Why Breaking Down Academic Silos Matters for Food Systems

When we first launched our curriculum at UC Berkeley, we quickly learned something inspiring: students from all backgrounds were eager to engage in food systems transformation. They understood that food systems connect every part of our lives—from the environment and health to policy and economics.?

Yet, traditional academic silos often keep fields separated, each focused on a single piece of the puzzle. This separation makes it challenging to tackle the complex, interconnected issues within food systems.

Our core team exemplified the strength of this interdisciplinary approach: Sam, with her background in public health, Brittany in business, Eric in agriculture, and Chema in art and design, helped drive the initial vision of Plant Futures. Together, we shaped a more comprehensive curriculum and career development framework that encouraged students to see food systems through multiple lenses.

To create effective solutions, we need a whole-picture approach, one that brings together multiple disciplines and diverse perspectives. Here are some tips we’ve developed to help bridge fields of study and break down silos, empowering students to tackle food systems transformation with a comprehensive lens.

?? 5 Tips to Build a Multidisciplinary Approach in Food Systems Transformation

1?? Build Cross-Disciplinary Teams Bringing together students from various fields enriches projects with a range of skills and perspectives. When students work across disciplines, they approach problems with a broader understanding and develop solutions that are both practical and impactful.

• Example: Imagine a team working on food waste reduction. Environmental science students could analyze waste patterns to understand where inefficiencies occur, business students develop sustainable pricing models, and graphic design students create educational visuals to communicate the initiative. Together, we develop a solution that’s not only feasible but also engaging and accessible to the community.

2?? Teach Systems Thinking Systems thinking helps students recognize the broader connections within food systems, equipping them to understand how decisions in one area can affect the entire system. By learning to see these interdependencies, students are better prepared to anticipate real-world impacts and create more holistic solutions.

• Example: In a food systems course, students might explore how a single policy change—such as reducing food subsidies—affects farmers, food prices, and access to healthy foods. Through this lens, they learn how one action can ripple through various parts of the system, impacting everyone from producers to consumers.

3?? Host Open Dialogues Creating open dialogue spaces allows students from different disciplines to share ideas, gain new perspectives, and spark fresh innovations. Cross-disciplinary discussions encourage students to think outside their specific fields and see challenges from multiple viewpoints, leading to more creative and comprehensive solutions.

• Example: Consider a forum where students from nutrition, public health, and urban planning come together to discuss access to healthy food in underserved areas. Each discipline brings a unique perspective, leading to collaborative ideas like mobile grocery stores, urban community gardens, or educational workshops that empower local residents.

4?? Integrate Technology and Data Sharing Using digital tools to enable data sharing and collaborative analysis encourages interdisciplinary research and transparency. Technology can bridge gaps between fields by allowing students to access, interpret, and share insights, creating a more cohesive understanding of complex issues.

• Example: In a project focused on sustainable agriculture, biology students could collect and share soil health data, while data science students analyze this information to propose efficient farming practices. By combining data collection with advanced analysis, this collaborative approach enhances the depth and practicality of the research, leading to informed, data-driven solutions.

5?? Create Interdisciplinary Mentorship Opportunities Connecting students with mentors from various fields exposes them to diverse perspectives and real-world applications, helping them understand how their work intersects with other disciplines. Interdisciplinary mentorship provides guidance that broadens students’ views and strengthens their approach to food systems transformation.

• Example: Pairing a nutrition student with a mentor in public policy can provide insights into how nutritional guidelines influence food legislation. This mentorship not only enhances the student’s knowledge but also highlights how nutrition intersects with policy, helping them see how their expertise fits within the broader system.

By breaking down these silos, we can approach food systems in a way that’s comprehensive, inclusive, and ultimately more effective. Each of these tips plays a role in fostering collaboration, promoting transparency, and encouraging students to work beyond their immediate disciplines. As food systems education and implementation become less siloed, we hope to see a new generation of leaders who are ready to design solutions that reflect the interconnectedness of our world.

There are infinite ways to apply these elements, and they will look different in every region and community. Whether you’re focusing on agricultural practices, public health, or community policy, your perspective is essential to building a resilient food system that serves everyone.?

We’re going to need all backgrounds working on this area—what perspective do you bring to food systems transformation??