Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems and Security

It is paramount that we all engage to advance human sustainability, and a sustainable food system is foundational. KPU offers this unique and intensive graduate-level program of study for you to gain the crucial knowledge and understanding needed to advocate for and work for critical food system change in your community and around the world. The food system impacts every aspect of society and must change to respond to the challenges of sustainability, including food insecurity, climate change, environmental degradation and resource depletion. That change needs leaders and activists with a deep understanding of the very real and critical social, environmental and economic challenges associated with our dominant food systems. Our food system impacts almost every aspect of society. From production, processing, and distribution to consumption and waste, our choices are affected by, and have an impact on, the whole system. Unfortunately, our current dominant food system contributes to environmental destruction, climate change, epidemic food-related diseases and a lack of food equity. These issues of sustainability are top of mind for many around the globe. Building a sustainable food system needs leaders, planners, educators, government staff and many others with diverse backgrounds because food systems and security are about more than agriculture and farming. That means practicing and aspiring professionals involved in economic development, community activism, education, healthcare, social work and the food sector are the key to building sustainable food systems and food security. 

Career Path 

Program graduates are prepared for careers in Food Policy Analyst, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, Food Systems Planner, Agribusiness Consultant, Public Health Nutritionist, Environmental Sustainability Officer, Community Development Coordinator, Urban Agriculture Manager, International Development Specialist, Food Security Program Manager, Climate Resilience Strategist, Food Systems Researcher, Sustainability Educator, NGO Project Officer (Food & Agriculture), Corporate Sustainability Advisor,Agricultural Extension Officer, Farm-to-School Program Coordinator, Food Justice Advocate, Supply Chain Sustainability Analyst, Eco-Certification Specialist, Rural Development Officer, Regenerative Farming Consultant, School Feeding Program Manager.