The global food and agriculture landscape looks very different than it did this time last year.

In January, the Trump-Vance Administration acted quickly to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, cancelling life-saving food aid and health programs around the world.

In the following months, I have spent time during my travels to meet with farmers, researchers, and community leaders, beginning to understand what this all means for agricultural communities. What I’m hearing is alarming.

In Ethiopia, I spoke with an NGO leader called the impact “immediate and disastrous.” Their organization laid off nearly two dozen staff, canceled two major projects focused on women’s nutrition and healthy behaviors, and lost about US$1 million in funding.

In Guatemala, the organization CARE has had to lay off more than 20 staff and cut programs that helped women impacted by domestic violence. CARE staff members have also had to reduce the number of women’s farmers groups they were working with—and staff told me that the news hit the farmers very hard and they had a difficult time understanding why the U.S. would pull funding so abruptly.

The disruptions like these will cost human lives—they already are. Modeling from Boston University shows that funding cuts are already contributing to the deaths of close to 700,000 people, including more than 450,000 children, due to malnutrition and infectious diseases. By 2030, we may see as many as 14 million people die whose lives could have otherwise been saved, a study published in The Lancet reveals.

The cruelty doesn’t stop when you get to the U.S. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, an estimated 15 million will lose health coverage by 2034 following the passage of the tax and spending bill this summer. And more than 3 million people are at risk of losing some or all of their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Crystal FitzSimons, President of the Food Research & Action Center calls these cuts “bad for families, bad for businesses, and bad for the economy as a whole.”

The ripple effects are likely to be as significant as FitzSimons suggests. One study from the George Washington University estimates that we may see 1 million jobs lost and a reduction totaling US$113 billion in states’ GDPs next year.

What’s happening now is only the beginning. We will not know the full consequences of these changes for years, even generations, to come.

What I do know is that we need new solutions, new ways of thinking and doing. Some friends and allies in this space have called this moment an opportunity. But I don’t see it that way. I want to be clear that we are adapting because we’re forced to.

Food Tank and the Global Food Institute at GW launched our “Growing Forward” series at the start of the year to spotlight the innovative solutions that will help us tackle the most pressing challenges in our food and agriculture systems. I always understood that they would be needed—I just couldn’t have predicted how urgent they would become.

The World Bank is demonstrating the power of new tools that will help us monitor and better respond to global hunger crises. The University of the District of Columbia is showing us how we can equip community leaders with the knowledge they need to scale urban agroecology to feed cities and build climate resilience. And medical professionals like Kofi Essel are illuminating the benefits we can unlock if we fully integrate food into our healthcare systems.

I’m also excited by organizations like the Food Security Leadership Council, launched this year to align American policy, science, and action to solve global hunger. “I don’t want this government to lose the partnerships that we’ve developed with other countries,” Fowler told me during a recent conversation. Protecting those relationships will be essential. 

And just last month at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Brazil, we saw several new initiatives announced, like the Food Waste Breakthrough. Led by the U.N. Environment Programme, new funds are being invested to unite governments, cities, and civil society to halve food waste by 2030. 

The uncertainty we have faced in the last 12 months is not going away, and if we’re going to be prepared for the future, these are the types of solutions we need. If we can lean into them, we can collectively forge a future that is built on care, solidarity, and shared responsibility. Now we need the will to act. 

Photo courtesy of German Fon Brox, Unsplash

The post The Path Forward for Food and Farming Is Clear. Now Is the Time to Act! appeared first on Food Tank.

2025 was a year marked by immense uncertainty. Cuts to nutrition assistance and climate smart agriculture programs in the United States, the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and declining Official Development Assistance from countries including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have raised hard questions about what the future holds.

But around the world there is so much resilience and excitement as organizations prove food and agriculture systems can be a solution to our most pressing social and environmental challenges. They are establishing models that nourish children and support local farmers. They are creating more opportunities for women and young farmers to become leaders in their communities. And they are cultivating new and innovative partnerships to fund and scale the solutions already working on the ground.

As we enter 2026, here are 126 organizations and initiatives to learn about, engage with, and support as they work to build a more equitable, regenerative, and delicious future.

1. African Population & Health Research Centre, Kenya

APHRC is an African-founded, African-led research-to-policy institution driving evidence-informed decisions on health and development. Headquartered in Nairobi, they work across 35+ countries to strengthen African research leadership and advance sustainable progress across the continent. They are also behind the award-winning initiative Restoring Nairobi to “A Place of Cool Waters,” to transform Kenya’s capital into a greener, food secure city.

2. Agroecology Fund, International

Since 2011, the Agroecology Fund has pooled resources to strengthen grassroots agroecology movements advancing fair, biodiverse, climate-resilient food systems. Guided by civil society advisors, it supports community-led organizing, learning, and policy advocacy. With US$41 million granted in 100+ countries, the Fund helps build food systems where producers and consumers govern locally—and where agroecology, not industrial agriculture, shapes a just future for people and planet.

3. AKADEMIYA2063, Africa

AKADEMIYA2063 equips African governments with the data, analysis, and technical capacity needed to achieve Agenda 2063’s vision of prosperity and sustainability. Based in Rwanda with a regional office in Senegal, it leads core initiatives to strengthen knowledge systems, empower African experts, and accelerate evidence-based agricultural transformation across the continent. Together with GAIN, they recently launched a toolkit to help governments align policies across sectors to accelerate food systems transformation.

4. Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), Africa

AFSA unites a powerful network of 48 member alliances across 50 countries working to secure food sovereignty rooted in agroecology, traditional knowledge, and community rights. Representing small-scale food producers, Indigenous Peoples, and environmental defenders, AFSA amplifies African-driven solutions and resists industrial agriculture that threatens land, culture, and biodiversity—mobilizing a strong, unified voice for just and resilient food systems.

5. American Farmland Trust (AFT), United States

American Farmland Trust is safeguarding the future of U.S. agriculture by protecting farmland, restoring soil health, and keeping farmers on the land. From advancing smart land-use policies to supporting new generations of producers, AFT links food, climate resilience, and rural prosperity. Amid rapid land loss, AFT’s No Farms No Food message continues to spotlight farmland as the foundation of our food system.

6. Annie’s Project, United States

Annie’s Project empowers women farmers, ranchers, and growers with the business skills and confidence needed to lead thriving agricultural operations. Through peer networks, practical training, and locally tailored learning environments, participants strengthen decision-making across financial, legal, and risk-management challenges. Honoring a legacy of women as equal partners on the land, Annie’s Project is helping shape stronger farms, families, and communities.

7. Aragón Agri-Food Institute, Europe

Based at the Aula Dei research campus in Spain, CITA drives scientific innovation to strengthen sustainable agriculture, forestry, and rural economies. Its teams advance agroecology, climate resilience, and the bio- and circular economy through collaborative research and living labs. From conserving genetic resources to improving livestock and plant systems, CITA helps shape a more competitive and sustainable agrifood sector across Europe.

8. Arrell Food Institute, Canada

Based at the University of Guelph, the Arrell Food Institute connects scientists, policymakers, industry, and communities to advance sustainable, equitable food systems. Its work spans reducing waste in supply chains, supporting climate-smart production, and improving nutrition access. Through initiatives like ag-tech innovation and net-zero food system challenges, AFI helps Canada lead in resilient food futures.

9. Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), Asia

AFA unites small-scale farmers, fishers, Indigenous Peoples, and pastoralists across Asia to advance food sovereignty and resilient rural livelihoods. Through advocacy, cooperative development, youth engagement, and farmer-to-farmer learning, AFA strengthens secure land rights and agroecological production. With members in 20+ countries, the alliance amplifies community voices in policies that shape a just farming future for the region.

10. Australian Conservation Foundation, Australia

For nearly 60 years, the Australian Conservation Foundation has mobilized people across the country to protect wildlife, forests, rivers, and reefs. From securing World Heritage protection for the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu to advancing clean energy and stronger nature laws, ACF challenges harmful industries and empowers communities—driving bold action so nature and people can thrive together in Australia’s future.

11. Agroecology & Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA), Australia

AFSA is a farmer-led alliance working to democratize Australia’s food system through agroecology, land justice, and First Peoples’ sovereignty. From legal support for smallholders to campaigning for scale-appropriate regulation and local processing infrastructure, AFSA empowers producers and communities to reclaim control of food and land. Connected to La Via Campesina, the Alliance drives policy reform and grassroots solutions for just, local, climate-resilient food systems.

12. Better Food Future, International

Better Food Future brings industry, government, and civil society together to build resilient, transparent, and climate-smart food systems. By aligning sustainability goals with global data standards, the initiative strengthens traceability in seafood and cattle, expands fair market access for small-scale producers, and eliminates deforestation from supply chains—driving measurable progress and shared prosperity from source to shelf.

13. Black Feminist Project, United States

The Black Feminist Project advances food and reproductive justice for Black women, girls, and gender-expansive people in the South Bronx. Through Black Joy Farm, sliding-scale community meals, and youth programs like Guerrilla Girls and Sis, Do You!, the organization combats food apartheid, builds leadership, and cultivates joy and autonomy—placing MaGes and mother-led families at the center of community power.

14. Broadway Green Alliance, United States

The Broadway Green Alliance mobilizes theatre-makers and audiences to shrink the industry’s environmental footprint—from switching 100,000 marquee bulbs to efficient LEDs to diverting tons of textiles and electronics from landfills. With 1,600+ Green Captains on Broadway and campuses nationwide, BGA equips artists with practical sustainability tools and uses the power of storytelling to inspire climate-positive action.

15. Buğday Association, Turkey

Born from a grassroots ecological movement in the 1990s, Buğday Association works to build a culture of ecological living in Turkey. Through projects spanning seed exchange, pesticide-free farming, composting, agroecology education, and Turkey’s 100 percent Ecological Markets, Buğday strengthens links between rural producers and urban consumers while championing nature-friendly production and traditional knowledge.

16. C40 Food Systems, International

Part of a global network of 97 cities, C40 Food Systems helps mayors transform urban food into a powerful climate solution. The program supports cities to cut emissions from production to waste, improve food access and nutrition, and build resilience through circular, plant-forward, and equitable food policies—advancing a fair, green transition that protects people and the planet.

17. CARE International, International and CARE USA, United States

For 80 years, CARE has worked alongside communities to confront crises, defeat poverty, and advance dignity. Centering women and girls, CARE delivers lifesaving assistance, strengthens local leadership, and drives long-term change—from emergency response and food security to health, education, and economic opportunity. In 2024, CARE and partners reached 58.7 million people across 121 countries, proving that hope and equality can thrive even in the hardest places.

18. CGIAR, International

CGIAR is a global research partnership transforming food, land, and water systems through science and innovation. Its network includes the Africa Rice Center, CIFOR, CIMMYT, ICARDA, ICRISAT, IFPRI, IITA, ILRI, CIP, IRRI, IWMI, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, ICRAF, and WorldFish. Together, these centers advance climate-resilient crops, equitable food policies, regenerative land management, and sustainable aquatic and livestock systems—delivering research and partnerships that strengthen nutrition, farmer livelihoods, and environmental stewardship worldwide.

19. CORAF, West and Central Africa

CORAF unites the agricultural research systems of 23 countries to drive innovation, boost productivity, and strengthen food and nutrition security across West and Central Africa. Through regional centers of excellence, technology scaling, market access initiatives, and policy support, CORAF helps family farmers adopt climate-smart solutions and fosters a future where communities prosper through resilient, competitive, and sustainable agriculture.

20. Charlie Cart Project, United States

With its mobile kitchen classrooms, the Charlie Cart Project brings hands-on food education directly into schools, libraries, and community centers. Their integrated curriculum helps children and adults learn cooking skills, nutrition basics, and the origins of their food. In the last decade, they have reached over 500,000 children and families through our 500 community partners across the country.

21. City Harvest, United States

For more than 40 years, City Harvest has led the food-rescue movement in New York City—recovering over 86 million pounds of surplus food each year and delivering it, free of charge, to 400 pantries, soup kitchens, and Mobile Markets® across all five boroughs. With a focus on fresh produce, culturally responsive foods, nutrition education, and community partnerships, City Harvest fights hunger, reduces waste, and strengthens local food systems so every New Yorker can thrive.

22. Climate Group, International

Climate Group accelerates urgent climate action by mobilizing powerful networks of 500+ multinational companies and 180+ state and regional governments. Working across high-emitting systems—energy, transport, heavy industry, and food—it drives commitments, enforces accountability, and turns ambition into measurable progress. Its global collaborations push organizations to act now and help steer the world toward net-zero by 2050.

23. Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), United States

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is a worker-led human rights organization transforming U.S. agriculture through organizing, enforcement, and consumer power. Since 1993, CIW has exposed and helped prosecute major forced-labor rings, liberated over 1,200 workers, and pioneered the Fair Food Program—a worker-driven model that raises wages, prevents abuse, and sets enforceable standards across farms in multiple states and crops.

24. Conflict Cuisine Project, International 

The Conflict Cuisine Project explores the deep links between food and war, using culinary traditions as a lens to understand conflict, diaspora, and peacebuilding. Through gastrodiplomacy, education programs, and collaborations with chefs and policymakers, the project shows how recipes, foodways, and shared meals can foster dialogue, integration, and a more nuanced understanding of global insecurity.

25. Community Kitchen, United States

Community Kitchen is a pilot sliding-scale restaurant at the Lower Eastside Girls Club, where chef Mavis-Jay Sanders serves multi-course, locally sourced, plant-forward dinners priced at US$15, US$45, or US$125 based on income and wealth—no questions asked. Co-founded with Mark Bittman, the project aims to prove that dignified, high-quality dining can be accessible, community-centered, and a model for policy change.

26. Crop Trust, International

The Crop Trust safeguards the world’s crop diversity by funding and strengthening genebanks and backing global seed reserves like the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Its Food Forever strategy aims to permanently secure key collections and make them more accessible to researchers and farmers. Through long-term partnerships, technical support, and capacity building, the organization helps ensure agriculture can adapt to climate, conflict, and biodiversity loss.

27. Culinary Institute of America, United States

The Culinary Institute of America prepares future food leaders through its longstanding commitment to excellence, research, and innovation. CIA co-founded and leads the  Menus of Change University Research Collaborative, a worldwide partnership of universities leveraging campus dining to study behavior change and bring plant-forward, climate-smart menu innovation into practice. 

28. Cultivemos Network, United States

Cultivemos—meaning “we cultivate”—links Northeast farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers to mental-health resources, culturally relevant support, and community-driven education. Through partnerships with Farm Aid and others, the network provides bilingual materials, resilience trainings, and a growing service-provider community designed to reduce stress, strengthen well-being, and ensure agricultural families can access the care they need.

29. Dion’s Chicago Dream, United States

Dion’s Chicago Dream advances health equity by redesigning food access through last-mile logistics. Founded in Englewood, the nonprofit delivers fresh, pre-measured produce directly to households through Dream Deliveries, community Dream Fridges, and networked Dream Vaults—collectively providing millions of pounds of healthy food. By pairing nutritional philanthropy with workforce development and neighborhood partnerships, the Dream builds community, stability, and hope across Chicago.

30. Edible Schoolyard Project, United States

The Edible Schoolyard Project, founded by Alice Waters in 1995, transforms public education by integrating organic gardens, kitchens, and cafeterias into academic learning. Its Berkeley demonstration site anchors a national movement where students cook, garden, and study food systems as part of their core curriculum. Through free classroom resources and the Alice Waters Institute, the organization advances edible education, climate action, and community well-being.

31. EAT, International

EAT works at the intersection of science, policy, business, and civil society to accelerate the shift toward healthy, fair, and sustainable food systems. Through science-based initiatives like the EAT–Lancet Commission report, global convenings such as the Stockholm Food Forum, and city-level efforts advancing the Planetary Health Diet, EAT works to transform evidence into collective action and partnerships that support people and the planet.

32. EiT Food, Europe 

EIT Food brings together innovators across Europe to accelerate the shift toward a healthier, more sustainable, and consumer-centered food system. Backed by the EU, it invests in research, education, entrepreneurship, and public engagement to advance three core missions—healthier diets, resilient and transparent supply chains, and a net-zero food system—linking startups, industry, and communities to drive system-wide change.

33. European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA), Europe

The European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA) is a farmer-led coalition advancing ecological, economic, and social regeneration across Europe’s agrifood system. Rooted in diverse farming contexts, EARA elevates farmer expertise in EU policy and builds broad alliances through its Regenerating Europe Tour—a series of strategic dialogues, farm visits, and workshops across Member States designed to accelerate a soil-centered, regenerative agricultural transition.

34. FAIRR Initiative, International

FAIRR is an investor network mobilizing more than US$90 trillion in assets to address the financial and systemic risks tied to intensive animal agriculture. Through rigorous research, company benchmarking, and coordinated investor engagement, FAIRR equips members to navigate climate, biodiversity, labor, and antimicrobial resistance risks while identifying opportunities across the protein value chain to accelerate a more sustainable and resilient global food system.

35. Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO (FLOC), United States

The Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO (FLOC) is a union and social movement advancing farmworkers’ rights across the Midwest and South. Founded in the 1960s by Baldemar Velásquez, FLOC pioneered tri-party bargaining—bringing corporations, growers, and workers to the same table—to secure fair wages, safer housing, and grievance protections, while mobilizing broad public support to shift power toward those who labor in the fields.

36. Feeding Change, United States

The Milken Institute’s Feeding Change program works to build a more nutritious, sustainable, equitable, and resilient food system by activating the necessary social and financial capital needed to drive this transformation. Some of their recent policy briefs and reports have called for employer-led nutrition strategies, expanded access to pharmacy-based care, and natural capital solutions. 

37. First Nations Development Institute, United States

First Nations Development Institute strengthens the economic, cultural, and ecological well-being of Native communities by supporting Tribal sovereignty and investing in Native-led solutions. Since 1980, its national grantmaking program has directed thousands of awards to projects advancing land stewardship, food systems, economic justice, and Native arts—reinforcing community assets, uplifting Indigenous knowledge, and sustaining self-determined futures across Tribal nations.

38. Food is Medicine Institute, United States

The Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts advances the integration of nutritious food into healthcare by generating evidence, training clinicians, and supporting patient care models such as medically tailored meals, groceries, and produce prescriptions. Through interdisciplinary research, policy analysis, and community partnerships, the Institute works to embed FIM into clinical systems, reduce health disparities, and strengthen a more equitable, prevention-focused healthcare system.

39. Food Recovery Network (FRN), United States

Food Recovery Network mobilizes thousands of student leaders, food businesses, and farms to keep surplus food out of landfills and redirect it to community organizations fighting hunger. Launched in 2011 at the University of Maryland, FRN now operates nearly 200 campus and community programs, recovering millions of pounds of fresh food and expanding local food access while reducing waste and emissions nationwide.

40. Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), United States

The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) advances policies that ensure every person in the U.S. can access nutritious food. Through research, advocacy, and support for a nationwide network of anti-hunger partners, FRAC strengthens federal nutrition programs, expands benefits, addresses racial inequities, and tackles the root causes of poverty-related hunger to build a healthier, more food-secure nation.

41. Food Security Leadership Council, International

The Food Security Leadership Council unites leaders from science, agriculture, industry, and global development to reimagine U.S. engagement in global food security. Guided by evidence and nonpartisan analysis, the Council elevates the impacts of U.S. policy, advances a strategic blueprint for international action, and convenes emerging leaders to address rising hunger driven by climate change, land degradation, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss.

42. Food Systems for the Future (FSF), International

Food Systems for the Future advances market-based, nutrition-focused solutions to build equitable and sustainable food systems. Led by Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, the organization works across the U.S. and Africa to expand access to affordable, diverse, and nourishing foods through policy engagement, research, coalition-building, and partnerships that strengthen local capacity and drive systemwide change toward a malnutrition-free world.

43. FreshRx Oklahoma, United States

FreshRx Oklahoma partners with local growers and clinicians to help North Tulsa residents manage Type II diabetes with nutrient-dense, regeneratively grown produce and yearlong support. Launched in 2021 after evidence showed food access was undermining diabetes care, the USDA-funded program provides biweekly produce, cooking and nutrition classes, and regular health screenings—advancing health equity through a Food is Medicine model rooted in community.

44. Friends of the Earth, International

Friends of the Earth mobilizes a nationwide network to advance bold, justice-centered environmental action. Since 1969, the organization has pushed for transformative policies that confront the climate and biodiversity crises head-on—rejecting half-measures, challenging corporate power, and championing systemic solutions. Through advocacy, coalition-building, and movement organizing, they work to protect people and the planet while building durable political power for long-term change.

45. Full Plates Full Potential, United States

Full Plates Full Potential works to end childhood food insecurity in Maine by strengthening and expanding the child nutrition programs that reach students every day. The organization helped lead the passage of School Meals for All and continues partnering with schools and communities to ensure every child has reliable access to nutritious meals that support learning, equity, and long-term well-being.

46. Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), International

GAIN works to improve access to nutritious, safe, and affordable food by transforming food systems alongside governments, businesses, and civil society. They focus on availability, affordability, desirability, and sustainability of healthy diets—especially for women, children, and other vulnerable groups—through programs that strengthen markets, advance fortification, shape policy, and expand nutrition-focused innovation worldwide.

47. Global Alliance for Latinos in Agriculture (GALA), International

GALA strengthens Latino farmers and ranchers worldwide through regenerative agriculture, conscious capitalism, and alignment with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. The organization advances youth leadership, digital and carbon-literacy training, and cross-cultural knowledge exchange to revitalize rural communities, foster family-farm prosperity, and build resilient, sustainability-driven agricultural livelihoods across generations.

48. Global Alliance for the Future of Food, International

The Global Alliance for the Future of Food is a coalition of philanthropic foundations working with partners worldwide to accelerate the transition to equitable, climate-resilient food systems. The Alliance advances systems-level solutions by convening diverse actors, generating evidence, and driving collaborative action toward food systems that uphold health, sustainability, and human rights for present and future generations.

49. Global Food Institute (GFI) at GW, United States

The Global Food Institute at George Washington University advances evidence-based solutions across policy, innovation, and community well-being to transform food systems. Through interdisciplinary research, teaching, and convenings, GFI links science to real-world action, shaping how food is grown, distributed, and experienced to improve human and planetary health.

50. Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming, United States

Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming advances a resilient regional food system by training the next generation of farmers, promoting regenerative practices, and strengthening fair, community-based markets. Working from the Hudson Valley and sharing lessons nationally, Glynwood aligns ecological stewardship with thriving local economies and equitable access to nutritious food. 

51. Gönül Mutfağı, Turkey

Launched by chefs Türev Uludağ and Ebru Baybara Demir, Gönül Mutfağı served over 17 million meals to earthquake survivors in 2023 through the work of 4,000 volunteers. The initiative strengthens long-term recovery by employing local residents through the From Soil to Plate cooperative and supplying 10,000 breakfasts each day to Hatay students.

52. GrowNYC, United States

Since 1970, GrowNYC has helped New Yorkers access fresh food, vibrant green spaces, and environmental education. Through producer-only Greenmarkets, community garden support, and education programs, the organization uplifts regional farmers and empowers residents—particularly frontline communities—to shape a healthier, more resilient city.

53. Guyra Paraguay, Paraguay

Focused on protecting Paraguay’s natural wealth, Guyra Paraguay brings together civil society, Indigenous communities, farmers, and scientists to conserve species, restore forests, and promote sustainable livelihoods. Through projects in the Atlantic Forest, agroforestry initiatives, and innovative monitoring and climate-finance programs—such as their shade-grown yerba mate program—the organization works to build a resilient landscape for people and wildlife. 

54. Green Bronx Machine, United States

Green Bronx Machine transforms classrooms and communities through a K–12+ model that weaves urban agriculture into core academics. Students grow and distribute thousands of pounds of fresh produce while improving attendance, engagement, and achievement. Through food education, workforce development, and community partnerships, the organization builds healthier schools and stronger, more resilient Bronx neighborhoods—proving that healthy students help grow healthy communities.

55. Good Food Fund, China

Good Food Fund drives China’s transition toward healthier, more sustainable, and more humane food systems. Through chef training, youth programs, policy-aligned partnerships, and the Good Food Summit, GFF advances plant-based innovation and elevates animal welfare. Its Good Food Academy and incubator programs build knowledge and support emerging leaders working to shift production, consumption, and public awareness toward a better food future.

56. Harlem Grown, United States

Harlem Grown cultivates healthy kids and resilient communities by engaging Harlem youth in hands-on urban farming, nutrition, and sustainability education. Since 2011, the organization has expanded access to fresh food and learning opportunities by operating 14 urban agriculture sites, from soil-based farms to hydroponic greenhouses, while mentoring elementary-aged students to become advocates for their health, community, and environment.

57. Helen’s Daughters, Caribbean

Helen’s Daughters strengthens rural women across the Caribbean by using agriculture as a pathway to broader economic and social opportunity. Working at the grassroots level, the organization provides training, mentorship, micro-investment, and market access while advancing gender equity through public advocacy. Their programs—from an all-female agri-apprenticeship to FarmHers Markets—position women farmers as leaders of sustainable development across the region.

58. High Atlas Foundation, Morocco

The High Atlas Foundation advances community-led development across Morocco by helping rural families build sustainable livelihoods rooted in fruit-tree agriculture, clean water access, and women’s empowerment. Through 15 nurseries producing millions of saplings, carbon-offset programs, and post-earthquake recovery, HAF supports communities to restore land, preserve cultural heritage, and create long-term, locally driven pathways to economic resilience.

59. IndigeHub, United States

IndigeHub strengthens Indigenous self-determination by creating shared resource hubs that fuel entrepreneurship, food sovereignty, and community resilience. Through coworking spaces, commercial kitchens, and emerging food hubs, the organization expands access to tools, training, and local markets. Their culturally grounded model reduces barriers on tribal lands, supports small businesses, and equips communities to build sustainable, long-term prosperity.

60. Instituto Regenera, Brazil

Instituto Regenera works to advance regenerative food systems by co-creating applied knowledge that drives transparent, fair, inclusive, and sustainable practices. Rooted in the idea that food is climate, biodiversity, and culture, the organization partners across sectors to strengthen emerging models that restore ecosystems, uplift communities, and embed regeneration at every stage of the food system. During COP30, the organization helped secure a commitment from the Brazilian government to source at least one third of food served at the conference from local family farmers.

61. Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Americas

IICA is the Inter-American System’s specialized agency for agriculture, working with 34 Member States to strengthen rural well-being and agricultural development. Through technical cooperation spanning innovation, family farming, trade, digitalization, and agricultural health, IICA supports countries in building competitive, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems resilient to climate shocks and aligned with long-term regional development goals.

62. International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Africa

icipe advances insect science for sustainable development across Africa, pioneering environmentally safe tools to manage pests and disease vectors while conserving biodiversity. Through its 4Hs approach—Human Health, Animal Health, Plant Health and Environmental Health—the Centre strengthens food security, rural livelihoods, and ecosystem resilience. As the continent’s only international arthropod research institution, it also builds scientific capacity through extensive training and partnerships.

63. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International

IFAD works to end rural poverty by investing in small-scale farmers and strengthening food systems. A U.N. agency and international financial institution, it provides grants and low-interest loans that expand market access, boost production, and build climate resilience. IFAD’s people-centered approach ensures women, youth, and Indigenous communities shape and benefit from rural transformation.

64. International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), International

IPES-Food unites 25 leading researchers and practitioners to accelerate food system transformation. From analyzing power dynamics to proposing concrete policy reforms, the panel produces influential reports and builds alliances that center equity, sustainability, and health. Rooted in science and informed by frontline realities, IPES-Food provides a clear roadmap for fixing failing food and agriculture systems.

65. International Potato Center, International

Headquartered in Lima, Peru, the International Potato Center (CIP) supports science-based solutions to improve root and tuber agri-food systems. They do this to ultimately enhance nutrition security, support sustainable business, and improve communities’ livelihoods. CIP leads the project Lima 2035, which aims to make the city of Lima’s food and agriculture systems regenerative and human-centered.

66. James Beard Foundation (JBF), United States

The James Beard Foundation strengthens the independent restaurant sector by recognizing excellence and equipping chefs and culinary leaders to drive a more equitable, sustainable food system. Through its awards, training programs, and national initiatives, JBF champions Good Food for Good—supporting an industry that enriches American culture and empowers the people who shape our food future.

67. John Hopkins University Center for Health Security and Center for a Livable Future, United States

At Johns Hopkins University, the Centers for Health Security and a Livable Future are working to reshape our systems in support of human and planetary health. The Center for Health Security works to protect communities from epidemics, biological threats, and public health emergencies while the Center for a Livable Future (CLF) advances alternatives to industrial food systems. CLF also recently launched a program to support the next generation of food and agriculture journalists. 

68. Kiss the Ground, United States

Kiss the Ground advances the regenerative movement by elevating healthy soil as a solution for human and planetary well-being. Through films, digital storytelling, education, and direct farmer support, the organization has inspired millions and helped transition more than two million acres toward regenerative agriculture—mobilizing public awareness toward a tipping point for systems-scale change.

69. La Via Campesina, International

Formed in 1993, La Via Campesina brings together 200 million small-scale food producers in 81 countries to defend land, water, seeds, and territory. The movement centers food sovereignty—healthy, culturally rooted food produced sustainably—and trains members in agroecology and peasant feminism. Its sustained mobilization shaped major global governance spaces, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants.

70. Local2030 Islands Network (L2030IN), International

This global network amplifies the leadership of island communities working toward the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Members share knowledge, strengthen public-private partnerships, and implement initiatives in support of a circular economy to create solutions that are locally driven and culturally informed.

71. McKnight Foundation, United States

The McKnight Foundation is working toward a more just and creative future through investments that celebrate culture bearers, strengthen farmer-centered agroecological research, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and more. Taking a silo-breaking approach, they also blend their program areas to bring food and the arts together. 

72. Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, International

Launched in 2015, the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact unites over 250 cities in a mayor-led commitment to build sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban food systems. As the leading global framework for municipal food policy, the Pact drives action through a shared 37-point agenda, peer learning, capacity building, and annual Milan Pact Awards showcasing innovative city solutions.

73. Naandi Foundation, India

The Naandi Foundation works across 438 districts in 21 states of India to create a better future for farmers and girls. In support of farmers, the organization encourages knowledge-sharing and the use of sustainable agricultural inputs, finding innovative ways to bring a regenerative and profitable agriculture system. Their goal in the coming years is to support 10 million girls with schooling and employment and 100 million farmers by planting 1 billion trees.

74. National Farm to School Network, United States

The National Farm to School Network builds equitable farm to school systems that support children, farmers, and communities. Through policy leadership, hands-on training, and a nationwide coalition spanning all 50 states, NFSN helps schools serve local food, integrate gardens and food education, and strengthen regional economies—advancing a vision of a racially just and community-driven food system.

75. National Farm Worker Ministry, United States

The National Farm Worker Ministry brings together denominations, congregations, and advocates to back campaigns led by farm workers seeking fair pay, safe conditions, and basic rights. Grounded in faith and racial justice, NFWM organizes actions, educates supporters, and builds solidarity networks that help transform the systems shaping life and labor in U.S. agriculture.

76. National Farmers Union, United States

The National Farmers Union (NFU) represents more than 220,000 family farmers and ranchers, advancing policies rooted in grassroots decision-making. NFU works to strengthen rural economies through farmer-driven advocacy, cooperative solutions, and education, promoting fair markets, resilient communities, and a future where family agriculture can thrive. In response to the increase in political and economic uncertainty farmers are facing in the last year, NFU has continued fighting to put growers first. 

77. National Young Farmers Coalition, United States

The National Young Farmers Coalition is a farmer-led network shifting power and transforming federal policy to equitably resource a new generation of growers. The Coalition centers BIPOC leadership and organizes young farmers nationwide to secure land access, climate resilience, and structural change so farming can remain viable, just, and community-rooted.

78. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), International

Since 1970, NRDC has paired legal action, scientific expertise, and grassroots advocacy to safeguard people and the planet. With offices across the U.S. and in Beijing, its attorneys, scientists, and policy experts tackle climate pollution, toxic exposures, biodiversity loss, and environmental inequity while advancing durable protections for communities and ecosystems.

79. New York Botanical Garden, United States

Each year the New York Botanical Garden reaches tens of thousands of families through exhibitions, botanical experiences, art, music, and events. Their scientists work around the world to find actionable, nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity loss crises, striving to create a green future for all. 

80. Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation, United States

Rooted in Niman Ranch’s commitment to smaller-scale, humane farming, the Next Generation Foundation supports young producers through scholarships and targeted grants. With over US$2 million distributed since 2006, the Foundation helps new farmers pursue education, adopt regenerative methods, expand their operations, and build resilient rural livelihoods.

81. North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS), North America

Founded by Chef Sean Sherman, North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS) is rebuilding a regional Indigenous food system through education, enterprise, and access. From its Minneapolis-based Indigenous Food Lab—combining a professional kitchen, market, and training center—NATIFS supports tribal communities in restoring Native foodways, expanding Indigenous culinary businesses, and advancing Indigenous food sovereignty across North America.

82. NOW Partners Foundation, International

For over three decades, NOW Partners Foundation has collaborated with businesses, investors, and institutions to advance regenerative land use, equitable leadership, and new industry logics. Their global partnership guides companies through transitions that integrate profitability with positive impact, demonstrating how Regenerative Value Creation can scale solutions that restore ecosystems, strengthen communities, and build resilient economies.

83. ONE Campaign, International

The ONE Campaign unites activists, data experts, and trusted messengers to influence global decision-makers and secure investments that strengthen opportunity and health across Africa. Strictly nonpartisan and independently funded, ONE pairs hard evidence with public pressure to drive lasting policy change—amplifying millions of voices for a world where dignity and equity are shared by all.

84. One Fair Wage, United States

One Fair Wage unites service workers, employers, and allies to confront the legacy of subminimum pay and win lasting wage justice. By driving research, mobilizing voters, and advancing bold state and local reforms, the organization works to guarantee every worker—tipped, gig, youth, disabled, or incarcerated—a full, fair minimum wage with tips as a true supplement.

85. OzHarvest, Australia

Australia’s largest food-rescue network, OzHarvest saves quality surplus food from thousands of donors and delivers it free to charities nationwide—over 300 million meals so far. Alongside rescue, they run national education programs, innovate with projects like OzHarvest Market and Refettorio, and push for systemic change to halve food waste and strengthen food security.

86. Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), East, Central, and Southern Africa

PELUM unites civil society organizations from 12 African countries to scale ecological land-use management with smallholder farmers. Founded in 1995, the network drives agroecology training, collaborative learning, and farmer-centered advocacy, expanding sustainable practices and strengthening food sovereignty. Its regional chapters support programs that improve livelihoods while regenerating ecosystems and boosting community resilience.

87. Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN), International

PAN is a global medical nonprofit working to reduce diet-related deaths by making nutrition central to clinical practice. Through medical education, hospital partnerships, and national branches across four continents, PAN equips health professionals to champion healthy, sustainable diets and drive food-system changes that address chronic disease, climate impacts, and pandemic risk.

88. Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), United States

PFI is a farmer-led network advancing resilient agriculture in Iowa. Members—conventional and organic, large and small—share knowledge through field days, research trials, and peer learning to strengthen stewardship, profitability, and community well-being. United by a land ethic and a commitment to welcoming all, PFI helps farmers build operations grounded in sustainability and shared experience.

89. Project Dandelion, International

Project Dandelion is a women-led global campaign uniting movements, leaders, and communities to demand a climate-safe world. Rooted in climate justice, it mobilizes millions to act, elevates women’s leadership, and advances seven core demands—from ending fossil fuel subsidies to scaling fair, renewable energy—building a powerful, shared symbol for urgent, collective action.

90. Project Drawdown, United States

Project Drawdown is an independent nonprofit advancing bold, science-based climate solutions. Through cutting-edge research, strategic engagement with policymakers, investors, and industry leaders, and powerful storytelling, it shifts resources and public narratives toward effective action. Its work guides climate strategies worldwide, elevating solutions that cut emissions, protect ecosystems, and expand human well-being.

91. ProVeg International, International

ProVeg International accelerates food-system transformation by replacing animal products with plant-based and cultivated alternatives. Active across five continents and holding consultative and observer status with key UN agencies, ProVeg works with companies, investors, and communities to tackle climate, health, and hunger challenges through diet change—aiming to halve global animal-product consumption by 2040.

92. Rainforest Alliance, International

Working across over 60 countries, the Rainforest Alliance mobilizes market power and community leadership to protect forests, restore biodiversity, and improve rural livelihoods. Its global alliance advances regenerative production, responsible sourcing, and climate action, ensuring that farmers, companies, and consumers all contribute to—and benefit from—a future where people and nature thrive in balance.

93. ReFED, United States

ReFED uses data, research, and cross-sector partnerships to drive measurable impact on food loss and waste. In collaboration with the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative (MCURC), they are working with foodservice operators to repurpose surplus food and reduce food waste across college campuses. Their recent toolkit is now helping more chefs implement solutions in their own dining halls. 

94. Regen Places Network, Australia

Across Australia, the Regen Places Network brings communities together to combat people’s disconnection from the environment and one another by developing climate-smart, place-based food and land use strategies. By 2030, they aim to develop 2,030 leaders committed to restoring ecosystems and building resilient food systems, who will make up a far-reaching network of conveners and communities.

95. Regen10, International

Designed as a global multi-stakeholder platform, Regen10 is working to mobilize farmers, companies, researchers, and governments to scale regenerative agriculture. The initiative works to transform how food is produced by improving soil health, strengthening livelihoods, and advancing climate-resilient systems. 

96. Resilient Cities Network, International

Resilient Cities Network works with nearly 100 cities in over 40 countries around the world to future-proof urban centers. Their work is organized around three pillars—climate resilience, circularity, and equity—as they bring together global knowledge, practice, partnerships, and funding to support member cities.

97. Rodale Institute, United States

For decades, the Rodale Institute has pioneered research in organic agriculture research, education, and farmer training. Their long-term field trials provide some of the world’s most influential data on soil health and climate impacts. The organization continues to expand knowledge and support farmers transitioning to regenerative organic methods.

98. Rooted East, United States

Rooted East, a Black-led food collective is fighting food apartheid and working to advance food justice in East Knoxville, Tennessee. Their recent documentary “Roots of Resilience” tells the story of the organization and how they’re using garden education and land partnerships to create a self-sustaining food system.

99. Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), India

In the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Ryss is working alongside farmers to scale the adoption of chemical-free, climate-resilient farming practices. After demonstrating success in India, Ryss collaborated with NOW Partners to bring the model to communities in Zambia. Projects are also underway in Sri Lanka, and Brazil, with nine additional countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America have been identified for future implementation as funding is secured.

100. Salesian Sisters’ Valponasca Learning Farm, Zambia

The Salesian Sisters’ Valponasca Learning Farm provides hands-on agricultural education to promote regenerative practices while empowering women and youth. Together with Rythu Sadhikara Samstha and NOW Partners, they are working to facilitate a pilot project that adapts the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming model to the local environment.

101. Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, International

Active in more than 60 countries, the SUN Movement works with governments to prioritize nutrition in national policies and investments. It unites civil society, donors, and the private sector to strengthen systems that support maternal and child health. The movement accelerates coordinated action to end malnutrition in all its forms.

102. SDG2 Advocacy Hub, International

The SDG2 Advocacy Hub drives coordinated global action to achieve SDG2—ending hunger, advancing food security and nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030. Bringing together NGOs, civil society, UN agencies, and private-sector partners, the Hub strengthens campaigns, supports country-level efforts, and equips advocates with shared tools to maximize collective influence across the Global Goals.

103. Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), India

Founded by Elaben Bhatt in 1972, SEWA represents 3.2 million self-employed women across India’s informal economy. As the country’s largest women-led trade union, SEWA advances full employment and self-reliance by organizing workers, strengthening cooperatives, expanding social protections, and building women-owned enterprises that enhance economic security and collective bargaining power.

104. Senegalese Association for the Promotion of Development at the Base (Asprodeb), Africa

Established in 1995, Asprodeb advances sustainable rural development in Senegal by equipping farmer organizations with technical support, professional training, and financial management tools. Born from collaboration between government and peasant movements, it helps family farms strengthen their services, implement development programs, and build productive partnerships across the agricultural sector.

105. Sicangu Food Sovereignty Initiative, United States

Based on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, this initiative works to restore traditional food systems and strengthen community health. Programs include seed saving, gardening, and educational workshops that reconnect youth and families to cultural food practices. Their work centers Indigenous knowledge as a foundation for food sovereignty and resilience.

106. Slow Food International, International and Slow Food USA, United States

Slow Food promotes local, sustainable, and culturally meaningful food systems around the globe. From grassroots chapters in the U.S. to international networks, the organization supports farmers, chefs, and communities in preserving biodiversity and culinary traditions in an effort to champion good, clean, and fair food for all.

107. Solid’Africa, Rwanda

Solid’Africa aims to empower smallholder farmers in Rwanda to access markets, improve yields, and adopt more sustainable practices. The organization offers free medically tailored meals to patients in public hospitals and delivers affordable, nutritious meals to students in public schools. Their approach prioritizes local sourcing from smallholder farmers, and they operate clean cooking kitchens to create a healthier food ecosystem. 

108. Soul Fire Farm, United States

Located in Upstate New York, Soul Fire Farm is an Afro-Indigenous centered community farm and training center working to end racism and advance food sovereignty. Their programs include farm tours, multi-day immersive programs for growers of Black, Indigenous, and Latine heritage, and youth-focused workshops. 

109. Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, United States

The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation works with young eaters to encourage healthy habits that will stay with them throughout their lifetimes. By partnering and investing in nutrition education and hands-on gardening programming, they support efforts that teach children how to grow and prepare nutritious food while making connections between what they eat and the natural environment. 

110. Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, United States

Stone Barns Center is a nonprofit farm and educational hub dedicated to regenerative agriculture and local food systems. Visitors and participants learn sustainable farming practices, nutrition, and culinary skills through hands-on experiences. The center serves as a model for farming that nourishes people and the planet.

111. Sustainable Food Trust, United Kingdom

Sustainable Food Trust works to accelerate the transition to sustainable food and farming systems for the benefit of climate, nature and health. Their focus areas include sustainable livestock, a food secure Britain, measuring sustainability, true cost accounting, supporting local abattoirs. 

112. Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University, United States

The Swette Center takes a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to facilitate research, education, public engagement, community-strengthening and policy reform in support of sustainable food systems. Their strategic priorities include cultivating the next generation of leaders, advancing organic research and policy, enabling true cost accounting of food, empowering Indigenous foodways, and engaging the private sector.  

113. Terepeza Development Association, Ethiopia

Working across rural Ethiopia, Terepeza Development Association supports smallholder farmers through programs in climate-smart agriculture, livelihoods, and community development. Their initiatives help families build resilience to drought and food insecurity while improving soil and water management. The organization also invests in youth and women’s empowerment to strengthen long-term sustainability.

114. The Common Market, United States

By connecting regional farmers with institutions like schools and hospitals, The Common Market strengthens local economies and expands access to nutritious, sustainably grown food. By advancing forward purchasing commitments for small and mid-scale farms, the organization hopes to rebuild regional food systems in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Texas, and Great Lakes region of the U.S.

115. The Land Institute, International

The Land Institute is reimagining how grains can be grown in harmony with ecosystems. Their work on crops like Kernza aims to reduce soil erosion, improve biodiversity, and cut carbon emissions. Through science, partnerships, and global advocacy, they hope to advance a regenerative future for agriculture systems.

116. The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, International

Focused on the intersection of data, technology, and social impact, the Patrick J. McGovern foundation supports initiatives that strengthen climate resilience, food security, and community well-being. Their investments help organizations scale digital tools that improve agricultural forecasting, resource management, and humanitarian response. 

117. The Rockefeller Foundation, United States

For more than a century, The Rockefeller Foundation has worked to advance global health and food and nutrition security. Through investments in regenerative school meals, they are working to scale regenerative agriculture, connect students to healthy food, and improve educational outcomes. And with their Food is Medicine work, they are supporting programs and research to better understand the potential of produce prescriptions, medically tailored meals, or healthy grocery programs.

118. UJAMAA Cooperative Farming Alliance (UCFA), United States

UCFA works to bring greater diversity and equity to the seed supply by supporting BIPOC growers and connecting them with buyers seeking culturally significant crops. The Alliance strengthens markets for heritage varieties while investing in farmer training and cooperative development. Their efforts help preserve biodiversity and uplift historically marginalized growers.

119. United Nations System, International

The U.N. System includes principal bodies, specialized agencies, funds, and programs working to improve food and agriculture systems, protect the environment, better health outcomes, and promote gender equity. These institutions include U.N. Development Programme, U.N. Environment Programme, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and FAO North America, U.N. Global Compact, UN Women, the U.N. World Food Programme and World Food Program USA, and the World Health Organization.

120. Urban Growers Collective, United States

Urban Growers Collective operates sustainable urban farms across Chicago, using food production as a vehicle for community empowerment. Centering racial equity, they provide job training, youth leadership programs, and food access initiatives that center. Their work helps strengthen local food systems while supporting health and economic opportunity.

121. Wellness in the Schools, United States

Wellness in the Schools partners works to improve students’ health. By partnering with public schools, chefs, and coaches, they aim to shift the culture of schools to prioritize well-being. Over the last year, the organization has gathered leaders in the food and agriculture policy sphere to develop recommendations to guide the Trump-Vance administration’s overhaul of school meals.  

122. Wholesome Wave, United States

Wholesome Wave works to make fruits and vegetables more affordable for families experiencing food insecurity. Through nutrition incentive programs and produce prescriptions, they help households access healthier food while supporting local farmers. 

123. Women Advancing Nutrition Dietetics and Agriculture (WANDA), United States

Through training, education, and advocacy, WANDA is cultivating a thriving community of Black women leaders across food and agriculture systems. They hope to see more women and girls gain the skills they need to improve their lives and transform their communities from farm to health.

124. World Central Kitchen (WCK), International

In moments of disaster and crisis, WCK, founded by Chef José Andrés, delivers fresh, culturally relevant meals to those who need them most. In the last year, WCK has provided food to communities affected by war and natural disaster, including in Palestine, Ukraine, Haiti, and the Philippines.

125. World Resources Institute (WRI), International

The World Resources Institute works to advance sustainable development through rigorous research and partnerships across government, business, and civil society. They serve as the Secretariat, founding member, and core partner of the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), which works to rewire food systems to solve the climate crisis. 

126. World Wildlife Fund (WWF), International

WWF is dedicated to conserving biodiversity, addressing the climate crisis, and ensuring sustainable use of natural resources. Recognizing the impact that industrialized food and agriculture systems have on the environment, they work to create more regenerative and efficient production systems while encouraging dietary shifts among eaters. 

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

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Trump-Vance Administration Announces US$12 Billion Bailout for Farmers

The Trump-Vance Administration recently announced a US$12 billion farmer bailout during a White House roundtable, citing financial strain faced by producers following recent tariffs.

According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) press release, the package includes up to US$11 billion in one-time payments for row crop farmers growing commodities such as corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, and cotton through a new USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance program. The remaining funds will be allocated to commodities not covered by the program, including specialty crops and sugar, though payment timelines and formulas for those sectors are still being developed.

President Donald Trump repeatedly stated that the payments were funded by tariff revenue during the roundtable. However, the funding will come from the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, a government financing mechanism that uses taxpayer dollars.

The announcement follows months of concern among farmers over rising input costs and uncertainty tied to trade policy, particularly for row crop producers. National Farmers Union President Rob Larew says that while the organization appreciates the assistance, “short-term payments, while important, are only a first step,” emphasizing the need for long-term structural reforms to stabilize family farms.

Applications for assistance will open in the coming weeks, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Eligible farmers can expect payments to be distributed by February 28, 2026.

UAE Announces AI Initiative to Support Farmers in Climate Crisis

The United Arab Emirates recently announced a new initiative designed to translate advanced research and artificial intelligence tools into practical support for farmers affected by extreme and unpredictable weather.

The platform, AI Ecosystem for Global Agricultural Development, builds on a US$200 million partnership between the UAE and the Gates Foundation announced at the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, which aims to accelerate agricultural innovation.

The ecosystem is structured around four initiatives intended to guide implementation and deployment. One pillar, the CGIAR AI Hub, is intended to position Abu Dhabi as a center for AI-driven agricultural research using decades of global agricultural data. A second initiative, the Institute for Agriculture and Artificial Intelligence, will provide digital advisory services, training, and technical assistance to governments and non-governmental organizations.

A third component, AgriLLM, is an open-source agricultural large language model designed to improve global agricultural intelligence. The final initiative, AIM for Scale, focuses on AI-powered weather forecasting and advisory services, including recent deployments that delivered AI-supported monsoon forecasts to 38 million farmers in India in 2025.

“By connecting our national research and AI capabilities with leading global partners, we are turning science into real tools that reach people on the ground,” says Mariam Almheiri, Head of the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court.

EU Negotiators Agree to Relax Regulations on Gene-Edited Crops

European Union negotiators have agreed to ease regulations on crops developed using new gene-splicing practices, concluding that these plants should face fewer restrictions than traditional genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The agreement distinguishes between conventional GMOs, which insert genetic material from one species into another, and new genomic techniques (NGTs) that precisely add, remove, or alter small sections of a plant’s DNA.

Critics warn that the changes could strengthen corporate control over seeds, particularly as NGT crops become patentable. Franziska Achterberg of Save Our Seeds calls the agreement a “complete sell-out,” arguing it undermines the rights of farmers and consumers.

But lawmakers and other supporters argue that existing GMO rules have slowed innovation and that revised regulations could enable the development of crops that are more resilient to climate stress and require less land and fewer fertilizers and pesticides.

Under the deal, gene-edited crops will be divided into two categories. “NGT1” crops, which are modified to a limited degree and considered comparable to naturally occurring varieties, will be regulated like conventional crops and face looser requirements. “NGT2” crops, which involve more extensive genetic changes, will remain subject to the EU’s stricter GMO approval and labeling rules.

Before taking effect, the agreement must still be formally approved by both the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

Congressional Delegation Pushes for Action on PFAS

Maine’s congressional delegation is urging federal action to support farmers affected by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals that have contaminated farmland in the state and elsewhere.

U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree and U.S. Senator Susan Collins reintroduced the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act, which would authorize grants to states to address PFAS contamination on agricultural land. The legislation would allow states to use federal funds for soil and water testing, remediation efforts, and financial assistance for farmers who may need to relocate from contaminated land.

Additional eligible uses include monitoring PFAS levels in individuals’ blood, upgrading farm equipment to maintain operations, and supporting research into remediation strategies.

Pingree says the bill responds to an ongoing crisis, stating, “The PFAS crisis isn’t some theoretical or distant problem. It’s here, it’s growing, and it’s putting real pressure on farmers in Maine and across the country,” and described the measure as a “critical step” toward safeguarding farm operations.

The proposal builds on steps Maine has already taken, including becoming the first state to require manufacturers to report PFAS intentionally added to products.

Supporters including U.S. Senator Angus King, an original cosponsor of the bill, argue that federal involvement is needed to complement state programs and provide consistent assistance to farmers facing PFAS contamination nationwide.

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

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The kind of systemic transformation we need to see is made possible by meaningful relationships between people, where we make decisions with other people’s well-being in mind. It’s made possible by broad societal collaboration between individuals, where we can break down silos and share knowledge.

This is certainly true here at Food Tank! As an organization powered by grassroots support from members around the globe, everything we do is made possible by you.

THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, to the community of members who have helped us uplift food system solutions all year long. If you’re not yet a member, I hope you’ll consider joining us by going to foodtank.com/join. Here’s a taste of what we’ve been able to do over the past year thanks to our global family of members:

In 2025, Food Tank has celebrated the intersection of food and the arts in major ways. During Summits at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT, and SXSW in Austin, TX, creative folks like chefs, filmmakers, farmers, advocates, and more convened to shine a spotlight on the power of environmental storytelling.

And at Climate Week NYC, each of our unprecedented 15 packed-house Summits began with a performance from Broadway stars—which injected much-needed beauty and hope into urgent discussions of climate action! We also staged a workshop reading of “Catalyst Coffee,” an original musical about labor organizing in the food service industry.

We were honored to bring success stories both to food-focused events—including Stop Food Waste Day, the annual National Food is Medicine Summit, and by hosting the official North America World Food Day celebration—and to discussions across disciplines. At symposiums around the world focusing on wellness, social justice, legal studies, and more, we showcased how food systems can connect the dots between unexpected and complex topics.

We also continued bringing food policy conversations directly to the places they matter most. In May, we headed to Washington, D.C., for a Capitol Hill luncheon event on how Food is Medicine can transform healthcare, convened the inaugural Food and Agriculture Policy Summit in October, and returned just yesterday ago for a luncheon exploring ultra-processed foods.

On the global scale, Food Tank brought nuanced discussions of food systems and policy to the U.K. for London Climate Action Week, to Ethiopia for the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake, and to Brazil for COP30, the landmark UN Climate Change Conference. There, we organized a robust lineup of programming to engage agricultural ministers, negotiators, farmers, climate journalists, civil society and business leaders, funders, and more to ensure that these decision-makers recognize the importance of food and agriculture action.

In addition, we have also continued to publish daily articles, deliver this newsletter straight to your inbox, and release weekly episodes of our podcast “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg.”

There is no food system without the individual farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, food processors, factory workers, packagers, truck drivers, seed savers, chefs, business owners, food justice advocates, and countless other hardworking, passionate folks up and down the food chain. It’s also no exaggeration to say that Food Tank wouldn’t be Food Tank without each and every Food Tanker like you!

Food Tank members receive exclusive access to Food Tank Summits, even when they are sold out to the public; invitations to special virtual members-only discussions with food system luminaries; and other tokens of our appreciation throughout the year. Your support also means that we can continue to make most of our programming completely free to attend and livestream these events for our global audience. I hope you’ll take a moment to check out our accessible membership options HERE to launch or boost your support.

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Over the past several weeks, from Food Tank’s programming at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Brazil to my time ground-truthing in Guatemala, I’ve been thinking deeply about how the food we eat impacts our well-being. And in the coming months, I’ll continue to share reflections on how communities in Guatemala and elsewhere are building climate resilience, food sovereignty, and nutritious diets.

Next week, Food Tank is heading to Capitol Hill for a bipartisan Summit exploring a major public health challenge within the food system: ultra-processed foods.

I hope you’ll join us at 12PM ET on Dec. 10, either via livestream or in person in Washington, D.C.! Please click HERE to reserve your spot, or you can also bookmark THIS LINK to join the livestream directly.

Ultra-processed foods are industrial products created and packaged to prioritize convenience over real nutrients. As Marion Nestle puts it, “They’re designed to be irresistibly delicious, if not addictive. They have lots and lots of added sugar, salts, and different kinds of additives, and you can’t make them in your own kitchen.”

And it’s not an exaggeration to say ultra-processed foods are virtually unavoidable in American diets—and that they could wreak havoc on our health. By some measurements, more than 73 percent of the U.S. food supply is ultra-processed, and a study in the medical journal The BMJ notes direct associations between ultra-processed foods and worse outcomes across cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, metabolic, and mental health and rates of cancer, diet-related diseases and mortality.

At what point does this become a public health crisis—and how should policymakers respond to help keep us nourished and healthy?

At this Summit—”Eating Ourselves Sick?: Ultra-Processed Foods and U.S. Health Policy“—presented alongside the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, we’ll be joined by speakers including: U.S. Member of Congress Vern Buchanan, Anuraag Chigurupati, Devoted Medical; U.S. Member of Congress Maxine Dexter, M.D.; Kyle Diamantas, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall; Dariush Mozaffarian, Food is Medicine Institute; Radha Muthiah, Capital Area Food Bank; Robert Paarlberg, Harvard Kennedy School; Jennifer Pomeranz, New York University; Secretary Arvin Singh, West Virginia Department of Health; U.S. Member of Congress Shri Thanedar; and more to be announced!

This is an opportunity to engage directly with leaders shaping the future of food and health in the United States. As Dariush Mozaffarian, Director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, reminds us, Americans’ poor metabolic health is a systemic problem that needs systemic solutions.

“When you have three out of four adults with overweight or obesity and half of adults with diabetes and pre-diabetes, you know the system is broken,” he told Food Tank recently. “This isn’t any longer a problem of individual behavior.”

Across the food system, we’re seeing a variety of approaches that remind us what a more health-forward food system might look like. Just this week, the city of San Francisco filed a lawsuit against ultra-processed food manufacturers, alleging they are knowingly producing products that are addictive and linked to serious health issues.

In Pennsylvania, farmer Christa Barfield’s CornerJawn stores aim to flip the script on the kinds of foods offered in corner stores. The organization Dion’s Chicago Dream is putting fresh crops, not ultra-processed foods, at the core of food assistance. Leaders in both Michigan and Maine are imagining what better school meals look like. And there are so many more solutions being developed on the ground, as I’ll discuss at Bold Fork Books in D.C. later this month with Nancy Matsumoto, author of “Reaping What She Sows: How Women Are Rebuilding Our Broken Food System.”

Ultra-processed foods are deeply ingrained within the modern food system—but they don’t have to be. I hope you’ll join us next week on Capitol Hill as we explore how to build food policy that does more than just fill us up, but that truly nourishes us and keeps us healthy!

HERE is the link one more time to find more info about making your voice heard at this Summit.

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

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The post Join Us on Capitol Hill Next Week to Ask: Are We Eating Ourselves Sick? appeared first on Food Tank.

“Something that is very difficult living in Iowa is this constant level of anxiety over the fact that you don’t know what kind of cancer you’re going to get,” says John Gilbert, a fourth-generation family farmer near Iowa Falls. “It’s in the back of your mind all the time that you’re living in dangerous times in a dangerous place.”

Nitrate pollution in Iowa’s water is largely due to overuse and misuse of artificial fertilizer and mismanagement of manure from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Iowa is the leading hog producer in the United States, with more than one-third of the nation’s hogs, according to the Economic Research Service. More than 25 million hogs outnumber people in Iowa by a ratio of 7 to 1. And as the state’s pork production nearly doubled from 2000 to 2023, so did its manure production.

“CAFOs have more manure than the crops can reasonably use as fertilizer,” says Michael Schmidt, General Counsel at the nonprofit Iowa Environmental Council (IEC). While information on fertilizer and manure application is not publicly available, “we can assess at a large scale. We know there’s more manure than the crops need and know that synthetic fertilizers are being oversold.”

Almost half of Iowa’s cropland uses tile draining, which removes excess water from fields through a network of underground perforated pipes and releases it into drainage systems. This means that when fertilizer and manure are overapplied to farm fields, excess nutrients are fed straight into water systems. That contaminates drinking water for Iowa residents and fuels algae blooms and dead zones downstream in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Nobody wants to admit this is what’s happening. It’s a structural problem with the system,” says Gilbert. “We have created a situation where no matter what we wanted to do about nitrates in our drinking water, it’s not going to be an easy fix. It’s only getting worse because nobody is shutting down the confinements.”

Numerous studies link high nitrate levels to kidney, bladder, thyroid, and other cancers. Researchers at the Duke University School of Medicine found in 2018 that communities located near hog CAFOs had higher overall rates of infant mortality and mortality due to anemia, kidney disease, tuberculosis, and septicemia. In 2021, a study supported by the National Institutes of Health linked residential proximity to intensive animal agriculture to an elevated risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia.

Nitrate contamination is also an environmental justice issue. This year, an Iowa State University study reported that high nitrate levels in Iowa disproportionately affect low-income individuals, older adults, children, and people of color because these communities are more likely to be located near CAFOs.

Many organizations are advocating for change. The Iowa Farmers Union is pushing for a moratorium on new CAFOs built in the state, better working conditions for CAFO farmers, and protections for communities surrounding existing CAFOs, such as better waste management practices.

“We know CAFOs aren’t going away, but there are many ways to make it safer,” says Tommy Hexter, Policy Director at Iowa Farmers Union. “Unfortunately, what is in the best interest of the food industry is not always what is in the best interest of farmers’ health…and [farmers] don’t feel they can speak out without fear of retribution.”

IEC also advocates for higher standards for CAFOs, including stronger rules to prevent externalized pollution—both in the air and water—and education for hog farmers and pork consumers. But activists agree that changes to the U.S. Farm Bill, which expired in September 2025, are critical to address these complex challenges and public health impacts.

“Our current Farm Bill incentivizes a particular kind of farming, commodity farming, corn and soybeans,” says Hexter. “We know that farmers need certain tools in order to continue farming in the modern system, but we need to incentivize them to make these systems of farming safe.”

Hexter thinks Iowa can help alleviate the public health impact of industrialized farming by strengthening regional food systems and supporting small-scale farms, local food purchasing programs, and local food markets.

“One of the biggest sayings you’ll hear in Iowa is ‘we are feeding the world.’ I don’t think that Iowa needs to feed the world anymore–it’s done more harm than good,” says Hexter. “We can regionalize again, with robust networks of food hubs and farmers working at multiple scales.”

Gilbert himself represents this vision for a more balanced food system: Since the 1990s, he has raised hogs with Niman Ranch, a network of more than 600 small to mid-sized, independent U.S. family farmers and ranchers. Gilbert and his peers uphold high standards of sustainable and humane farming practices in exchange for a stable, premium market for their hogs. In other words, they have the financial stability to produce fewer hogs in a way that is healthy for animals, the environment, and consumers, strengthening regional food systems and promoting more sustainable nutrient management.

Gilbert says that communities across the U.S.—not only in Iowa—should advocate for agricultural policies that incentivize this way of farming. More sustainable practices can promote soil health and, in turn, environmental and human health.

“Confinements are just one part of the structural problems we have in Iowa and the country altogether,” says Gilbert. “People don’t understand the direct link between our farm policy in Washington, D.C., and the health of the soil.”

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Photo courtesy of Don McCulley, Wikimedia Commons

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The Federal Government Shutdown Ends

Earlier this week, eight members of the Senate Democratic Caucus sided with Republican colleagues by voting to reopen the government and end the longest shutdown in U.S. history. On Wednesday, the House passed the spending package, sending it to President Donald Trump, who quickly signed it into law.

Prior to the end of the shutdown, several states including New York, Delaware, Rhode Island, Virginia and Maryland allocated funding to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs. Most states announced that residents enrolled in the program will receive their November benefits by the end of the week, but households in states such as Louisiana and Kentucky may have to wait a bit longer until all benefits are issued in full.

The end of the shutdown also came with an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill for another year.

COP30 Opens in Brazil as Food, Climate, and Finance Take Center Stage

The 2025 U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP30) opened this week in Belém, Brazil, where food systems, forest protection, climate finance, and agricultural adaptation are emerging as central themes. “Your job here is to fight this climate crisis, together,” U.N. Climate Chief Simon Stiell urged delegates during the opening session.

Ahead of the summit, 43 countries and the European Union adopted the Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty, and Human-Centered Climate Action, calling for a shift in how the international community addresses the climate crisis and recognizing that the world’s poorest communities often bear the brunt of its impacts. The declaration highlights a shift toward adaptation-focused finance. As Raj Patel of IPES-Food notes, “Brazil’s recent history proves that when governments back family farmers and prioritise social policies, hunger falls.”

The Brazilian COP30 Presidency also launched the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), designed to provide long-term, predictable funding for tropical forest protection. Brazil, Indonesia, Norway, and Portugal made initial pledges toward the initiative’s US$125 billion target. Food and agriculture action continued with the U.N. Environment Programme’s Food Waste Breakthrough, a four-year, US$3 million initiative to help cities halve food waste and cut methane emissions. The effort aims to tackle “the unforgiveable amount of food” wasted globally each year, says Executive Director Inger Andersen.

Separately, Italy announced it is joining the Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformations, committing to integrate climate action, nutrition, livelihoods, biodiversity, and mitigation across food systems policy. And Ethiopia is set to host COP32 in 2027, signaling increasing engagement from African nations in global climate and food negotiations.

Subscribe here to receive Food Tank’s special daily newsletter series throughout COP30, sharing on-the-ground updates and key developments from Belém. And see Food Tank’s first daily dispatches HERE and HERE, with reporting from week one of the Conference.

UNHCR Warns 250 Million Displaced by Climate Disasters, Urges Urgent Climate Finance Reform

A new report from the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR), No Escape II: The Way Forward, reveals that climate-related disasters have forcibly displaced 250 million people over the past decade—equivalent to 70,000 people every day. Floods, storms, droughts, and extreme heat are driving increasingly severe humanitarian crises, with 150 record-breaking weather events recorded in 2024 alone.

The report finds that climate impacts are compounding conflict, deepening poverty, and threatening food and water security through desertification, rising sea levels, and ecosystem collapse. By mid-2025, 86 million displaced people were living in areas facing high to extreme exposure to climate hazards, with many of the world’s largest refugee settlements located in zones of intense heat and flooding.

UNHCR warns that climate finance is failing to reach those most in need. Extremely fragile states receive just US$2 per person per year in adaptation funding, compared with more than US$160 per person in stable countries. “If we want stability, we must invest where people are most at risk,” said Filippo Grandi, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. “To prevent further displacement, climate financing needs to reach the communities already living on the edge.”

UNHCR urges governments and donors to bridge the growing gap between rhetoric and reality—“not with words, but with firm will, solidarity, and sustained climate action.”

China Ends Ban on U.S. Soybean Imports Following Trump-Xi Summit

China has lifted its months-long suspension on U.S. soybean imports, reopening its market to American farmers for the first time since the spring. The decision, which restores import licenses for three major U.S. exporters, follows last week’s trade summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

As part of the agreement, Beijing pledged to buy at least 12 million tons of U.S. soybeans before year-end, with purchases expected to rise to 25 million tons annually over the next three years. The move marks a key step in restoring agricultural trade between the world’s two largest economies, which has been strained by years of tariffs and retaliatory restrictions.

Chinese buyers have already booked 120,000 tons of U.S. wheat and a shipment of sorghum—their first in a year—after Beijing confirmed it had suspended additional retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, including farm goods. However, a 13 percent tariff still applies to soybean imports, making U.S. shipments less competitive than cheaper Brazilian cargoes.

While the White House hailed the deal as a win for American agriculture, many U.S. farmers remain cautious. Two producers in West Tennessee told CBS that they expect to lose a combined US$800,000 this year despite the policy shift, reflecting years of high costs, low prices, and lingering debt. “It will help pay some bills, but that’s not fixing the problem,” says farmer Franklin Carmack, noting that farmers “can’t wait this out”.

Others remain hopeful. Missouri farmer Brent Foreman says he trusts the administration’s approach: “I think he’s tryin’ to make us the best deal he can—for the whole country, but for the American farmer, for the long term”.

East Africa Takes Steps to Boost Agroecology Through Regional Trade Commitments

The East African Community (EAC) is stepping up efforts to strengthen agroecological cross-border trade across its eight member states. A regional conference in Jinja, Uganda, concluded with the Jinja Declaration on Advancing Cross-Border Trade for Agroecological Produce, a landmark commitment to promote trade grounded in justice, sustainability, and ecological integrity.

The declaration urges governments to remove non-tariff barriers, improve market infrastructure, and harmonize agricultural and trade policies to benefit smallholder farmers, women, youth, and Indigenous communities. “Every stakeholder has a responsibility to ensure accelerated regional economic growth through agroecology,” says Dr. Million Belay, General Coordinator of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA).

The resolutions call for investment in cold storage, transport networks, and border facilities to strengthen supply chains and reduce post-harvest losses. They also emphasized expanding Participatory Guarantee Systems and traceability mechanisms to build consumer trust in sustainably produced goods. The commitments stress gender equity, financial inclusion, and capacity building for producers and traders while recognizing the vital role of traditional knowledge and biodiversity in regional food systems.

AFSA noted that the initiative goes beyond economic reform, describing it as a moral and ecological imperative for Africa’s sustainable future.

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Photo courtesy of Phoenix Han, Unsplash

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We’re on the ground here at the 30th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP30, where tens of thousands of governmental, civil society, and private sector leaders and advocates are gathering for a two-week period that could be make-or-break for food systems and climate solutions.

COP30 officially began Monday, and things have been off to a slow but steady start here.

As we know, there’s a lot of work to do. Following two consecutive years of record-high global temperatures—along with continuing challenges surrounding emissions levels, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and more—negotiators at COP30 need to get serious about protecting communities from the impacts of runaway climate change, scaling up creative climate solutions, and holding nations accountable to contribute financial resources.

Last week before the official start of COP30, leaders from 43 countries and the European Union adopted the Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty and Human-Centered Climate Action. The declaration calls for climate financing to be rebalanced to, yes, still maintain mitigation efforts, but also significantly scale up investment in adaptation—in strengthening communities’ welfare and resiliency in an irreversibly changing world.

In other words: Finally, we’re seeing what it looks like for global climate diplomacy to grapple with the effects of climate change on people and communities, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable. There are no climate solutions without climate justice.

The declaration was spearheaded by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who also oversaw his country lift 40 million people out of food insecurity over the past two years by centering family farmers and food access in national hunger policy.

“Brazil’s recent history proves that when governments back family farmers and prioritise social policies, hunger falls. It’s good to see this politics reflected in the Belém Declaration, which signals a welcome shift—from shiny climate pledges to real-world impact on people,” says Raj Patel, an IPES-Food panel expert, author, filmmaker, and researcher.

Reading through the Belém Declaration, I was pleased to see that within each subject are several specific action items for countries to consider adopting. It is also interesting to see China, a signatory to the declaration, continuing to step up its climate action while other large emitters like the United States, India, and Russia did not join the declaration.

(In fact, the U.S., along with Afghanistan, Myanmar and San Marino, are the only countries not to register a delegation here at COP30, which is truly a shameful abdication of responsibility.)

I think Raj is right, but I want to push back just a little: In my view, the Belém Declaration still does feel like a pledge; just a better one. What we actually need to see—desperately!—is investment. Action. Countries need to put their money where their mouths are.

Or, we just have to stop holding our breath! We’ve seen time and time again that many rich countries, especially the U.S. in recent years, are increasingly unwilling to pay their fair share. So maybe it’s time that we roll up our sleeves and get the work done ourselves.

A very interesting high-level climate finance report that just came out yesterday outlines “a comprehensive and feasible pathway” for developing nations to themselves mobilize the approximately US$3.2 trillion-per-year investment they need by 2035 to meet climate and development goals.

It’s not easy, of course, and we’ll need other stakeholders—like The Rockefeller Foundation, which just announced yesterday that they’ll invest US$5.4 million to support regenerative ecosystems connected to Brazil’s school meal programs—to step forward.

But a better, more equitable, more nourished world is possible. And COP30 is a crucial step toward building that world. So let’s keep our eyes on Belém over the next week and a half.

News Stories/Reports I’m Reading Today:

• Food at COP: Trojan Horse for Climate Action — Here at Food Tank, Fabrício Muriana, a Brazilian agroecology organizer, analyzes the impact of the meals served to attendees at COP30, a percentage of which is local or sourced from family farms and Indigenous producers.”
• No Escape II – The Way Forward — In a new report, the United Nations’ Refugee Agency (UNHCR), puts forth four powerful calls-to-action linking climate action with the need to support people displaced by conflict.”
• Mapped: Big Food’s Routes to Influence at COP30 — Investigative research from DeSmog pulls the curtain back on the tactics that industrial food corporations are using to preserve their environmentally destructive business practices.
• Emissions Gap Report 2025: Off Target — With new numbers, the U.N. Environment Programme finds that the climate pledges countries have made under the Paris Agreement have not been anywhere near sufficient to make meaningful progress.
• Embrace ‘Blue’ Foods as a Climate Strategy at COP30, Fisheries Ministers Say — Mongabay published a call from Brazil and Portugal’s respective fisheries/maritime ministers, reminding us how vital aquaculture will be toward climate solutions.

Powerful Quotes From Recent Discussions:

• “How long are we going to stand by and keep turning the thermostat up so that these sort of events get even worse? We need to adapt as well as mitigate, but we also need to be realistic that if we allow this insanity to continue, to use the sky as an open sewer, that some things will be very difficult to adapt to.” — Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore (via The Guardian)
• “Without financing, food systems transformation is impossible.” — Khaled Eltaweel, Senior Programme Officer, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub

Ways To Take Action:

Follow Local Progress

• via Methane Action Tracker — Learn how your country is making progress to address emissions from livestock and see how your supermarket and favorite dairy and coffee companies are taking action—helping you shop with climate action in mind.

Use Data to Learn

• via University of Leeds — Using new research just published this year, a team of researchers have created a fascinating interactive mapping tool to visualize how tropical deforestation is pushing local temperatures higher.

Keep Tabs on COP30

• via Carbon Brief — Check out this overview of COP30 parties’ positions and priorities to get a lay of the land when it comes to negotiations.

Add This to Your Calendar:

9:30AM–10:30AM [7:30AM–8:30AM ET]:A Food Waste Breakthrough for Climate, Biodiversity, and Equitable, Resilient Cities. @ Axis 4 Thematic Room, Action Agenda Space, Blue Zone: A Food Waste Breakthrough for Climate, Biodiversity, and Equitable, Resilient Cities.

The event marks the official global launch of the five-year Food Waste Breakthrough framework to accelerate interlinked action on food waste, methane mitigation, food security, and resilient urban systems. This in-person event is organized by our friends at UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Climate High-Level Champions, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and the Global FoodBanking Network.

Food Tank’s official programming kicks off tomorrow, November 14! 

At 1:00PM in Belém, we’re hosting “Biodiversity + Soil,” a plenary session highlighting the vital links between regenerative soil stewardship and climate action. Speakers include Sieg Snapp, Michigan State University, CGIAR; Marcela Quintero, CGIAR; Patrick Holden, The Sustainable Food Trust; Eske Willerslev, University of Copenhagen; and Rosinah Mbenya, PELUM Kenya.

Then, at 3:00PM, we’ll continue discussing climate adaptation through soil health in our session “Living Soil, Thriving Planet: Achieving Climate Mitigation and Adaptation goals through Soil Health,” with speakers including Hunter Lovins, Nat Cap Solutions; Merijn Dols, Soil4Climate; and Abdul Aziz, Minister of Environment from Uzbekistan.

At 6:30PM tomorrow night, Food Tank and partners are hosting a UNFCCC Official Side Event, “Nourishing Climate Action: Policy Tools for Climate-Aligned and Resilient Food Systems,” a collaborative discussion with city, national, and global leaders to explore policy tools around food and climate.

We’ll be joined in the evening by speakers including Rodrigo José Abreu dos Santos, Technical Operations Coordinator, Rio de Janeiro’s Secretary of Education; Ivan Euler, Salvador Secretary of Sustainability, Resilience, Well-being, and Animal Protection; Dr. Christopher Browne, CIWF; Duda Salabert, Brazilian Federal Parliamentary Representative from Minas Gerais; Stephanie Maw, ProVeg.

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here. 

Photo courtesy of Lula Oficial

The post Dispatch from COP30: Thursday, Nov. 13 appeared first on Food Tank.

At the meeting, we were debating how to protect the most precious, biodiverse biomes in the whole world, yet the only food choices available were likely accelerating their destruction.

“Why shouldn’t we serve food from our farms?” asked my colleague, an Amazonian farmer who also runs a catering business. It was then and there, some of us decided that COP had to be different.

At Instituto Regenera, we work to create markets in Brazil for agroecological farmers, for food that is cultivated without pesticides, that improves soil health, promotes diversity and enhances biodiversity protection. We saw COP30 as an incredible opportunity to serve food directly from local farmers to our international guests. This would not only boost livelihoods but also present climate solutions on a plate.

In February, the Brazilian government announced that 30 percent of food served at COP30 will be sourced from family farms, Indigenous producers, and agroecology cooperatives. We calculated that this will generate at least $600,000 for these farmers. On top of that, 30 percent of the restaurants will be local. This was welcome news for the farmer-run catering services.

Inside the Blue Zone at COP30—where the technical negotiations and high-level plenaries take place— there will be restaurants run by Indo-Amazonian farmers and Indigenous producers, all serving locally grown food from agroecological farms. The largest catering operation at COP is a network of agroecological farmers across Brazil, with profits invested back into communities with a multiplier effect.

But it’s more than just the money. By bringing in farmers as chefs, servers and community leaders into the same space as leaders and negotiators, we’re elevating a new and different conversation at COP. It’s a literal Trojan horse for a different dialogue on food. It’s a chance for them to make the link between what we eat and how this connects to climate change.

Food systems contribute nearly a third to greenhouse gas emissions annually and account for 15 percent of fossil fuel use yearly. Food producers—small-holder farmers, traditional fishers, and pastoralists—are on the frontlines of increasingly deadly climate impacts. Food is slowly rising up on the climate agenda. There is now a dedicated Food Day and a Food and Agriculture pavilion, but the climate negotiations must take into consideration the full spectrum of transforming fossil-fuel-dependent, industrialized food systems.

We also want to remind attendees that food is more than its emissions. It’s a celebration, a way of protecting rainforests and connecting to each other, storing carbon and a source of livelihoods. By tasting the star-shaped Carambola fruit, we can talk about how its small, pink flowers attract pollinators and hummingbirds throughout the year, and how its wide canopy regulates microclimates and helps reduce soil erosion.

Or how the cacao grown in agroforestry systems under shade, simmered into the earthy stew at COP, stores carbon, preserves forest biodiversity, and buffers temperature extremes.

Far from the high-level negotiations, this is a direct, tangible line to how food is a climate solution for leaders at COP, and not merely a source of emissions.

What’s more, this experience will allow us to see the barriers and risks for smallholder farmers when we create markets. It’s not glamorous, analyzing bottlenecks over storage and transport, farmers’ access to credit, but it’s what food systems transformation looks like on the ground. It will be challenging, but we will learn lots of lessons as we try to serve 200 people at a time and navigate COP’s complicated logistics.

Food doesn’t always have a good reputation at COP; the long lines, expensive fare and normally ultra-processed choices are a source of frustration. At COP30, food will no longer be an afterthought—it will be a statement. Every plate will tell a story of soil regenerating, farmers thriving, and forests standing tall.

“At COP30, food won’t just be served—it will be a statement. Every plate will tell a story: of soil regenerating, farmers thriving, and forests standing tall. If we want climate action to be real, we need to start where it all begins—with food.”

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

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The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that bans the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) by food vendors while also discouraging the sale and use of EPS products in other industries. Violators will be subject to a civil penalty of US$50 per day of violation.

Styrofoam, the trademarked name for EPS products, can be found in food establishments in the form of disposable cups, plates, and clamshell containers. The material is processed benzene which is derived from non-renewable fossil fuel and found to be a human carcinogen, according to a systematic review published in the journal Cancers.

“EPS is especially harmful in the environment because as soon as it enters the environment it begins to break up into smaller and smaller pieces which are nearly impossible to completely clean up,” Zach Huntington, Marine Debris Strategy Director at Clean Virginia Waterways (CVW) tells Food Tank.

CVW works with the Ocean Conservancy to organize the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) in Virginia. In the last three years, volunteers have collected between 14,000 to 28,000 plastic or foam pieces.

“Despite public outreach and education, we’re not seeing less of this insidious pollutant in the wild, we’re seeing more of it. It is consistently one of the top four items found at cleanups along with beverage containers, cigarette butts, and food wrappers,” Huntington explains.

Huntington sees the ban as a positive source reduction policy and supports producing less single-use plastics. “We cannot recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis,” he tells Food Tank.

CVW will continue to collect data through volunteer-led efforts of ICC, as well as leading a pilot program tracking small businesses shift to reusable products, and by publishing an upcoming report on 11 years of systematic balloon and marine debris monitoring.

According to a statement from CVW, The Virginia Green Travel program has certified and recognized over 300 Virginia restaurants for their commitments to the environment, which requires the elimination of EPS products even before the ban went into effect.

Chik-fil-a, a national chain restaurant recently transitioned away from EPS packaging. But some small business owners are worried about the cost of transition and lack of financial support from the state. Eric Terry, President of the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association tells Food Tank that one of the multi-unit operators in the association is estimating the cost to be US$30,000 to US$40,000 a year more to cover alternate food containers.

Terry also fears that small business owners will not be affected evenly, with restaurants accustomed to relying more on polystyrene packaging bearing the biggest brunt. “They’re going to struggle more than almost anybody else to try to implement this,” he tells Food Tank.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality lists information for food vendors on how to make the transition to alternative food packages. But Terry would like to see financial assistance from the state, like tax credits for businesses to ease them into the transition – something the general assembly did not offer.

While the legislation makes it clear that civil penalties in the form of fines will be issued for violating the ban, it is less clear how the ban will be enforced. Terry tells Food Tank that the enforcement of the ban will be done locally (by city, county, or town), which may result in a “patchwork of enforcement.”

But eaters seem to support these bans. A public perception survey conducted by CVW with Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program and OpinionWorks. It finds a majority of people support for policies like the EPS ban.

Data from Ocean Conservancy highlights the positive impacts these bans have had in Washington D.C. and Maryland, the earliest adopters of bans in the U.S. Their research, based on data from ICC, shows a 95 percent and 65 percent decrease, respectively.

“As global plastic production continues to increase it is increasingly important that Virginia takes proactive measures to protect economic, human, and environmental health and there is bipartisan agreement in the Commonwealth to make that happen,” Huntington tells Food Tank.

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Photo courtesy of Caleb Lucas, Unsplash

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Ozempic first emerged in the marketplace in 2017 as a diabetes medication. Since its development, doctors have prescribed GLP-1s as a tool to manage obesity because of its ability to reduce intense cravings and resulting weight loss.

Laura A. Schmidt, lead researcher on the new paper published in Issues on Ozempic, tells Food Tank that she sees similarities between ultra-processed, hyper-palatable foods and substances like alcohol and tobacco. She states that for at least a portion of the population, “these foods, which we know from industry research, are designed to be addictive.”

Schmidt, a Professor of health policy at the University of California San Francisco’s School of Medicine, sought to understand why evidence-based prevention policies like warning labels and soda taxes were not more widely adopted. She and her colleagues found that “a lot of it came down to the narrative, our cultural beliefs” around obesity, Schmidt explains, noting it’s commonly believed that “if you’re obese, it’s your own fault.”

Schmidt says this narrative has been financed by the powerful food industry. As an example, she points to the images of young athletes drinking Coca-Cola. She argues that the imagery implies that these young, healthy people can drink soda without problems and the same should be true for every eater.

This framing reminds Schmidt of the tobacco industry which denied the addictive qualities of nicotine into the 1990s. Drawing a parallel to ultra-processed foods, she tells Food Tank, “if a product hasn’t been socially defined as addictive, it might be harder for an individual to realize” Schmidt tells Food Tank.

GLP-1s can also suppress cravings for ultra-processed foods as well as addictive substances including nicotine, alcohol, and cocaine. According to Ashley Gearhardt, Professor of Psychology and Clinical Science Area Chair at University of Michigan, tells Food Tank that this further supports the idea that these drugs “offer a striking pharmacological validation of the model that ultra-processed foods hijack brain reward systems.”

Gearhardt, who is not involved in the recent study, sees GLP-1s as “helping to reset dysregulated reward pathways” for people. They have the power to act as “a chemical defense against how effectively the modern food system has exploited our biology,” she says.

GLP-1s have already helped shift the conversation away from personal failure and toward biology, according to Gearhardt. But she warns that there is still a risk of “reinforcing a hyper-medicalized model where the solution is always pharmacological.” She believes that “structural accountability” is most important. “Public health requires protecting everyone, and that means going upstream to change the system itself.”

Dariush Mozaffarian, Director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University puts these systemic challenges into perspective. “When you have three out of four adults with overweight or obesity and half of adults with diabetes and pre-diabetes, you know the system is broken,” he tells Food Tank. This isn’t any longer a problem of individual behavior.”

Mozaffarian does not believe food meets the criteria of addiction for most people. But he says that drugs like Ozempic do reveal that there is “dysregulated” signaling in the brain, suggesting that preferences for ultra-processed foods have become altered from humans’ natural evolutionary drive for whole foods. The problem isn’t that eaters aren’t consuming enough healthy foods, he tells Food Tank, but that they are consuming “too many unhealthy and ultra-processed foods.”

But GLP-1s alone can’t solve the problem, Mozaffarian says, pointing to the financial barrier preventing mass adoption of the drug. He explains that if every American qualified to be on GLP-1s—around 100 million people—opted for them, this could double the current spending on all prescription drugs combined.

Mozaffarian instead hopes to see this class of drugs bring more attention to the importance of good nutrition. Programs like medically tailored meals or produce prescription boxes offer ways for eaters to access healthier foods that might otherwise be unobtainable. “A broken system needs systems solutions,” he tells Food Tank.

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of Brad, Unsplash

The post How Obesity and GLP-1s Are Reshaping Food and Public Health appeared first on Food Tank.

The word broken has become shorthand for many of the crises of our time: climate change, biodiversity collapse, global trade dysfunction, and strained health systems. But the food system is not just caught up in these converging crises—it sits at their center. Hunger and malnutrition continue to rise, development aid is being slashed, and food is increasingly being weaponized in wars and conflicts. The Right to Food remains under constant threat.

FAO has struggled to mount a coherent international response. Its original mandate has been fragmented across multiple agencies. Internal reviews have failed to confront structural inefficiencies. Key functions are now duplicated, diluted, or lost in institutional overlap. Corporate partnerships with agrochemical and agribusiness companies have raised concerns about conflicts of interest, undermining FAO’s independence and credibility, and blurring the line between its public mandate and private-sector influence.

If FAO is to claim a meaningful role in shaping food system transformation, deep and far-reaching reform is essential.

It’s encouraging, then, to see FAO’s Council Chair, Hans Hoogeveen, initiate a full organizational review to ensure that FAO “becomes fit for purpose” in the challenging decades ahead. An initial evaluation is expected in December 2025, with a two-year process culminating at the 2027 FAO Conference. As part of this, member states will establish working groups to explore key areas where reform is most urgently needed.

Reform takes time. But one thing is clear: this cannot be just another internal review. Like many U.N. bodies, FAO already has an Office of Evaluation. But its reviews rarely assess how effectively agencies work together—or whether their mandates overlap. That’s a serious omission.

Since the 1970s, the original scope of FAO’s work has splintered across several agencies—including the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Each of these now runs its own programs, governance, and fundraising—often with overlapping goals and competition over the same resources.

Over time, these bodies have expanded far beyond their original roles. CGIAR, for example, has moved from crop and livestock research into economic policy, rural development, and community-based programs—rebuilding tools and capabilities that already existed in FAO. The same is true for IFAD and WFP. This mission creep means that several agencies are now operating in the same policy spaces, duplicating functions, fragmenting responsibilities, and creating confusion about who is ultimately accountable for what.

Worse still, past attempts at reform have failed. Since the 1990s, CGIAR has been through near-constant restructuring—without ever re-examining its relationship with the U.N. food agencies. The latest overhaul led to scandals, senior resignations, and allegations of millions of dollars in wasted costs, while up to 40 percent of its budget goes to administration and fundraising.

The problem extends well beyond CGIAR. IPES-Food’s Long Food Movement report, estimated that up to US$1 billion could be saved by reducing redundancies and improving collaboration between U.N. food agencies. One of the new working groups should review how mandates are shared—and where better alignment could reduce costs and improve outcomes.

But the FAO review must go further than institutional housekeeping. It should examine how effectively FAO is fulfilling its normative role—facilitating international regulatory agreements on trade, finance, pricing, food aid—and whether these efforts genuinely advance food sovereignty and the Right to Food. 

Just as crucially, the review must confront FAO’s growing partnerships with agrochemical and agribusiness companies—and ask whether these align with its public mandate—or undermine it.

There are also opportunities to build on existing cooperation. Over the past 30 years, FAO, WFP, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food have quietly worked to uphold food rights in global trade talks. Often sidelined and criticized by some states, their persistence has earned respect—and shown what joint action can achieve.

The success of this review process will hinge on who gets a seat at the table. Member states and the FAO Secretariat must open the door to broader participation—including civil society voices through the Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples’ Mechanism, and the U.N. Inter-Agency body covering food and agriculture across 30 U.N. entities. These perspectives are essential to set the right terms of reference – and to ensure reform tackles the root problems, not just the symptoms.

Yes, institutional overhaul is difficult, especially when multilateralism is in retreat and development aid is drying up. But that is no excuse for inertia. The working groups should take inspiration from the inclusive reform of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) 15 years ago—a process that showed how shared ownership and public accountability can reinvigorate global governance (though which must now be revived).

As FAO marks its 80th anniversary, this review may be the best—and last—chance to get it right. If it fails, the cost won’t just be institutional. It will be measured in lives lost to hunger, and food systems left to the chaos of the growing crises they must now confront.

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Food is deeply personal. That’s what so many of us love about it: What we eat is directly linked to our daily social lives and economic livelihoods, our family traditions, and our cultural values. But this truth also means we cannot ignore politics, because food makes politics into something inescapably personal.

Because Food Tankers put food and agriculture systems front-and-center, we cannot afford to tune out what’s happening in legislatures and Capitol buildings, even during federal budget negotiations or shutdowns. Tense political debates hit close to home when they force us to question whether parents can afford to feed their families; how climate change will hurt farmers’ livelihoods; whether students can access nourishing school meals; or whether health care systems will be able to truly care for us.

That’s why now feels more urgent than ever to convene our inaugural annual Food and Agriculture Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., alongside the Global Food Institute at GW, the Culinary Institute of America, and acclaimed chef José Andrés and in collaboration with Driscoll’s, Meatable, and Oatly, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, and Instacart.

The Summit is on October 28, and you can find more info HERE and plan to join via livestream HERE.

“Food is so much more than the calories we eat. It’s about creating empowerment, strengthening communities, and building a better future,” says chef José Andrés, Founder of the Global Food Institute at GW. “Now is the moment to be building longer tables where we put food at the center of solving our greatest challenges.”

We’re going to explore practical and actionable policy ideas focused on driving change through procurement, industry innovation, nutrition as health, climate resilience, addressing food loss and waste, reimagining global food aid, and much more.

Following a welcome performance by acclaimed Cuban-American actress and singer Ana Villafañe, we’ll be joined by a lineup of speakers and facilitators including: Casey Aden-Wansbury, Instacart; José Andrés, World Central Kitchen; Allison Aubrey, National Public Radio; Mchezaji “Che” Axum, University of the District of Columbia; Christa Barfield, FarmerJawn; Charlie Basa, George Washington University; Jackie Bertoldo, Eat Better by Design; Marcia Brown, Politico; U.S. Congresswoman Shontel Brown; Shante Bullock, DC Central Kitchen; U.S Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski; Hank Cardello, Georgetown University’s Business for Impact; Tim Carman, The Washington Post; Zacharey Carmichael, World Bank; Stacy Dean, Global Food Institute at GW; Jenet DeCosta, Driscoll’s; Leah Douglas, Reuters; Jennifer Duck, Novo Nordisk; Tope Fajingbesi, Dodo Farms; Abby Fammartino, Culinary Institute of America; Sara Fletcher, Oatly North America; Bruce Friedrich, The Good Food Institute; Maria Godoy, NPR Science; Ellen M. Granberg, The George Washington University; Gladys Harvey, Meals on Wheels Recipient; Robert E. Jones, Culinary Institute of America; Tami Luhby, CNN; Lauren Lumpkin, The Washington Post; Gerardo Martinez, Wild Kid Acres; Anne McBride, James Beard Foundation; U.S Congressman Jim McGovern; Dariush Mozaffarian, Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University; Anna Nelson, Food Security Leadership Council; Marion Nestle, New York University; Julie Anna Potts, Meat Institute; Shaun Sawko, Fairfax County Public Schools; Frank Sesno, Former CNN Correspondent; Chloe Sorvino, Forbes; Roy Steiner, The Rockefeller Foundation; Amanda Stephenson, The Fresh Food Factory; Johan Swinnen, International Food Policy Research Institute; Jason Tepper, Alexandria City Public Schools; Michael W. Twitty, James Beard Award-winning culinary historian; Johanna Hellrigl Wilder, Ama; Kia Williams, Shaleafa’s Kitchen; Katie Wilson, Urban School Food Alliance; and Raigon Wilson, Garfield Elementary School.

You can find more info—and learn how to register for tickets or join virtually from your home community—by CLICKING HERE.

We’re bringing together chefs, farmers, elected officials, economists, business leaders, doctors, journalists, and other experts. We’re not all on the same side of the political aisle. We won’t agree all the time—and that’s the point. Durable, positive, long-lasting food systems transformation requires us to come together, find common ground and shared goals, and work in good faith to nourish our communities.

Food policy questions are not hypothetical, they shape our lives—which is why we need to replace abstract, partisan-talking-point-filled debates with productive, action-oriented dialogue.

Need some ideas for where to start, or success stories for inspiration? Check out “Growing Forward,” an editorial series presented alongside the Global Food Institute. Each week, we spotlight innovative approaches to the most pressing food and ag challenges, in stories told by thought leaders and on-the-ground advocates who are building a better food system day in and day out.

So read an article, grab a ticket for the Food and Agriculture Policy Summit or join us via livestream, and let’s get to work!

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Federal Shutdown Jeopardizes SNAP Benefits for 42 Million

As the U.S. government shutdown continues, concerns are growing that nutrition assistance benefits currently provided to around 42 million people under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may soon disappear.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently announced that if the shutdown continues, SNAP benefits will not be issued for November. “We’re going to run out of money in two weeks,” she said during a press briefing. Many states already warned that benefits may be delayed or suspended if the shutdown is not resolved.

Crystal FitzSimons, President of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), describes SNAP as a lifeline supporting health and food dignity. According to Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, if SNAP shuts down, the U.S. will face the most mass hunger suffering since the Great Depression.

The USDA has a contingency fund that allows the agency to use emergency reserves to maintain operations. While the contingency reserves would not cover the full amount needed, the agency could legally transfer additional funds, as they’ve done for the WIC nutrition program according to Katie Bergh, a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

FRAC argues the shortfall is a policy choice. “Allowing hunger to deepen during a shutdown is not an inevitability,” says Gina Plata-Nino, FRAC’s Interim SNAP Director. She notes that previous administrations maintained SNAP during past shutdowns in 2013, 2018–19, and 2023 using carryover funds and short-term budget measures.

Obesity Rate Declines in U.S. States for First Time in a Decade

For the first time in more than a decade, the number of U.S. states with adult obesity rates of 35 percent or higher has declined. According to the State of Obesity 2025 report from Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), 19 states reached that threshold in 2024—down from 23 the year before.

“It’s too soon to call it a trend,” said Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, President and CEO of TFAH. While the drop is encouraging, she warned the progress is fragile and under threat due to recent federal funding cuts, layoffs of chronic disease prevention staff, and limited access to nutrition support.

Obesity continues to affect Black and Latino adults, rural communities, and low-income groups at higher rates—populations with limited access to affordable healthy food and safe spaces for physical activity. Childhood obesity is also rising, with 21 percent of U.S. children and adolescents affected.

TFAH warns that the president’s FY2026 budget proposal would eliminate the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, which funds many local obesity prevention programs. The report urges lawmakers to restore funding and expand support for proven public health interventions.

“It is vital that government and other sectors invest in — not cut — proven programs that support good nutrition and physical activity,” Gracia says.

Scientists Warn of Irreversible Climate Tipping Points

Rising greenhouse gas emissions have pushed the planet past a critical threshold, according to a new Global Tipping Points report authored by 160 researchers from 23 countries.

The report finds that warm-water coral reefs are headed toward irreversible decline. In the past two years alone, marine heatwaves have stressed 84 percent of coral reefs to the point of bleaching or death, according to the International Coral Reef Initiative. Coral reefs are home to roughly 25 percent of all marine species, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, making them as biodiverse as tropical rainforests.

The report also warns that Earth is nearing several other major tipping points, including the collapse of the Amazon rainforest, disruption of major ocean currents, and the loss of polar ice sheets.

While the findings are stark, the authors note that the same science identifying ecological tipping points also points to “extraordinary potential” for positive change. Triggering so-called “positive tipping points” in food and fiber supply chains, for example, could halt deforestation and ecosystem conversion.

The researchers say such shifts are possible at a global scale—with strong policy signals, enforcement, coordination across supply chains and markets, and investment to help farmers transition to more sustainable practices. “The race is on to bring forward these positive tipping points to avoid what we are now sure will be the unmanageable consequences of further tipping points in the Earth system,” says lead author Tim Lenton.

U.N. Climate Chief Urges Urgent Adaptation Finance

At the recent launch of the National Adaptation Plans Progress Report, U.N. Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell called for immediate financing to support global climate adaptation. Speaking from Brasília, he emphasized: “Finance must flow right now.”

National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) outline countries’ medium- and long-term responses to climate risks. Stiell reports that nearly all developing countries are working on their plans, with 67—including 23 Least Developed Countries and 14 Small Island Developing States—already submitted to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The report highlights growing integration of adaptation into national development strategies and increased engagement across sectors, including women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and the private sector.

But Stiell warns that progress is too slow, primarily due to funding shortfalls. He cited burdensome approval processes, fragmented support, and overreliance on external expertise. “Investors and financial institutions can no longer say they don’t know where or how to invest in adaptation,” he said. “These plans make it clear.”

Looking ahead to COP30 in November, Stiell said adaptation will be central—particularly efforts to close the finance gap and mobilize a US$1.3 trillion roadmap. He stressed that climate finance is not charity, but vital to global economic stability, food systems, and supply chains. “Before this report, we faced two adaptation challenges: direction and speed,” Stiell said. “Now there’s just one. We know where to go—now we need to get there faster.”

Nestlé to Cut 16,000 Jobs in Global Restructuring Effort

Nestlé, the world’s largest food company, recently announced plans to eliminate 16,000 jobs globally over the next two years as part of a cost-cutting strategy. The cuts represent about 6 percent of the company’s workforce.

Roughly 12,000 white-collar positions will be eliminated, with an additional 4,000 jobs impacted in manufacturing and supply chain operations. The company says the changes aim to increase operational efficiency and leverage automation.

“The world is changing, and Nestlé needs to change faster,” says newly appointed CEO Philipp Navratil in a statement.

Investors responded positively. The Wall Street Journal reports the company’s share value surged following the announcement, marking one of Nestlé’s largest single-day stock gains since 2008.

However, the decision has drawn criticism. In the U.K., Unite, the country’s largest private-sector union, condemned the move. “Nestlé is a profitable company, selling billions of produce every month. Job losses are simply unacceptable,” says Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham.

In the U.S., Nestlé operates 112 plants. It remains unclear how individual facilities will be affected, but facilities in Iowa, Washington, and South Carolina are bracing for possible impact.

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Loss and Damage Fund to Open Call for Proposals at COP30

The Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) will launch its first call for project proposals to provide financial support to vulnerable countries hardest hit by climate impact during COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The call follows the Board’s seventh meeting, where members adopted interim operational procedures to govern funding decisions until permanent rules are finalized.

First agreed upon at COP27 and formally operationalized at COP28, the FRLD aims to support vulnerable communities facing irreversible harm caused by the climate crisis, including sea level rise, extreme weather, and prolonged droughts. In doing so, the FRLD integrates response to loss and damage as a core pillar of climate action, alongside mitigation and adaptation.

According to the Board, US$250 million is currently available for this initial round of funding and Co-Chair Richard Sherman says the Board intends to adopt the first proposals within six months.

Board member Elizabeth Thompson of Barbados is optimistic that the fund will be a real source of support, but points to the growing pressure to match the Fund’s ambitions with available resources. “[T]he need and scale of the crisis far outstrip the monies in the fund to date,” says Thompson.

Governments have pledged approximately US$768 million to the FRLD but around US$400 million has actually been deposited. Once the US$250 million from this funding round is spent, the FRLD will have approximately US$150 million. The FRLD’s estimated funding needs for the year 2025 is around US$395 billion.

Longer-term replenishment planning is expected in 2027, but discussions on how to raise future funds remain unresolved. These debates will continue at the Board’s 10th meeting in October 2026.

Meanwhile, a recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion affirmed that international law requires states to prevent “transboundary environmental harm,” act with precaution, and take due diligence measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. The ICJ confirmed that states violating their international obligations can face a full range of legal consequences.

African Union Commits $100 Million to Transform Agri-Food Systems

The African Union (AU) has adopted a ten-year strategy and action plan to transform Africa’s agri-food systems and improve food security. As part of this effort, the AU has pledged to mobilize US$100 million in public and private sector investment by 2035.

One in five persons in Africa is faced with hunger, according to The National Focal Person for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), Onijighogia Emmanuel. And African continent’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion people by 2050.

The strategy, referred to as the Kampala Declaration, aims to reduce post-harvest losses by 50 percent, triple intra-Africa trade in agrifood products and inputs, and raise the share of locally processed foods to 35 percent of the sector’s GDP by 2035.

The strategy identifies ten key levers of change, including scaling up agroecological practices, strengthening land governance, building resilience to climate change, and increasing intra-Africa trade in agricultural products. It also emphasizes reforms to public procurement systems to benefit small-scale producers, along with expanded support for women and youth in agriculture.

AU leaders stress that successful implementation will require political commitment, national coordination, and inclusive governance. “This strategy cannot succeed unless we break down silos,” says H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment.

Internal Turmoil at the CDC as Layoffs and Reinstatements Unfold

Hundreds of employees at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were recently terminated as part of the Trump Administration’s broader effort to downsize the federal workforce during the ongoing government shutdown. The rollout quickly descended into confusion and prompted legal intervention.

Originally, more than 1,300 CDC staff received notices that their jobs had been eliminated. Many of those affected—already furloughed by the shutdown—learned of their dismissal only after Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought announced on social media that “the RIFs have begun,” referring to reductions in force (RIFs).

The next day, roughly 800 employees received emails revoking their termination notices due to “data discrepancies and processing errors,” according to Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Assistant Secretary Thomas Nagy Jr. in a court filing. HHS acknowledged that nearly half of the 1,760 RIF notices were issued in error but indicated it still planned to proceed with 982 layoffs.

The cuts hit core CDC functions, affecting staff in statistics, chronic disease programs, and units that brief Congress, drawing condemnation and concern from union leaders and public health experts. Yolanda Jacobs, a health communications specialist at CDC and president of AFGE Local 2883, called the firings callous and illegal and argued they threatened public health and workers’ livelihoods. “With the staff cuts we’ve had, with the budget cuts that are proposed, as well as the lack of stable leadership at CDC, the nation is in trouble,” former CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry says.

In 2025, the CDC has lost an estimated 3,000 employees, about a quarter of its workforce, increasing strain on its capacity to monitor public health threats.

Shortly after the layoffs and reinstatements, a federal judge’s order blocked Trump administration officials from “taking any action” to issue RIF notices to employees in any federal program or activity that includes workers represented by the American Federation of Government Employees, the country’s largest federal employees’ union. According to U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, the administration isn’t following legal requirements for conducting RIFs, officials have exceeded their authorities, and the layoffs appear to be unlawfully targeted at Democrats.

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According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, transformed agrifood systems can deliver interconnected benefits for the economy, environment, society, and health. But because progress in one area can create trade-offs, they say that advancing all dimensions through an integrated systems approach is essential.

“Achieving transformative change requires making big changes that cut across multiple sectors…like health and environment and agriculture,” Stella Nordhagen, a Senior Technical Specialist at GAIN, tells Food Tank. But she says it’s far from simple, explaining that policy decisions are “often siloed, with each part of government primarily focusing on its own priorities.”

The Food Systems Policy Coherence Toolkit provides a self-diagnostic tool to help governments understand policy coherence, evaluate it, and develop actions for improvement. The toolkit aims to support countries at all stages of the transformation process. This includes nations just beginning to develop a food systems strategy, those ready for implementation, or those reporting on progress. Publicly available from GAIN’s website, the toolkit includes a user manual, scoring guidelines, and country examples to support effective implementation.

The tool has two parts. The first helps evaluate whether there are structures and mechanisms already in place to support policy coherence, such as cross-sectoral coordination between ministries. The second guides the analysis of current policies to identify synergies and conflicts across six key food system goals: zero hunger, climate resilience, healthy diets, reduced food waste, fair incomes, and women’s empowerment.

This ambition “requires more than isolated efforts; it demands effective, coherent, and well-integrated policies that cut across multiple sectors,” AKADEMIYA2063 Deputy Director of the Department of Capacity and Deployment, Mahamadou Tankari, tells Food Tank.

Tankari says the toolkit collaboration with GAIN aligns well with AKADEMIYA2063’s mission to advance evidence-based policymaking toward Agenda2063—the African Union’s 50-year strategy for inclusive and sustainable development to foster growth, reduce poverty, and boost prosperity. For AKADEMIYA2063, policy alignment in the food and agriculture sectors “is foundational to the livelihoods of millions across [Africa],” he explains.

The toolkit helps governments diagnose misalignments and encourages policymakers to see how their decisions impact not just their own mandates, but those of others as well. According to Nordhagen, raising awareness around policy coherence is “a key first step.”

GAIN and AKADEMIYA2063 piloted the resource in Nigeria, before expanding to eight more countries: Bangladesh, Benin, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, and Tanzania. A key lesson stood out to Nordhagen and Tankari from this process—local engagement is critical.

“Local voices and experiences were central to the development and refinement of the Food Systems Policy Coherence Toolkit,” Tankari tells Food Tank.

Through interviews and workshops, local stakeholders contributed to the tool’s development to ensure that findings are credible and relevant. This participatory approach helps prioritize issues and tailor recommendations to fit existing structures, fostering ownership and collaboration across agencies.

National stakeholders, including government and technical experts, were also closely involved in the testing providing feedback on the toolkit’s structure and content. Tankari shares, “this input was not treated as peripheral; rather, it was carefully reviewed and directly integrated into the toolkit’s revisions.”

The final version of the tool is designed to provide actionable recommendations that support users at all stages of food system transformation. It also “provides a step-by-step way for governments to check how well different policies work together and improve coordination,” Tankari adds.

The toolkit also helps governments assess key performance indicators, responsibilities, and stakeholder roles in monitoring. During piloting, it also encouraged cross-sector cooperation and helped officials find policy interconnections. In Kenya and Tanzania, for example, the resource helped government actors acknowledge the need to strengthen coordination across national, local, and regional levels.

As countries share their own success stories, Nordhagen hopes it will inspire peer-to-peer learning. And while the toolkit was initially designed for low- and middle-income countries, she says there’s growing interest in adapting it for use at regional or decentralized levels. This means that there are applications for higher income countries as well, Nordhagen explains.

To ensure the toolkit remains useful in the long term, Tankari says, “AKADEMIYA2063 will plan to offer support like training, hands-on help, and regular communication with people involved in food policy.” He believes that tool should be used regularly when planning and reviewing policies. “By doing this, it can help leaders make decisions based on solid information, encourage teamwork between different sectors, and create lasting positive change in food systems across Africa.”

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USDA Sets Deadline to Implement SNAP Cuts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a memo announcing that states have until November 1 to implement the changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) required under President Trump’s recently enacted tax and spending legislation.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBB) contains several provisions that substantially change SNAP eligibility, benefits, and program administration. Approximately 4 million people per month will lose some or all of their SNAP food benefits once the changes are fully implemented, the Congressional Budget Office estimates. Affected groups include families with children, older adults, people with disabilities, young adults aging out of the foster care system, and veterans. OBBB also introduces more stringent work requirements.

OBBB contains no effective dates for the provisions impacting SNAP, leaving the implementation timeline unclear. The USDA memo terminates waivers that have allowed dozens of states to largely suspend SNAP eligibility requirements. It gives the states less than one month to implement OBBB’s changes.

The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) says that state agencies need at least 12-18 months to implement changes of this kind, but they’re being forced to speed up the process without the necessary information or support.

In a statement, the FRAC’s President Crystal FitzSimons said that the hastened timeline “will lead to unnecessary chaos and confusion in the midst of widespread uncertainty, record inflation, and a government shutdown.”

According to a joint statement from the National Association of Convenience Stores, National Grocers Association and FMI – The Food Industry Association, the changes also “represent significant new costs and operational challenges” for food retailers and the customers they serve. Upfront costs to implement the new SNAP purchasing restrictions is approximately US$1.6 billion, according to a recent report from the trade groups.

Government Shutdown Leads to Major Disruptions at USDA

After Republican and Democratic politicians failed to agree how to resolve a budget dispute, the U.S. government shutdown on October 1, 2025. After over a week, Congress remains deadlocked and 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed, or placed on unpaid leave. Others, whose work has been deemed “essential,” are working without pay.

About 42,000 USDA staff are furloughed, according to the agency’s 2025 shutdown contingency plan, including researchers, supervisors, administrators, and those responsible for handling grants, loans, and producing statistical reports. The agency’s workforce has been cut in half and major operations have stopped.

The Trump administration pushed back its plans to roll out disbursement of disaster-assistance payments for farmers impacted by extreme weather events. The Farm Service Agency, which oversees these payments, will also not process any new loans during the shutdown, such as those that provide assistance to farmers during the harvest.

According to Walter Schweitzer, President of the Montana Farmers Union. Without loan processing and crop report verification, farmers are unable to pay their expenses or plan for the future growing season. “If you’re trying to buy land with an FSA loan, you could have that opportunity disappear,” says Zach Ducheneaux, a former Administrator of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency under the Biden-Harris administration.

Vanessa Garcia Polanco, the Government Relations Director for the National Young Farmers Coalition also stresses the reality of the shutdown for farmers. “Young farmers run on tight cash flow,” Garcia Polanco says. “Disruptions like this can tip a season—or a business—over the edge.”

EAT-Lancet Commission Calls for a “Planetary Health Diet” to Cut GHG Emissions

According to the authors of the latest report from the EAT-Lancet Commission, a shift to their Planetary Health Diet can lead to a 15 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Building on its 2019 report, the analysis sets global scientific targets for healthy diets and sustainable food production, and it outlines strategies for addressing the interconnected challenges of human health, environmental sustainability, and food and nutrition insecurity.

The Commission again recommends what it calls a “planetary health diet”—a flexible eating pattern designed to reduce environmental harm while improving nutrition worldwide.  The plant-rich diet is designed to be flexible for different geographies and cultures. It recommends doubling the consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, and reducing animal products. In addition to reducing environmental harm, healthier diets can help avoid roughly 11 million deaths each year, the report finds.

The authors acknowledge that a “substantial” investment is needed to support the transformation of global diets—somewhere in the range of US$200-500 billion per year—but say this price is much lower than the costs of inaction. Without progress on diet, according to the report, the world is at risk of failing to meet the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.

According to Jess Fanzo, a member of the Commission, the new publication also centers justice in new ways, defining healthy diets as both a human right and a shared responsibility. Fanzo says this focus was “largely absent” in the first report, which came out in 2019.

World First Treaty to Protect International Waters Will Enter into Force

Enough countries have ratified the High Seas Treaty, allowing it to take effect in January of next year. The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (BBNJ), commonly known as the High Seas Treaty,  is the first legal framework to protect the two-thirds of the ocean that lie beyond national jurisdiction.

The high seas are “the world’s largest crime scene,” according to Johan Berganas, Senior Vice President of Oceans at WWF. The Treaty aims to address overfishing, the threats of the climate crisis, and deep-sea mining. It also seeks to protect marine biodiversity and ensure developing countries will benefit from scientific discoveries made in these waters.

Although the Treaty was first adopted in 2023, 60 countries must ratify for it to be fully implemented. Morocco recently became the 60th country to ratify the Treaty, triggering an 120-day countdown before it becomes a legally binding agreement. 15 more countries have since ratified the Treaty, bringing the total to 75.

Experts welcome the pivotal new era in ocean governance, while raising concerns regarding implementation. Guillermo Crespo, a high seas expert with the International Union for Conservation of Nature commission, worries that some of the world’s biggest players on the high seas have not yet ratified the Treaty. “If major fishing nations like China, Russia and Japan don’t join, they could undermine the protected areas,” Crespo  says.

The BBNJ is one the most significant international treaties to enter into force since the Paris Agreement, according to Tom Pickerell, Global Director of World Resources Institute’s Ocean Program. But Pickerell says truly supporting a thriving ocean and protecting marine biodiversity will also require nation action in addition to international cooperation.

Research Backs the Benefits of Zero Budget Natural Farming

Recent research published in Nature Ecology & Evolution finds that agroecological-based farming systems are more effective at curbing food insecurity, improving human well-being, and tackling biodiversity loss than agrichemical-based farming systems.

“Developing agricultural land systems that are simultaneously productive and environmentally sustainable is perhaps the greatest challenge of the twenty-first century,” according to the researchers. To assess whether agroecological approaches constitute sustainable food solutions, the study analyzes the impact of the world’s largest agroecological transition, the zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) program in Andhra Pradesh, South India.

The research shows that the government-incentivized program—which requires fewer inputs, helping producers cut costs—significantly boosts farmers’ economic profits, while maintaining crop yields.

The agroecological approach eliminates chemical inputs, relying instead on natural, locally-sourced materials, producing positive effects on the environment: bird biodiversity improved on plots managed through the ZBNF program, which helps with both pest control and seed dispersal.

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The Commission, co-chaired by Shakuntula Thilsted, Walter Willett, and Johan Rockström, convened 37 scientists from 16 countries with the goal of setting universal scientific objectives for the food system. The Commission’s report includes targets with substantial ranges to maximize flexibility and choice, Willett tells Food Tank. But feeding the expected population of 2050 will not be possible if only part of the global population achieves something close to the targets, Willett says.

Building on its 2019 report, the Commission again recommends what it calls a “planetary health diet”—a flexible eating pattern designed to reduce environmental harm while improving nutrition worldwide. According to the report, food is the single most powerful tool for improving both planetary and human health.

Without action, the Commission warns, the world risks failing to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. The Commission estimates that transitioning to healthier diets and more sustainable food systems could help avoid approximately 11 million deaths each year.

The report sets out five core strategies to enable this transformation including international commitment to implementing updated dietary guidance, coordinated global governance of land use and ocean management, prioritizing nutrition rather than volume in agriculture, and action to reduce food loss and waste. Packages of strategies are likely to be more effective than the sum of the individual strategies, Willett explains.

The updated dietary guidance remains largely consistent with the 2019 framework. It recommends doubling global consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, while reducing red meat and sugar. It suggests modest amounts of animal products and emphasizes flexibility across cultures and individual preferences.

The latest analysis has also an added emphasis on food system equity. “The most distinctive advance” of the report, according to EAT–Lancet Commissioner Jessica Fanzo, “is its centering of justice.” It aims to account for cultural acceptability, nutritional adequacy, and accessibility of the recommended dietary patterns across diverse communities.

The 2019 EAT–Lancet report faced pushback from the livestock industry, friends of the industry, international organizations, and some governments. Some industry experts questioned the strategy’s affordability and whether diets limiting or excluding meat would be appropriate in many parts of the world. Others raised concerns regarding the data and modeling used to calculate estimates.

However, a recent Changing Markets Foundation investigation points to evidence that some of the backlash was fueled by coordinated disinformation campaigns. These efforts, according to the investigation, used social media tactics, misleading health claims, and targeted messaging to discredit the Commission’s work and influence policymakers.

In response to renewed criticism from groups like Quality Meat Scotland, which argue that meat-reduction messages may harm nutrient intake, the Commission emphasizes that the planetary health diet is not intended to be prescriptive but to serve as a global reference point, highlighting the need for dietary transitions that are aligned with local contexts. The Commission report includes targets broad goals to ensure a versatile and agile framework, Willett says.

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Here’s the reality: The FDA has approved just one new food additive in the last ten years (a vitamin D2 mushroom powder in 2020). Yet grocery shelves are full of flashy new products, like plant-based meats, gut-healthy sodas, and flavor-blasted snacks (think loaded-taco Doritos).

If the FDA isn’t approving the novel proteins, stabilizers, and artificial flavors in these foods, who is?

That question is at the heart of the New York Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act, a first-in-the-nation bill that would shine light on the loophole through which 99 percent of food chemicals enter our food supply without FDA review.

The loophole dates back to a 1958 amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Congress gave the FDA authority to review the safety of food additives pre-market but included a reasonable exception: substances generally recognized as safe, or GRAS, didn’t need FDA approval. The idea was to allow common ingredients like flour, salt, and baking soda—those with a long history of safe use—to continue to be used without new regulatory hurdles.

Over time, however, the GRAS exemption has stretched far beyond its original purpose. Today, food companies self-evaluate the safety of nearly all new food chemicals, and reporting this information to the FDA in the form of a “GRAS notice” is completely voluntary. This secrecy means the FDA has no idea how many unreviewed chemicals are in our food—and it can’t protect consumers from risks it doesn’t know exist.

The consequences can be serious. In 2022, a popular meal kit company used a new protein, tara flour, in its French Lentil & Leek Crumbles. Nearly 400 customers got sick, over 130 were hospitalized, and some needed their gallbladders removed. While the company said its supplier assured them tara flour was GRAS, an FDA investigation found no data supporting the ingredient’s safe use in food.

The GRAS loophole needs reform. U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement have highlighted GRAS reform as a priority, citing exposure to harmful additives as a driver of chronic disease. The FDA has announced plans to propose a rule requiring companies to submit GRAS notices, a step that mirrors the approach taken in the New York bill. But the plan falls short: it does not include rigorous, transparent safety review, and there’s no guarantee a proposed rule will be finalized given fierce industry opposition. Congressional efforts to reform GRAS, long predating Secretary Kennedy’s attention to the issue, have repeatedly stalled, and the FDA currently lacks the funding and resources to evaluate all new food chemicals. 

With federal reform lagging, states are stepping up.

First introduced in 2024, the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act builds on momentum generated from California’s 2023 ban of four harmful food chemicals. Since then, the MAHA movement has helped elevate food chemical safety into a bipartisan concern, with bills restricting or banning chemicals introduced in over 30 states.

While bans can remove harmful additives from the food supply, they don’t fix the underlying problem. The approach is like pulling weeds without digging up the roots—new, unsafe chemicals will keep emerging.

New York’s bill goes deeper, targeting the root cause of the problem: the GRAS system itself. Companies that opt out of submitting a GRAS notice to FDA will have to disclose that information to New York State, which will post the information in a public database. This transparency will empower regulators, advocates, and consumers to examine hidden safety data and identify risks before people are harmed.

Food Giants are fighting to keep this information secret, claiming the bill will drive up prices and harm small businesses. In reality, it simply requires large food manufacturers to post safety data they should already have—and their resistance suggests they have something to hide. Meanwhile, small business owners, parents, farmers, and community advocates are fighting for safer food, mobilizing to pass this legislation in 2026.

Passing the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act would be a major step forward, ending the era of secret GRAS in New York. But transparency alone won’t guarantee safety. The GRAS loophole must be fully closed, requiring all food additives to undergo rigorous FDA review before they can be used. This will take sustained, nationwide pressure. New York’s bill is not the end of the fight—it is the essential foundation for a truly transparent and safe food system.

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