UCLA Career Fair

One of the great challenges universities face is providing valuable support for students seeking values-aligned careers across the food system.

The UCLA Plant Futures chapter took a bold step toward tackling this challenge with their recent Sustainable Food Career Fair.

Bringing together 80 students and 15 food systems professional partners, this first-of-its-kind event offered students unique opportunities to connect with organizations committed to sustainable change.

From the LA Food Policy Council to the Chef Ann Foundation, students engaged with a variety of organizations, highlighting that all skillsets and backgrounds are needed in food systems transformation. Conversations were dynamic, with students actively exploring how their academic interests could align with real-world applications in sustainable food systems.

Reflecting on the event, Jeremy Martinez, UCLA Chapter Co-leader, shared,

 “It was great to see so many students actively engaged. Really rewarding as an organizer to see how many students and companies came out to this first-of-a-kind event at UCLA.”

The event’s success underscored an increasing demand for career paths that reflect students' values around sustainability. 

Events like these are essential in bridging the gap between education and meaningful career pathways, making sustainable food systems an accessible, viable field for students from all disciplines. Schools can support this shift by fostering more industry connections, offering interdisciplinary coursework, and encouraging career fairs that align with students’ values, empowering them to drive positive change in the food system.

We hope to see more schools support these career pathways and holistic education, empowering future leaders to transform the food system for a more equitable, sustainable future.