As Sustainable Food & Farming Coordinator at UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program (SAREP), Gwenaël Engelskirchen collaborates with a broad range of stakeholders to support farmers and ranchers in adopting more sustainable agricultural practices and to facilitate robust regional food systems. Her recent work focuses on market channel development for emerging niche agricultural crops with dual economic and environmental potential (e.g. elderberry, moringa, Kernza®) as well as expanding opportunities for small, mid-scale and under-represented producers through regional distributors, food hubs, and institutional purchasing. Gwenaël holds a Master’s degree in Community Development from UC Davis and dual Bachelor’s degrees in International Development and Women’s Studies from UCLA. Gwenaël has worked on and managed diversified organic farms ranging in size from 1.5 to 300 acres, overseen planting and data collection for vegetable variety trials at an organic seed company, and raised a small flock of sheep for meat and fiber in Vermont.