Join us to create the future of food
Together, we drive social progress, economic productivity and ecosystem resilience through food systems transformation.
Featured program
Kernel
Launched by the Swette Center in fall 2026, Kernel is a nationwide mentorship program helping farmers, ranchers and handlers transition to organic and achieve USDA Organic certification.
Kernel is designed to facilitate effective farmer-to-farmer mentorship relationships, expand organic production nationwide and strengthen the domestic organic foods industry. This program carries forward the mentorship model of the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program and builds upon its success.
Strategic priorities
Cultivate
The next generation of leaders
Uplift
Arizona food systems
Advance
Organic research and policy
Enable
True cost accounting of food
Engage
The private sector
Harness
The power of deliciousness
Empower
Indigenous foodways
Immersive graduate programs
The MS in sustainable food systems and the Graduate Certificate in food policy and sustainability leadership are offered through ASU Online to ensure accessibility for students in various geographies. However, these programs include two in-person components that provide invaluable real-world experiences. In the first fall semester, students spend a week immersed in Arizona’s food system, learning directly from farmers, ranchers, and food processors. In the following spring semester, students travel to Washington, D.C. for another week of hands-on learning. There, they gain exclusive insights into food policy, network with key policymakers, and develop the skills needed to drive impactful change.