Sustainable Food Systems Fellowship

The movement to end factory farming needs its next generation of leaders! Join a powerful network of students taking action for a just and sustainable food system. 🌱

Apply to the New Roots Institute Fellowship! 

The New Roots Institute Fellowship equips students with the knowledge, skills, and community they need to challenge industrial animal agriculture—on their campuses and beyond. Fellows begin with a six-week virtual summer Leadership Academy, then many continue into the Academic Year Fellowship, where they launch high-impact advocacy campaigns with real-world results. 

New Roots fellows have driven sustainable dining reforms, advanced legislative advocacy, and built meaningful careers in food systems, advocacy, public health, and more. Fellows can receive $2,500 in grant funding, plus mentorship, training, and a community that makes real change possible.

As a New Roots fellow you: 

• Understand how factory farming works—and how we can dismantle it
• Learn from experts across advocacy, policy, public health, climate, and sustainability
• Join a dynamic community of student organizers, policymakers, journalists, tech innovators, and health professionals
• Launch your own advocacy campaign to shift policies, dining systems, or social norms
• Receive personalized coaching to help you troubleshoot challenges and strategize effectively
• Build real-world leadership, organizing, and communication skills
• Join a network of 600+ alumni driving change across the globe

This Fellowship is a hands-on leadership experience where students make tangible change and join a movement working toward a just and sustainable food system. We estimate that over the last two years, New Roots fellows have reached over 3 million people and influenced the dining behaviors of over 250,000 people, reducing the demand for meals containing animal products by roughly 3.5 million per year. And alumni hold 150+ roles in 100+ organizations contributing to building a more just and sustainable food system.

If you’re ready to turn your passion into power, applications are now open.

👉 Learn more and apply here (Priority deadline: February 25, 2026)

Questions? Reach out to admissions@newrootsinstitute.org.

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About New Roots Institute

New Roots Institute is a nonprofit organization empowering the next generation with knowledge and training to end factory farming.

Factory farming is one of the most destructive systems on the planet–fueling climate change, harming animals, and exploiting people and the environment. We believe students have the power to change that.

Through our New Roots Institute Fellowship, high school and college students learn to channel their passion into real change. Fellows develop foundational leadership and advocacy skills while directing campaigns that normalize plant-based eating and reduce animal product consumption.

Upon completing the fellowship, alumni go on—with our continued support—to develop and empower other leaders to create change in their communities toward our shared goal of ending factory farming.

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