A UMass Amherst student and professor work in an apple orchard.

The Future of Food is Here

Investing in a Healthier Food Future

Food shapes our health, our cultures, our communities, our economies, and our planet. UMass Amherst is launching a $120 million initiative—a joint commitment from the state, the university, and the Manning Family Foundation—to transform how we understand, produce, and experience food.

Bringing together researchers, students, industry, and communities across disciplines, the Future of Food will accelerate discovery and turn research into solutions for healthier people, stronger communities, and more sustainable food systems, from farm to food to health.

Aerial shot of the UMass Amherst Student Farm.

Built on a Legacy of Leadership

For more than 160 years, UMass Amherst has advanced food and agriculture, currently ranking No. 1 in the U.S. in both food science & technology and agricultural science. Combined with 10 consecutive years as the nation’s No. 1 campus dining program and expertise across disciplines, that leadership provides a strong foundation for the Future of Food and a new era of discovery and collaboration.

A food science professor gives a demonstration in a lab.

Food Science & Technology (U.S.)
U.S. News & World Report

Agricultural Sciences (U.S.)
U.S. News & World Report

Campus Dining
The Princeton Review

A Transformative Gift

Future of Food is made possible, in part, by a landmark gift from Paul Manning ’77, '24 HON and Diane Manning, and the Manning Family Foundation.

Longtime philanthropists focused on health, life sciences, and research, the Mannings share UMass Amherst’s vision for advancing discoveries that improve human health, strengthen food systems, and create lasting benefits for communities.

Why Food? Why Now?

How we feed a growing population while improving human health and protecting the planet is one of the defining opportunities of our time. Climate, health, technology, and a changing world are creating new challenges—and new possibilities—for how we grow, produce, and experience food.

Changing Climate

Changing growing conditions and increasing pressure on natural resources demand more sustainable and resilient ways to produce food.

Food and Health

New discoveries are deepening our understanding of how food and nutrition can improve health and well-being throughout our lives.

Transformative Research

Advances in biotechnology, engineering, data science, and AI are opening new possibilities across the food system.

Resilient Food Systems

Stronger food systems can help communities adapt to disruption, strengthen local economies, and expand access to safe, nutritious food.

A New Model for Global Food Leadership

Future of Food takes shape through three connected areas of work: the Center for the Future of Food, a research center that brings together interdisciplinary expertise from across the university; the Food Innovation Hub, a purpose-built facility with advanced spaces and capabilities for research, development, and collaboration; and a focus on translating research into real-world solutions that improve food systems, human health, and communities.

Paul & Diane Manning Center for the Future of Food

By connecting expertise, ideas, and perspectives from across research disciplines, UMass Amherst is creating new possibilities for discovery and innovation—and accelerating solutions that move food systems forward, from farm to food to health.

Explore the Center

Paul & Diane Manning Food Innovation Hub

A purpose-built facility supporting research, education, innovation, and industry collaboration across the Future of Food ecosystem, the Food Innovation Hub will bring together research, teaching, product development, and industry collaboration under one roof

Facilities

The Food Innovation Hub's state-of-the-art facilities will include:

Food-Grade Pilot Plant

Designed to develop, test, and scale promising food concepts from the lab toward commercial production.

Food Science students conduct an experiment in a UMass Amherst lab.

Innovation Kitchen

A flexible, incubator-style kitchen for creating, prototyping, and refining new food and nutrition products.

Sensory Testing Laboratory

A dedicated testing environment for understanding how consumers experience the taste, texture, aroma, and appeal of food products.

Human Clinical Testing Laboratory

A specialized clinical research space for studying how foods, ingredients, and nutritional products affect human health.

Researchers work in a lab in the UMass Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Credit: Derrick Zellmann

Food Analysis Laboratories

Advanced laboratories for analyzing the composition, quality, safety, and performance of foods and nutritional products.

Three men standing outside the Institute for Applied Life Sciences at UMass Amherst

Industry Collaboratories

Purpose-built R&D spaces where industry partners work alongside UMass researchers to develop, test, and advance new ideas and technologies.

Life-Changing Food Research

At UMass Amherst, researchers across disciplines are tackling the most pressing challenges shaping how food is grown, produced, and consumed—and translating discoveries into solutions that improve human health, strengthen food systems, and protect the environment.

E coli is a gram negative bacteria, part of human intestine microbiome, escherichia coli can cause food poisoning. Credit: Getty Images

Faster, Smarter Bacteria Detection

UMass Amherst food scientists have developed a smartphone-based technology that quickly and reliably detects bacterial contamination on surfaces in food processing plants, hospitals, and other public spaces.

Left to right: Lauren Andrews, Caitlyn Butler, Isaac Larsen, Chul Park and Meichen Wang

Building a More Resilient Food System

Five interdisciplinary UMass Amherst research teams are taking on challenges from soil and water quality to food waste and crop safety.

Illustration of many different foods cascading down into a pill capsule.

Food is Medicine

Researchers across multiple disciplines are studying the power of food to promote health and reduce chronic illness, often working in partnership with local community groups.

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Food

Together, we can accelerate discovery, strengthen communities, and create healthier, more sustainable food systems.

Partner With Us

Support the Initiative

News & Stories