Miyoko Schinner Joins UC Berkeley’s Plant Futures Challenge Lab as Co-Instructor

The author, entrepreneur, and food system advocate is heading back to school this fall.

Photo byJanet Ganbold/Unsplash

This Fall, UC Berkeley’s Plant Futures Challenge Lab welcomes a powerhouse in the plant-based movement—Miyoko Schinner. Known for her pioneering role in the vegan food industry, Schinner, an acclaimed author, entrepreneur, and food system advocate, will co-teach the course alongside Brittany Sartor, Co-Founder and Program Director of the Plant Futures Initiative.

A Hub for Innovation and Sustainability

Launched in 2021 by Brittany Sartor and Samantha Derrick, the Plant Futures Challenge Lab has quickly become a crucial platform for the plant-based food and agricultural sector. The course, open to undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students, is offered every spring and fall and serves as a bridge between academia and the rapidly expanding plant-based sector. Students engage with leading industry organizations, tackling real-world challenges that shape the future of food.

Forging Meaningful Partnerships

The Challenge Lab has partnered with some of the biggest names in the plant-based world, including Beyond Meat, Tofurky, Califia Farms, and Daiya. It also collaborates with cell-cultured and fermentation-based startups like Upside Foods and Meati, and influential nonprofits such as the Better Food Foundation and Mercy for Animals. These partnerships provide students with the opportunity to work directly with industry leaders, contributing to sustainable and ethical food systems.

Miyoko Schinner: A Trailblazer with Heart

Schinner brings unparalleled experience and passion to the course. Her work with the Friends & Food Youth Education Program at Rancho Compasión, a sanctuary she founded, further deepens her commitment to compassion and environmental stewardship.

Sartor said, “Miyoko has been a hero of mine since I became vegan 21 years ago, and we are beyond excited to have her join us as a co-instructor. Her unparalleled experience and compassionate approach will be invaluable to UC Berkeley students as they explore the intersections of innovation, sustainability, and ethical food systems.”

For more information, visit PlantFuturesInitiative.org.