-centered food systems transformation. Over the course of the year, this work took shape through 50+ hours of student-facing programming, engagement across 10+ universities and 7 states, and collaboration with 30+ organizations across Mexico, Africa, and Europe. The focus was on connection, cultural relevance, and shared language, creating the conditions where future leaders can emerge, find one another, and sustain their work over time.
This work is unfolding at a critical moment. Mexico is facing increasingly unequal impacts of climate change, from historic flooding in some regions to prolonged drought in others, alongside growing instability within agricultural systems. Yet food systems remain under-recognized as a core climate lever in higher education and public discourse. At the same time, much of modern food systems education overlooks Mexico’s deep and living legacy of plant-centered culinary traditions, knowledge that has long sustained communities.
By investing in Spanish-language curriculum development, cross-institutional collaboration, and culturally grounded programming, Plant Futures Mexico translated strategy into action: hosting the Encuentro de Liderazgos Mexicanos in Mexico City, sharing its work at global convenings such as CARE Warsaw and AVA Nairobi, and building new international partnerships across Africa, Europe, and Latin America. In parallel, Plant Futures Mexico collaborated with a team of UC Berkeley students to start co-developing one of Mexico’s first Spanish-language, plant-centered food systems curricula, grounding global frameworks in local cultural, historical, and ecological realities. Together, these efforts are strengthening education-to-career pathways, supporting emerging student leaders, and positioning Mexico as a key contributor to global food systems learning.
The 2025 Mexico Impact Report captures how we began responding to these gaps. It reflects what we learned from engaging students across regions and disciplines, supporting emerging student leaders, convening national conversations, and building partnerships across sectors and continents. More importantly, it documents a year of intentional groundwork, designed to support deeper, more durable impact in the years ahead.
If you’re interested in how you can become part of this growing movement, supporting student leadership, climate education, and the future of food systems in Mexico and beyond, I invite you to explore the full report, donate to our work and follow us on our networks.
With gratitude and plants,
Samantha Derrick
